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.

 
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.

 

Aliquam quas omnis dolorem id harum sequi blanditiis. Tempora odit ut neque incidunt aliquam. Consequatur dolorem et corrupti illo fugiat consequatur omnis quod.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
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...”