What hours does a financial analyst typically work?
On average, Financial Analysts can expect to work between 40 to 70 hours per week, with the longer end typical for those in investment banking or during busy financial reporting periods. Workload can fluctuate with market conditions, fiscal year-ends, and the specific demands of their employer.
Corporate Finance Analyst Hours and Lifestyle
At the entry-level, you'll usually work between 40 and 50 hours per week. However, that varies based on the group and the time of year.
A Day in the Life of a Financial Analyst. Financial analysts gather information, assemble spreadsheets, write reports, and review all non-legal pertinent information about prospective deals. They examine the feasibility of a deal and prepare a plan of action based on financial analysis.
Around 50 to 60 hours a week is normal for this job. Hours may increase when significant deadlines come up (quarterly and annual financial reports).
Here's what a financial analyst might do day to day:
Merge and examine financial data which includes budgets, income statement etc. taking account of the company's objectives and financial standing. Draw together and summarise data to construct refined reports on monetary status and risks of the company.
As an investment banking analyst or associate, you should expect to work ~60-80 hours per week. However, some weeks can be far in excess of this, especially if there's a “live deal” in the works. Many bankers brag about working 100-120 hours per week.
Many Analysts might be working more like 80-90 hours per week rather than 70-80. That may not sound significant, but it's the difference between 12.5 hours per day for 6 days with one day off and 12.1 hours per day with no days off.
Achieving a healthy work-life balance is particularly vital for Financial Analysts, who often face long hours, tight deadlines, and the stress of high-stakes decision-making.
Others view it as a grueling, stressful profession that requires long hours. Those who thrive working with numbers, algorithms, and risk management and have the determination and dedication to succeed will likely find a job as a Financial Analyst, a rewarding career path.
Competition for these jobs is fierce, especially among analysts new to the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.2% employment growth for financial analysts between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 68,000 jobs should open up. Financial analysts keep their fingers on the pulse of the economy.
Which finance jobs have the best hours?
- Management Consulting (40-80 Hours Per Week)
- Single Manager Hedge Fund (50-70 Hours Per Week)
- Growth Equity (40-60 Hours Per Week)
- Venture Capital (40-60 Hours Per Week)
- Sales and Trading (40-60 Hours Per Week)
- Corporate Finance / Banking (40-60 Hours Per Week)
You don't need an MBA to work in finance, but the field is highly competitive, especially at the entry-level.
Work Schedules
Most financial managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
work schedule
Most financial analysts work 40 hours a week during regular office hours. However, your employer might ask you to arrive early, stay late or work over the weekend when you have a deadline approaching.
Work from home financial analysts often measure key performance indicators, produce reports on request, ensure data integrity, and support regulatory compliance activities. This is a remote, home-based position, though some companies may occasionally ask you to visit the office to attend meetings or give reports.
Work Environment
Most financial analysts work in an office in a corporate setting. Frequently, they work alone (e.g., when conducting research or talking on the phone to clients). Some may work out of their homes. Much time is spent working on a computer, doing research and compiling data.
Have you ever heard of Goldman Sachs' 15-minute rule at Goldman Sachs? It means you have to respond to an email in 15 minutes or less no matter what. It doesn't matter if you: - showering - hiking in the mountains - attending your son's wedding - saving someone from a drowning vehicle Unreasonable?
Average number of hours slept by financial services professionals by age, 2024. Table with 2 columns and 7 rows. Bankers, generally speaking, are not sleeping well. Across all respondents to our survey, people working in finance got an average of 6.72 hours of sleep a night.
Generally speaking, Data Analysts can expect to work between 40 and 60 hours a week, typically on a Monday through Friday schedule, which would correspond with the hours the business or company is open. This often means a 9-5 or 8-6 day.
Most data analysts are paid fairly, and the more senior workers earn higher salaries than many other professions. The average data analyst salary is around $64,000 per year, and an entry level data analyst salary is around $36,000 per year or more.
What is the average age of an analyst?
The workforce of Financial analysts in 2021 was 273,293 people, with 41.4% woman, and 58.6% men. The average age of male Financial analysts in the workforce is 37.6 and of female Financial analysts is 40.6, and the most common race/ethnicity for Financial analysts is White.
The average analyst age is 43 years old. The most common ethnicity of analysts is White (65.2%), followed by Asian (14.3%), Hispanic or Latino (8.5%) and Black or African American (7.4%). In 2022, women earned 95% of what men earned.
They need both strong math skills—specifically in statistics and probability—and computer literacy, as analysts use software to look at trends and make forecasts. These professionals should also have a good grasp of economics and know how to read and interpret financial statements.
According to U.S. government estimates, employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 8% from 2022 to 2032 (faster than the average for all occupations), with 27,400 new job openings per year in that period.
- High stress – Financial analysts are responsible for an individual's or company's financial health. ...
- Long hours – Most financial analysts work far more than 40 hours a week, including nights and weekends.
