What a financial analyst actually does
Building and maintaining financial models, variance analysis, forecasting, and preparing the material decisions get made on — in corporates (FP&A), banks or research firms.
How to become one — the qualification route
Commerce, finance or economics degrees are the common base; CFA, CA and MBA Finance are the recognised progression credentials.
Regulated professions have statutory entry requirements. Always confirm current rules with the relevant council or university before enrolling anywhere.
Skills the role runs on
Financial modellingValuationAdvanced spreadsheetsForecastingReporting
Which online courses actually help
Advanced spreadsheet and financial modelling first, then valuation, then the analytics tooling that is quickly becoming standard in finance teams.
Courses for financial analysts
See all financial analysts courses →| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2026 | Udemy | 4.6★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate |
| The Complete Investment Banking Course 2026 | Udemy | 4.6★ | Free | Free — certificate included |
| Texas Instruments BA II Financial Calculator for CFA and FRM | Udemy | 4.9★ | Free | Highest rated (4.9★ from 315 reviews) |
| Aswini Bajaj | CFA FRM SFM EXCEL | Udemy | 0.0★ | Free | Free — certificate included |
| Introduction to Investment Banking Course | Udemy | 0.0★ | Free | Free — certificate included |
| Sustainable Investing (ESG Investing) - For Exams in 2026 | Udemy | 4.3★ | Free | Free — certificate included |