The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Investment Planning Analyst (L1)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering Excel for financial analysis, understanding core financial statements, data gathering and cleaning, basic report generation, and learning internal processes.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers accurate data and calculations with minimal supervision.
- Can build complete 3-statement models from a template.
- Proactively identifies and flags data inconsistencies.
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of the 'why' behind their assigned tasks.
- 2
Junior Corporate Finance Analyst
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Experience in M&A support, valuation analysis, capital markets research, and exposure to corporate strategy projects.
You're ready to move on when
- Has supported multiple M&A transactions or capital raising activities.
- Comfortable building valuation models (DCF, comps) for specific targets.
- Can articulate the strategic rationale behind corporate finance decisions.
- Strong command of financial theory and its practical application.
- 3
Management Consultant (Junior/Associate)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Structured problem-solving, client communication, data analysis for business cases, and building compelling presentations.
You're ready to move on when
- Has worked on projects involving financial analysis, market entry, or operational efficiency for various clients.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills, able to distil complex information.
- Proven ability to work under pressure and deliver high-quality outputs.
- Strong analytical toolkit and comfort with quantitative methods.