Financial and Investment Analysts

Formal Description

“Financial and investment analysts collect and analyze financial information such as economic forecasts, trading volumes and the movement of capital, financial backgrounds of companies, historical performances and future trends of stocks, bonds and other investment instruments to provide financial and investment or financing advice for their company or their company’s clients. Their studies and evaluations cover areas such as takeover bids, private placements, mergers or acquisitions. Financial analysts are employed by a wide range of establishments throughout the private and public sector, such as banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, investment companies, manufacturing firms, trust companies, utility companies and underwriting firms. Investment analysts are employed primarily by brokerage houses and fund management companies.” (NOC 2021)

Sample Job Titles

This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:

Corporate Investment Advisor

Mutual Fund Analyst

Cost Financial Analyst

Investment Analyst

Money Market Analyst

Portfolio Manager

Treasury Analyst

Senior Investment Officer

Typical Employment and Education Requirements

The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.

The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:

A bachelor’s degree in commerce, business administration, accounting, finance or economics and on-the-job training and industry courses and programs are usually required.
A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) (concentration in finance) or in finance may be required.
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, available through a program conducted by the CFA Institute or an other recognized financial designations (CFP, CIM or others), is usually required.
Other designations, such as Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), may be required by some employers.

Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond

When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:

Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.

Explore related Graduate Certificates, Master's Programs, or other relevant avenues for further education.

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Related Categories

Here are a few other categories that might interest you:

Business Development Officers & Market Researchers and Analysts

Economists and Economic Policy Researchers

Related Sectors

Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:

Careers in Organizations

Careers In the Public Service

Careers in the Financial Sector

Browse More Options by Sector

Academic Program Connections

As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:

Economics Learn More

Economics teaches students how markets function, how financial systems operate, and how economic policies impact investments. Graduates develop strong quantitative skills, making them adept at financial modelling and risk assessment.

Political Science Learn More

Understanding government policies, regulations, and global political dynamics is crucial for financial analysts. Political Science helps students analyze how political decisions affect financial markets and investment strategies.

Sociology Learn More

Financial analysts must understand consumer behaviour, social trends, and economic inequalities. Sociology provides insights into societal influences on financial decision-making, helping analysts predict market shifts.

Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PNB) Learn More

By mastering cognitive biases, risk perception, and behavioural economics, graduates can predict investor behaviour and market trends, refining investment strategies. A PNB lens reveals how emotions shape financial decisions, while data analysis skills ensure precise evaluation of financial information.

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Careers & Experiential Education