Financial Analyst Concentration

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Financial Analyst Program

The Financial Analyst Program is designed to prepare superior, motivated students for careers in all areas of financial analysis. The main elements of the Program involve a rigorous grounding in (1) the preparation, use, and analysis of financial statements; (2) the valuation of assets, including equity, debt, and derivative securities; (3) the interrelationships among corporate investment, financing, and dividend policies; and (4) the use of research databases and analytical methods in Finance. Although the Program is not intended as a CFA® prep course, one outcome is that most students will be able to take the Level I examination with modest additional effort.

Unique Features

The Financial Analyst Program contains a significant career management and mentoring component. Throughout the program, extensive career counseling is provided and students can avail themselves of unique opportunities to interact with business practitioners, including alumni. This interaction takes the form of work-site tours, mock interviews, resume critiques, and networking, both in Albany and New York City.

Acquiring Different Skill Sets

One of the objectives of the Financial Analyst program is to extend the capabilities of students beyond academic skills. The program equips students in soft skills such as the ability to work in teams, effective interpersonal communications, business etiquette and most important, personal ethics. Typical coursework also equips students with computer skills such as expertise in Microsoft Excel. As the program progresses, students constantly improve their written communication abilities and their oral presentation abilities.

Typical Course Format

A typical course in the Financial Analyst program involves small class size with significant interaction between the instructor and the students and among the students. Graded activities include a mix of group presentations and discussions, exams, case analyses, and spreadsheet-based projects.

Recent Placements

The first cohort of students from the Financial Analyst Program graduated in May, 2004. For the eight students who graduated in this cohort, placements were with Ayco Financial Services, Argent Mortgage Company, Alliance Capital, Garban Intercapital and JP Morgan Chase. One student joined St. John's Law School.

Though it is still early in the recruiting season for the class of 2005, 3 out of the 22 students have already been placed with Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Deloitte and Touche.

 

Here's what faculty, students and alumni are saying about the Financial Analyst Program:

"As a member of the first class of the Financial Analyst Program, I can attest that what is advertised is delivered in full. The classes are small, there is extensive and rigorous analytical and quantitative training, as well as several group and individual research projects. The building of these skills and experience will truly set you apart from other candidates when interviewing with the financial industry's largest firms."

Martin Pincar , B.S. '04, J.P.Morgan Chase

"Even in difficult economic times, we continue to look for candidates with strong quantitative skills and a sound grasp of the fundamental principles of finance. I believe students from this program will be better prepared to hit the ground running. I definitely would have participated in this program had it been available when I was a student."

Daniel Byrne, M.B.A, '96, Goldman Sachs

"I am pleased to hear about the new concentration. The classes in the program cover relevant topics, and will provide the skills required to enter the field as a financial analyst competing in a global marketplace."

Michael Gutter, B.S.'91, Arista Leasing

"A Finance professional needs an understanding of money and capital markets. The education I received from the SUNYA Finance Department provided an incredible framework for my pursuit of a career as a Portfolio Manager."

Bruce Geller, B.S.'91, Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co.

"Extensive consultations with UAlbany's most prominent alumni and current students provided the guiding principles for our Financial Analyst Program. The exciting result is that we offer a unique experience combining a hard-hitting, skills-based finance curriculum and partnerships with alumni who are recognized industry leaders."

Dr. David Smith, University at Albany, Finance Professor

Internet Resources:

• quote.yahoo.com
  stock prices, charts, and company news
  
  
• careers-in-business.com
  very useful compendium of job search aids
  
  
• finance data finder
  many useful links to data providers in the finance industry