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
Investor Analytics Analyst (L2)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Independent execution of recurring reports, taking ownership of routine processes, basic stakeholder communication, and developing foundational SQL/Python skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers accurate and timely recurring reports without supervision.
- Proactively identifies and proposes solutions for minor data issues.
- Can build and update dashboards from existing data sources.
- Has a solid grasp of core financial concepts and market terminology.
- 2
Data Analyst (Finance/Consulting)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Strong data manipulation and modelling skills (SQL, Python/R, Excel), experience with large datasets, ability to translate business questions into analytical problems.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven ability to clean, transform, and analyse complex financial datasets.
- Experience building robust data models and visualisations.
- Can communicate analytical findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrates a keen interest in capital markets and investor behaviour.
- 3
Equity Research Analyst (Sell-side/Buy-side)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Deep sector knowledge, financial modelling (DCF, comps), valuation techniques, understanding of market drivers and investor sentiment, report writing.
You're ready to move on when
- Strong command of valuation methodologies and financial statement analysis.
- Experience writing detailed research reports and presenting to investors.
- Familiarity with financial data platforms (Bloomberg, FactSet).
- A natural curiosity about what drives stock performance and investor decisions.