Three Must-Have Skills for Quantitative Finance
3 min read
Lots of people nowadays know about the quant finance industry and the benefits that come along with a role in it – with large salaries, rewarding work, and big bonuses on offer. Due to these benefits, these roles are not always available, and when they are; they get filled quickly. So, to be considered for a quant finance role, applicants have to fit a certain list of requirements that employers in quant finance look for.
Quantitative financial analysts work in various kinds of businesses in the finance industry, such as banks, wealth management firms, and hedge funds. Insurance companies, management consulting firms, accountancy firms, and financial software companies are businesses that also hire quant analysts. They also usually find themselves employed by stockbrokers.
Qualifications / Certifications
One of the most important requirements in quantitative finance roles is qualifications and certifications in quant finance and any other relevant subjects. The main subjects associated with quantitative finance are computer programming and machine learning, mathematics, and finance.
Whilst undergraduate degrees are a good way to get to grip with some of the basic foundations of quantitative finance, it is recommended that anyone wanting to get into quantitative finance should take a course specifically deals with quant finance.
One such course would be the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF). The CQF was created specifically for applicants, usually with a degree-level education, that want to get onto the quantitative finance career ladder – or change their current career path. This is a highly-accommodating program for those with responsibilities outside of their studies, allowing students to complete the course on a flexible timeframe of between six months and three years.
Analytics
Quantitative finance is all about analysing data and then making assertations based on that analysis. There are multiple different skills that help with analysis of data, such as computer programming (to create complicated databases, and perform analysis using machine learning and other programs) and very high-level mathematics.
Having an analytic mindset is extremely important in the field of quantitative finance and is one of the first skills employers look for in this field. So, if you’re wanting to get into quant finance, this is a must.
Familiarity with Technological Trends
Another skill that quant finance employers look for is individuals being ahead of the curve when it comes to new technology and trends. This is also an extremely important skill to have as the field of quantitative finance is constantly evolving and making use of new techniques and technologies. The ability to constantly learn and grow your knowledge on trends in the industry is a must!
To Summarise
Basically, to become a quantitative analyst, you should have extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to finance, analytics, and technological trends. You need to be able to show prospective businesses that you have the ability to be a successful quant analyst. The large salaries and potential bonuses are very desirable, and so there are large numbers of applicants for quant roles, so you need to stand out amongst the other potential quants.
