I’ve seen the title of financial analyst on job sites and in job boards, is there a difference between those titles and a CFA charterholder? I know charterholders typically deal with the investing industry, but can you be a charter-holder who analyzes financial statements and puts together budgets for your employer with no real exposure tothe investing world? I’ve heard that the experience guideline is very broad, but I’ve read that it is not so broad.
Yes, CFA charterholders are chartered “financial analysts” but not all financial analysts are CFA charterholders.
The charter does not prohibit you to apply and work for jobs unrelated to finance industry. you can be a charterholder and be a taxi-driver if you want.
Experience guideline is fairly broad, the most important thing is to have your employer(s) sign off on your work experience. if you have any doubt you can always contact CFAI.
Pretty much anyone can call himself/herself a financial analyst and scores of corporate finance folks have financial analyst as their title. So yes, there is a difference and you can be a charterholder and do non-investing related work although you would have had to do investment related work to get the charter initially.
Ohhhh…I was under the impression you had to directly be in finance specifically investing to initially get the charter and then STAY in that area as well moving forward to retain the charter.
Simple answers: NO and NO
Longer answers: Like i said, as long as you can find employers who verified your work experience and your character, you are most likely approved by the CFAI and the chapter. And once you obtained your charter, as long as you pay your dues, you can be a taxi driver for the rest of your life and still eligible to put CFA after your name.
I’m a corporate guy (call me a financial analyst even though I never had that title) that worked in planning and treasury as my qualifying experience. I did some investing and of course financing in treasury, but my planning experience also counted.
My ex-boss was similar in career path, and he is also a Charterholder.
Like I mentioned in a different thread, investment or research analyst is what you are looking for. Financial analyst is generally jobs that accountants apply for.