Can BCom Finance Graduates Choose Data Analytics Career?

A few years back, no one would’ve imagined that a BCom degree in Finance would open up a career in Data Analytics. Fast forward a few years, and now anything is possible with finance graduates transitioning into the analytics field. If you are thinking of doing the same, this blog provides you with all the necessary details along with a detailed explanation on how to get started.

Check out this video by Entri in Malayalam!

Introduction: BCom Finance X Data Analytics

Data has transitioned into a substance with immense monetary value. It is an essential component that drives businesses to a great extent. Finance professionals play a vital role in handling data for businesses, as they are expected to report, analyse, interpret, and even throw in a few stories with it. For BCom graduates specialising in Finance, this opens up a great opportunity to transition into the high-demand world of data analytics.

Studying finance would’ve already exposed you to spreadsheets, financial ratios, and even likely forecasting models. These activities involve extracting insights from numbers, which is what data analytics is all about. Here are the reasons why transitioning to analytics makes sense for BCom graduates:

• Real-time decision-making: Businesses require quick decisions that are data-backed.
• Boom of analytics in finance: FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), risk analysis, and investment analysis are roles that are becoming data-centric, leading to a higher potential.
• Higher earnings: Skills in analytics can significantly boost your career growth and salary.
• Versatility: With mastery in analytics, you are not bound to finance alone; rather, you get to explore other roles in operations, marketing, supply chain, and more.

Also read: Roadmap: How To Become a Data Analyst & What Are The Skills Required?

Core Strengths That BCom Graduates Already Have

You might think that there are very few similarities between BCom Finance and Data Analytics that provide you with an opportunity. However, your degree provides you with a strong foundation that’s highly relevant in analytics. BCom Finance skills that make you relevant in analytics are as follows:

• Quantitative and Analytical Thinking

Working with numbers, performing ratio analysis, and studying balance sheets sharpens your ability to spot trends and think critically.

• Familiarity with Tools

Finance and Excel go hand-in-hand, similar to Excel being a necessary tool in analytics. Concepts such as pivot tables, lookups, and charts are directly applicable.

• Business Context

With the acquired knowledge of accounting, financial management, and business operations, you would easily understand why the data matters and not just what it shows.

• An Eye for Detail

Playing with finance demands accuracy and precision – traits that are invaluable in analytics, as a small error can lead to big misinterpretations.

Also read: How To Become A Data Analyst in Kerala

Data Analytics Roles for Finance Graduates

Being a finance graduate enables you to aim for roles that blend finance and data analysis. Such roles can be found in corporates, banks, fintech startups, consulting firms, and government bodies. Here are some of the roles that you can consider based on your degree.

• Financial Analyst

Responsibilities include using historical data and market trends to forecast future financial outcomes, analyse performance, and prepare budgets.

• Risk Analyst

Evaluate financial data to predict and assess potential risks in lending, business operations, or investments.

• Investment Analyst

Analyse portfolio trends, stock performance, and market conditions by using quantitative data models.

• Fraud Detection Analyst

Detect financial fraud and suspicious activity by identifying patterns while working with large datasets.

• FP&A Analyst (Financial Planning & Analysis)

Support senior management by using data to create financial models, forecasts, and strategic plans.

Skills that BCom Finance Graduates Need to Learn to Bridge the Gap

Having a BCom degree in Finance already makes you familiar with numbers, business fundamentals, and financial decision-making. However, to transition into data analytics, some advanced technical and analytical skills are non-negotiable for you to acquire. These skills act as the bridge between your finance education and the world of data-driven decision-making. For better understanding, let us break them into two key categories.

• Technical Tools and Platforms

Here are the tools that data analysts use to manipulate and visualise data. Find the easiest one for you to learn and slowly master the rest to make them relevant to your goal.

Also read: Data Analytics Case Studies: Real-World Success Stories and Lessons

• Core Data and Analytical Concepts

Apart from the tools, you also need to understand the fundamentals of working with data and how data is cleaned, analysed, and insights are derived.

How to Get Started with Data Analytics as a BCom Finance Graduate – A Step-by-Step Guide

With your BCom degree, you don’t need to start from scratch to break into data analytics. With the already acquired business knowledge, financial acumen, and analytical thinking, all you need to do now is build the right technical toolkit, get hands-on practice, and follow a clear path to secure your first analytics job. Here is a clear and detailed step-by-step guide for you to transition into data analytics with your degree.

Step 1: Understand the Career Path

Before you start learning the tools and skills, you need to understand what data analytics in finance means and what your roles and responsibilities will be. It is equally important to decide on which role you want to be – financial analyst, FP&A analyst, BI analyst, or risk analyst – and dedicate your learning to that role as a goal. As a data analyst in a finance-focused role, you get to:

• Predict revenue and expenses
• Analyse performances and budgets
• Create dashboards for financial KPIs
• Identify trends in sales, costs, or investments
• Automate reports and insights for business leaders

Step 2: Upskill with Entri

Now that you’ve decided on a role and understood what to expect from your job, the next step would be to upskill yourself. Entri’s Data Analytics Course is a beginner-friendly and job-oriented program tailored for non-tech and BCom graduates. Here is a sneak peek of what you’ll be learning in this course:

• Excel for data analysis – Advanced formulas, pivot tables, Power Query

• SQL – Learn how to retrieve and manage structured data from databases

• Power BI – Create interactive dashboards and reports

• Python for data analysis – Basics of programming, automation, and visualization

• Capstone Projects – Apply your learning to real-world financial scenarios

Step 3: Practice on Real-World Projects

“Practice makes theory perfect”. Develop a habit of seeking out and working on projects that have real-world applicability. This makes you approach the problem or the task from different perspectives and will develop better analysis and decision-making skills. Entri’s course provides projects with guidance from expert mentors to provide an opportunity where you can apply all the theory that you learned. You should also strive to work on other projects on your own to understand the mechanisms taking place. By the end of the course, aim to complete at least 3 – 4 projects.

Sample project ideas for you to consider:

• Budget vs. Actual Analysis Dashboard (Power BI)

• Stock Price Trends & Moving Averages using Python or Excel

• Loan Default Risk Scorecard using SQL & visualization tools

• Personal Finance Tracker with dynamic Excel dashboards

Step 4: Create a Data Analytics Portfolio

A strong portfolio is your key to landing your first data analytics job, since it is proof of your skills, and employers prefer candidates who have an impressive portfolio. Creating a strong, well-tailored portfolio is key in showing recruiters how you think, solve problems, and present data insights.

Remember to include these in your portfolio, as these points make you stand out among other candidates:

• Project title + problem statement

• Screenshots of dashboards or code

• Business insights and outcomes

• Tools used (Excel, SQL, Power BI, etc.)

• GitHub or Google Drive links

You can use a variety of tools, such as GitHub, Tableau Public/Power BI Service, Notion, and Medium, for showcasing different aspects of your work.

Step 5: Start Applying for Internships and Entry-level Roles

Once you have mastered the tools for bridging the gap between your BCom Finance degree and Data Analytics career, it’s time to start looking for entry-level roles and internships that can propel you into the field of data analytics. With a strong portfolio containing details about your projects and works, you can look for or start applying for roles such as these:

• Data Analyst Intern

• Junior BI Analyst

• Financial Analyst with Excel/SQL skills

• FP&A Intern

• MIS Executive / Reporting Analyst

Entri’s dedicated placement cell will help in securing your first role. They provide specialised guidance sessions with mentors on how to attend interviews, along with resume building. Entri’s Data Analytics Course ensures that you are job-ready to venture out and apply with confidence.

Step 6: Networking and Staying Updated

The perfect job for you might not necessarily come from job portals, but rather from connections that you make in various sectors, both online and offline. Leverage LinkedIn to connect with fellow Data Analysts as well as recruiters. Joining various finance and analytics communities on platforms such as Reddit is a good way to stay updated and gain insights on jobs, as well as various features. Make it a habit to attend webinars and virtual meetings conducted by platforms such as Entri.

Also read: Data Analyst Salary in Germany

Final Thoughts on BCom Finance + Data Analytics

Taking up data analytics doesn’t exactly mean that you are leaving your finance skills behind. Rather, you are elevating your skills to include more and tap into your potential. The finance world is not how it used to be. The finance world has evolved a lot, and employers want professionals who can go beyond spreadsheets or reports and bring data-driven insights to make decisions. With the right skills and a confident mindset, you can easily break into the world of data analytics with your finance background. With analytics taking the job market by storm, now is the time to enrol in Entri’s Data Analytics course and secure your future. Carve out your destiny with Entri!