Financial and Investment Analysts

(NOC 1112)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Financial and investment analysts collect and analyze financial information like 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 like takeover bids, private placements, mergers or acquisitions. Financial analysts work for wide range of organizations throughout the private and public sector like banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, investment companies, manufacturing firms, trust companies, utility companies and underwriting firms. Investment analysts work for brokerage houses and fund management companies.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 120 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

  • Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$16.67

Minimum

$22.72

Median

$62.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,118

Minimum

$54,651

Median

$115,060

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Financial and investment analysts collect and analyze financial information like 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 like takeover bids, private placements, mergers or acquisitions.

Financial analysts work for wide range of organizations throughout the private and public sector like banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, investment companies, manufacturing firms, trust companies, utility companies and underwriting firms. Investment analysts work for brokerage houses and fund management companies.

Job duties

Financial analysts:

  • Evaluate financial risk, prepare financial forecasts, financing scenarios and other documents concerning capital management, and write reports and recommendations.
  • Plan short- and long-term cash flows and evaluate financial performance.
  • Analyze investment projects.
  • Advise on and participate in the financial aspects of contracts and calls for tender.
  • Follow up on financing projects with financial backers.
  • Develop, implement and use tools for managing and analyzing financial portfolio.
  • Prepare a regular risk profile for debt portfolios.
  • Help in preparing operating and investment budgets.

Investment analysts:

  • Collect financial and investment information about companies, stocks, bonds and other investments using daily stock and bond reports, economic forecasts, trading volumes, financial periodicals, securities manuals, company financial statements and other financial reports and publications.
  • Examine and analyze financial and investment information collected, including profiles of companies, stock and bond prices, yields and future trends and other investment information.
  • Provide investment advice and recommendations to clients, senior company officials, pension fund managers, securities agents and associates.
  • Prepare company, industry and economic outlooks, analytical reports, briefing notes and correspondence.

Sample job titles

  • cost financial analyst
  • financial analyst
  • investment analyst
  • investment consultant
  • portfolio manager
  • securities analyst
  • senior financial analyst
  • senior investment officer

Skills

  • You should have excellent organizational, analytical, and spoken and written communication skills. Good judgement, integrity, and persistence are important. You must have an aptitude for mathematics and be capable of detailed and precise work. Business skills are essential.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in commerce, business administration or economics and on-the-job training and industry courses and programs.
  • A master's degree in business administration (MBA) (concentration in finance) or in finance may be necessary.
  • The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, available through a program run by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts in the United States, may be required by some employers.

Other considerations

  • Movement to management positions like securities manager is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

750

employed in 2016

91.3%

employed full-time

5.3%

self employed

51.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
48.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
35

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
26.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

79.3%

Halifax

$55,655 median annual income
10.0%

North Shore

$52,091 median annual income
4.0%

Annapolis Valley

$40,145 median annual income
3.3%

Southern

N/A
3.3%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

42.9%

Finance and insurance

15.8%

Public administration

9.0%

Health care and social assistance

4.5%

Information and cultural industries

4.5%

Professional, scientific and technical services

What is the age of Employment?

37.0%

25-34

22.0%

35-44

15.0%

45-54

13.0%

15-24

8.0%

55-64

5.0%

65+

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

60.7%

Bachelor

$55,776 median annual income
16.0%

Master

$75,172 median annual income
8.7%

College Diploma

$52,022 median annual income
8.0%

High school

$34,952 median annual income
4.7%

Diploma Above Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income
22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income
4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Economics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. They include courses in economic theory, microeconomics and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Finance

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, manage, and analyse the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. They include courses in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Securities Commission
Halifax, NS
Financial Advisors Association of Canada
Toronto, ON
Credit Institute of Canada
North York, ON
Canadian Securities Institute
Toronto, ON
Investment Funds Institute of Canada
Toronto, ON
CFA Institute
Charlottesville, VA - USA

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.