Table 1Transition record

business analysttofinancial analyst

A business analyst already meets 25% of what the financial analyst role asks for. The move turns on 16 required skills not yet in the profile.

From business analyst

25%

Overlap1

To financial analyst

9 Skills carried over

16 Required, not held

78.2 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 78.2

This move: 78.2 of 100 · career change

1 Share of the financial analyst role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the business analyst profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 9 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A financial analyst role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a business analyst background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held use business simulation tools working with computers
already held business analytics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held management consulting business, administration and law
already held investment banking business, administration and law
already held perform business analysis information skills
already held digital data processing working with computers

All 9 carried skills, including the 7 the financial analyst role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 38 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 business, administration and law 5 required, 9 supplementary

required, not held fundamental analysis required
required, not held accounting required
required, not held asset management required
required, not held business processes required
required, not held financial management required

optional, not held cost management optional
optional, not held green bonds optional
optional, not held sustainable finance optional
optional, not held treasury management system optional
optional, not held financial forecasting optional
optional, not held financial products optional
optional, not held mergers and acquisitions optional
optional, not held public offering optional
optional, not held stock market optional

02 social sciences, journalism and information 4 required

required, not held macroeconomics required
required, not held microeconomics required
required, not held economics required
required, not held quantitative analysis required

03 information skills 3 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held prepare financial projections required
required, not held create a financial report required
required, not held perform business research required

optional, not held develop transportation cost metrics optional
optional, not held monitor loan portfolio optional
optional, not held analyse financial risk optional
optional, not held assess financial viability optional
optional, not held ensure compliance with disclosure criteria of accounting information optional
optional, not held monitor stock market optional
optional, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held offer financial services required

optional, not held explain financial jargon optional
optional, not held handle mergers and acquisitions optional
optional, not held advise on tax planning optional

05 management skills 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held consider economic criteria in decision making required

optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held develop investment portfolio optional

06 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held statistics required

optional, not held game theory optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a financial analyst role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 9 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held advise on financial matters skill
already held business analytics knowledge
already held digital data processing skill
already held interpret financial statements skill
already held investment banking knowledge
already held perform business analysis skill
already held use business simulation tools skill
already held analyse financial performance of a company skill
already held management consulting knowledge

The 1 learning area not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 generic programmes and qualifications 1 required

required, not held empirical analysis required

22 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held cost management optional
optional, not held develop transportation cost metrics optional
optional, not held explain financial jargon optional
optional, not held green bonds optional
optional, not held handle mergers and acquisitions optional
optional, not held monitor loan portfolio optional
optional, not held sustainable finance optional
optional, not held treasury management system optional
optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held analyse financial risk optional
optional, not held assess financial viability optional
optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held develop investment portfolio optional
optional, not held ensure compliance with disclosure criteria of accounting information optional
optional, not held financial forecasting optional
optional, not held financial products optional
optional, not held game theory optional
optional, not held mergers and acquisitions optional
optional, not held monitor stock market optional
optional, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports optional
optional, not held public offering optional
optional, not held stock market optional

44 held skills the financial analyst role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role advise client on technical possibilities skill
not needed by the target role advise on communication strategies skill
not needed by the target role advise on efficiency improvements skill
not needed by the target role advise on organisational culture skill
not needed by the target role advise on personnel management skill
not needed by the target role advise on risk management skill
not needed by the target role align efforts towards business development skill
not needed by the target role analyse business plans skill
not needed by the target role analyse external factors of companies skill
not needed by the target role analyse internal factors of companies skill
not needed by the target role apply change management skill
not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
not needed by the target role business analysis knowledge
not needed by the target role business communication knowledge
not needed by the target role business intelligence knowledge
not needed by the target role business law knowledge
not needed by the target role business process modelling knowledge
not needed by the target role business strategy concepts knowledge
not needed by the target role conduct qualitative research skill
not needed by the target role conduct quantitative research skill
not needed by the target role corporate law knowledge
not needed by the target role data visualisation software knowledge
not needed by the target role define organisational standards skill
not needed by the target role financial statements knowledge
not needed by the target role identify undetected organisational needs skill
not needed by the target role interview people skill
not needed by the target role keep updated on the political landscape skill
not needed by the target role liaise with managers skill
not needed by the target role make strategic business decisions skill
not needed by the target role management systems standards knowledge
not needed by the target role market entry strategies knowledge
not needed by the target role market research knowledge
not needed by the target role marketing analytics knowledge
not needed by the target role organisational learning knowledge
not needed by the target role organisational policies knowledge
not needed by the target role propose ICT solutions to business problems skill
not needed by the target role quality standards knowledge
not needed by the target role report analysis results skill
not needed by the target role risk management knowledge
not needed by the target role scientific research methodology knowledge

4 further entries not listed here

21 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held macroeconomics required
required, not held microeconomics required
required, not held fundamental analysis required
required, not held accounting required
required, not held asset management required
required, not held business processes required
required, not held economics required
required, not held empirical analysis required
required, not held financial management required
required, not held quantitative analysis required
required, not held statistics required
optional, not held cost management optional
optional, not held green bonds optional
optional, not held sustainable finance optional
optional, not held treasury management system optional
optional, not held financial forecasting optional
optional, not held financial products optional
optional, not held game theory optional
optional, not held mergers and acquisitions optional
optional, not held public offering optional
optional, not held stock market optional

Index

Other moves recorded from business analyst

Full index of moves from business analyst

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.