Analyst roles
- Equity research analyst — evaluates companies and recommends investments.
- Credit analyst — judges whether borrowers can repay.
- Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) — budgets and forecasts inside companies.
- Risk analyst — measures market, credit and operational risk.
Regulation and certification
Research analysts who publish investment recommendations in India are regulated by SEBI, and certification modules are offered through the National Institute of Securities Markets (both checked 2026-10-28). Professional qualifications such as CFA, CA or an MBA in finance are also common.
Core skills
Accounting, financial modelling in spreadsheets, economics, clear report writing and scepticism.
Deciding whether it fits you
A field can look exciting from the outside and still be a poor fit. Before committing, talk to two or three people already doing the work, try a short course or project, and notice whether the day-to-day tasks energise or drain you. A structured conversation with a mentor can help you compare options against your interests, abilities and values rather than trends alone.