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Investment analyst

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Career outlook for investment analyst

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£22,000

Experienced

£65,000

Currently employed in Scotland

17,300

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You’d spot the companies that you think will be successful in the future according to your analysis of economic trends.

You’d provide information and reports to help stock market traders, stockbrokers and fund managers decide whether to invest money in these companies.

Your research would also show when a company or fund is losing its value.

You would:

  • Research the financial performance of companies
  • Keep up to date with political and economic developments that may affect the financial markets
  • Monitor the financial press
  • Examine company accounts
  • Analyse economic and business data
  • Make recommendations about investments
  • Write reports for fund managers and stockbrokers

You’d do a lot of work with numbers especially using spreadsheets. You’d need to understand economics, business and financial markets.

You could specialise in one industry, for example energy or pharmaceuticals. Or you might focus on a particular geographic region such as Eastern Europe or South America.

Working conditions

Hours

Investment analysts work long hours, up to 12 hours a day. You would usually start early at around 7am and finish around 6 to 7pm, Monday to Friday. You might need to work some evenings and weekends.

Environment

You would be office-based,.

Travel

You may travel to meet colleagues and clients in the UK or overseas.​

UK employment status

Full-time

79%

Part-time

9%

Self employed

12%

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Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.

  • Cooperating
  • Working with technology
  • Written communication
  • Working with numbers
  • Researching
  • Attention to detail
  • Developing a plan
  • Taking initiative
  • Analysing

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Foundation Apprenticeships

Choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 can help you get a head start with this type of job.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification (the same level as a Higher) plus valuable work placement experience and skills you can't learn in a classroom.

Interested? Find out what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

Qualifications

Though there are no set qualifications to enter this job most applicants have a degree at 2:1 or above; a professional qualification or both.

You can apply with a degree in any subject but a numerate, finance or business qualification can be particularly helpful. Some employers may look for languages and specialist knowledge in areas such as engineering.

To enter a course in a relevant degree subject such as finance, investment and risk requires National 5s and minimum of four Highers at BBBC.

Entry to a postgraduate course usually requires a relevant degree. 

Useful subjects

  • English (often required by employers and courses) 
  • Maths (often required by employers and courses) 
  • Accountancy
  • Business
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Statistics

You will also need

Once in the job you will be expected to gain professional qualifications that meet standards set out by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) such as the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).