“I am a financial analyst, and I always get feedback from my superiors that I need to improve my communication skills. I know what I’m doing, but I find it hard explaining it to senior people. If I want to get promoted, I’ve been told I’m going to have to improve the way I communicate, so what can I do?” 

First, you are not alone: Many successful analysts have found themselves in your shoes.

Some people are naturally gifted at storytelling. But for the rest of us, communication skills take time, focus, and effort to hone. We must think about structure, language, visuals, and who will listen to us. We have to weave all this into a compelling narrative that will persuade, motivate, educate or sell.  

On top of this, finance analysts need to grapple with a field that contains a lot of technical jargon. Ask anyone outside Canary Wharf what a derivative, hedging, or modelling are, and you will unlikely get answers about finance. Yet, the finance and banking industries demand accuracy and precision in language, complicating what constitutes effective finance communication.

Ask friends and family for help

I recommend first improving your general ability to speak in front of people. Tell your friends or family that you would like to improve your communication skills. Make a date to talk to them about matters of interest to you. Perhaps you have taken up a new hobby, listened to a great piece of music, or heard a fascinating podcast. Share what you’ve learned. If you need structure join a local chapter of a public speaking organisation or take a course in business communication.

Practice makes perfect. Once you are more comfortable talking about passion projects, you should have more confidence in presenting your own expertise.

Expand your subject-specific vocabulary

When you come to talk about finance, remember the language you used to talk about your other interests. You likely used descriptive terms and aimed for clarity because you were finding ways to understand the subject yourself. Remember this when you come to speak about finance – to always identify jargon and avoid overwhelming people with details. Finding ways to fine-tune your message for your audience is so much of the work.

Learn from the pros

If you still need help explaining financial concepts simply, find out how others in your field talk about their work. Read financial books designed for a general readership, or watch how finance influencers make their videos compelling. Many use analogies and real-world examples to emphasise their point. This is a great way to give an idea a recognisable shape without “dumbing it down”.

Don’t be afraid to make use of visual aids, either. These help your audience picture what you’re saying and give you clear reminders of everything you want to express.

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Do you have a burning question for our Managing Director, Emily Aldrich? Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM or leave us a comment! And remember: If you’re looking for a job, Aldrich & Co is the recruiter for London’s top jobs in finance and banking. Take a look at our finance jobs on offer and get in touch with us today.