Using Financial Analysis to Diagnose your Company’s Health!

Are you a financial analyst who is looking for ways to diagnose your company’s financial health? Financial analysts and business owners can use financial Statement Analysis to get a snapshot of the current financial standing. Many different types of analysis can be performed, but one popular type is liquidity ratios.

What is a Financial Analysis?

Financial Analysis is the process of identifying financial trends and reports to decide which financial options are best. Financial Statements that can be analyzed are Income statements, Cash Flow statements, Balance Sheets.

How do you use Financial Analysis?

You want to analyze how well your company’s financial performance measures up against its competitors. This information will help you determine whether or not it’s time for specific changes in the business strategy – such as a shift from marketing strategies that reach more customers with fewer costs to those that involve higher cost per customer but better returns.

A comparison between past and current financial data gives insight into where improvements need to be made. The analysis should also include an estimate of future growth prospects & the industry sector.

Some Financial Analysis Methods to Understand Company’s Health:

Horizontal Analysis
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This technique is used to evaluate financial data by comparing results & identifying y-o-y changes in the balance sheet or income statement. By analyzing this, the company’s financial strengths and weaknesses can be identified.

Vertical Analysis

This financial statement analysis is conducted to measure the company’s performance over a while. A vertical study provides high-level research and compares items to the last two years or against an industry benchmark.

Trend Analysis

financial analysis courseTrend analysis spots recent trends of increasing or decreasing finances in financial statements. It uses historical data to forecast future sales & performance.

By reviewing percent change in the balance sheet & income statement over time, companies identify expected to decrease or increase in the near future and formulate appropriate strategies to maximize or minimize it.

Ratio Analysis

Ratio analysis measures a company’s ability to pay liabilities, sell inventory, collect receivables, & pay back debt. Ratios help in measuring profitability & analyze a company’s stock as a viable investment choice.

Acid-Test Ratio

By adding cash, short-term investments, net receivables, and then calculating the sum by total current liabilities, the acid test ratio is calculated. It only measures your company’s ability to pay back its current penalties.

There are many other methods like average collection period, debt ratio, gross profit margin, operating profit margin, net profit margin, earnings per share, etc. Financial analysts are professionals who use financial statements & models to assess a company’s health.

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What Does A Financial Analyst Do In A Day?

Financial analysis is a rewarding & challenging career for people working in the financial services industry. A Financial Analyst typically conducts quantitative analyses of information affecting the investment programs of public or private organizations.

However, depending upon the level of experience & job role of a financial analyst, their day-to-day activities may differ. Moreover, the industry in which they are working may also influence their job responsibilities & pay.

Some common things that a financial analyst do include:

  • Gather data & information
  • Organize information
  • Analyze financial results
  • Make forecasts & projections
  • Develop recommendations
  • Build Excel models & make presentations
  • Generate reports

Before jumping onto what a financial analyst does in a day, let’s take a quick look at what a junior analyst’s and senior analysts’ job entails.

Junior Analyst (entry-level)

A financial analyst who has little to no professional experience is typically responsible for gathering data, financial modeling & creating or maintaining spreadsheets. This enables entry-level analysts to develop a fundamental understanding of the financial marketplace & environment.

A junior analyst may consider earning certifications or licenses such as (CFA) Chartered Financial Analyst certification to move up the ladder to a better-paying, higher-level job position.

Senior Analyst

A senior analyst typically has more & better professional experience & academic credentials. One can become a senior analyst only after developing their expertise in the field & pursuing continuing education. One of the main tasks of a senior analyst is developing relationships with companies & industry to build a strong contacts’ network as well as representing their own firm in the industry.

A Day in the Life of Financial Analysts

A usual day in the life of a financial analyst looks like this:

Early morning 

Early in the morning, they check the news, international trade & markets. If there are any relevant releases or developments concerning the market, then an analyst may need to “put out fires.” This may include updating data & alerting administrators about the change.

Morning meetings & check-ins 

Contact or meet their colleagues in person, present investment ideas (if any) and then meet clients or potential clients. Moreover, depending upon the time of the year, a financial analyst may need to plan projects, schedules & calendars around the ebb & flow of the market.

Mid-morning to afternoon (project & schedule updates)

A junior analyst may meet their senior analyst in their firm to go over their collected data & financial models. The senior analysts may meet with their superiors to go over a project or business model/strategy. They may also spend time contacting investors and other contacts in their network to grow the business.

Lunch

A junior analyst may make the most of this time by meeting their mentor and planning the “next move” in their career. However, a senior analyst may have lunch with industry contacts and use this time to build their network.

Reviewing the day 

A lot can happen during the afternoon, which is why most financial analysts spend this time reviewing reports & releases to better plan their upcoming days. For example, a senior analyst typically reviews earning reports, whereas a junior analyst may review financial models & research notes for their own earnings releases. Then, later in the evening, the junior analysts meet their senior to go over the numbers for the following day’s morning meetings.

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An advanced degree with various specializations at Imarticus Learning will add credibility to your profile and position you as an efficient professional. Start your journey in the financial industry with Imarticus Learning and have a rewarding career!