Financial analysts conduct economic research and elicit valuable analyses on financial matters such as profitability, liquidity, solvency, and asset management. They provide recommendations on financial matters for decision-making processes. Financial analysts work in both the public and the private sector.

Tasks

(a) Analysing financial information to produce forecasts of business, industry, and economic conditions for use in making investment decisions;
(b) Maintaining knowledge and staying abreast of developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory;
(c) Interpreting data affecting investment programmes, such as price, yield, stability, future trends in investment risks and economic influences;
(d) Monitoring economic, industrial, and corporate developments through analysis of information obtained from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources and personal interviews;
(e) Recommending investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff or the investing public;
(f) Determining the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public;
(g) Preparing plans of action for investment based on financial analyses;
(h) Evaluating and comparing the relative quality of various securities in a given industry;
(i) Presenting oral and written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries.