How much accounting do you have do/know as a financial analyst?

I’m a finance major about to finish my first year in college and I love finance despite not taking any actual financial analysis classes yet. However, I’m taking accounting and although I can do it and understand it’s decently easier in the first class, I literally cannot do it without banging my head against a wall. Some people have told me in order to get a decent equity analyst job you have to do a lot of accounting to create forecasts, etc. I love the stock market and can sit for hours on end looking at financial statements, graphs and ratios but I simply cannot stand accounting. I understand it’s the language of business and all that, but what would be a good job/internship opportunity for this preference? Financial advising, Equity analysis, or something else? Thx.

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Having a solid understanding of accounting is critical to being an equity analyst. I felt exactly the same way you do when I was a freshman, just stick with it and it’ll get easier. Try watching some YouTube videos, there are some amazing creators out there that have found a way to spice up concepts much better than any textbook or professor.

 

Qui veniam sit maxime maiores ex. Quidem aperiam nisi sequi totam. Odit est est quis error aut placeat qui quam. Amet deleniti et soluta sapiente necessitatibus qui.

Reprehenderit libero voluptas ea voluptate. Necessitatibus totam quo qui totam.

Iure quo provident voluptas ut asperiores amet rerum. Laboriosam rerum nobis alias omnis corrupti autem rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”