Financial Data Analyst Roadmap

From Beginner to Expert

Phase 1: Financial Fundamentals

Accounting Basics: Financial statements, GAAP/IFRS, double-entry bookkeeping.
Corporate Finance: Time value of money, capital budgeting, cost of capital.
Excel Mastery: Advanced formulas, pivot tables, data visualization.
Statistics: Descriptive statistics, probability distributions, hypothesis testing.
Economics: Micro & macro fundamentals, market structures.

Phase 2: Data Analysis Foundations

SQL: Complex queries, joins, window functions, optimization.
Python Basics: Pandas, NumPy, data structures, control flow.
Data Cleaning: Handling missing data, outlier detection, normalization.
Data Visualization: Matplotlib, Seaborn, storytelling with data.
Database Systems: Relational databases, NoSQL basics, data modeling.

Phase 3: Financial Modeling & Analysis

Valuation Techniques: DCF, comparables, precedent transactions.
Financial Modeling: Three-statement models, LBO models, M&A models.
Investment Analysis: Portfolio theory, risk-return tradeoff, asset pricing.
Financial Reporting: SEC filings analysis, ratio analysis, trend analysis.
Capital Markets: Equity, fixed income, derivatives fundamentals.

Phase 4: Advanced Analytics & BI

Power BI/Tableau: Dashboard design, DAX, advanced visualizations.
Machine Learning: Regression, classification, time series forecasting.
Risk Analytics: Value at Risk (VaR), stress testing, scenario analysis.
Big Data Tools: Spark, Hadoop, cloud data platforms.
Data Storytelling: Presenting insights to stakeholders.

Phase 5: Domain Specialization

Banking Analytics: Credit risk, loan performance, Basel regulations.
Investment Analysis: Security analysis, portfolio construction.
Corporate FP&A: Budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis.
FinTech: Blockchain, algorithmic trading, payment systems.
Regulatory Compliance: AML, KYC, GDPR financial implications.

Phase 6: Professional Mastery

Certifications: CFA, FRM, FMVA, Data Science certifications.
Industry Tools: Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet, Capital IQ, PitchBook.
Cloud Platforms: AWS/Azure for financial analytics, data lakes.
Leadership Skills: Project management, stakeholder communication.
Continuous Learning: Following market trends, new methodologies.