Will finance jobs be replaced by AI?
Updated
Financial analysts score 58 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 69%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 12% outright, and 19% stays with people.
- 12% AI can do it
- 69% AI helps
- 19% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 88% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 26 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 3 of them today, speeds up 18 and leaves 5 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Draw charts and graphs, using computer spreadsheets, to illustrate technical reports. Chart generation from spreadsheet data is routine and readily automated. | 85% AI can do it |
| Monitor developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory. AI scans news and publications continuously; analyst reviews key items. | 72% AI can do it |
| Create client presentations of plan details. AI drafts slides and plan summaries from data; analyst reviews. | 68% AI can do it |
| Perform securities valuation or pricing. Valuation models and comparables are automatable; analyst sets assumptions and signs off. | 65% AI helps |
| Employ financial models to develop solutions to financial problems or to assess the financial or capital impact of transactions. AI builds and runs scenario models; analyst sets assumptions and judges results. | 62% AI helps |
| Interpret data on price, yield, stability, future investment-risk trends, economic influences, and other factors affecting investment programs. AI processes price and yield data and explains trends; analyst weighs significance. | 60% AI helps |
| Prepare all materials for transactions or execution of deals. AI drafts deal documents and checklists; lawyers and staff verify and execute. | 60% AI helps |
| Present oral or written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries. AI drafts written reports and talking points; analyst delivers and defends them. | 60% AI helps |
| Conduct financial analyses related to investments in green construction or green retrofitting projects. Spreadsheet-based green project modeling; AI builds models, analyst validates assumptions. | 58% AI helps |
| Monitor fundamental economic, industrial, and corporate developments by analyzing information from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources, or personal interviews. AI summarizes filings and publications; personal interviews remain human-led. | 58% AI helps |
Show the other 16 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Evaluate and compare the relative quality of various securities in a given industry. AI compares metrics and ratings across issuers; analyst forms the view. | 55% AI helps |
| Inform investment decisions by analyzing financial information to forecast business, industry, or economic conditions. AI aggregates data and drafts forecasts; analyst is responsible for the investment call. | 55% AI helps |
| Prepare plans of action for investment, using financial analyses. AI drafts investment plans from analyses; analyst sets strategy and approves. | 55% AI helps |
| Analyze financial or operational performance of companies facing financial difficulties to identify or recommend remedies. AI drafts distress diagnostics and remedy options; analyst judges fit. | 50% AI helps |
| Recommend investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff, or the public. AI drafts recommendations; advisor carries suitability and fiduciary accountability. | 45% AI helps |
| Evaluate capital needs of clients and assess market conditions to inform structuring of financial packages. AI synthesizes market data; client needs assessment requires human judgment. | 40% AI helps |
| Purchase investments for companies in accordance with company policy. Rules-based purchasing can be automated; oversight and execution judgment stay human. | 40% AI helps |
| Advise clients on aspects of capitalization, such as amounts, sources, or timing. Models capital structure options; advisor leads client judgment and accountability. | 35% AI helps |
| Determine the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public. Offering price depends on market judgment and investor demand; AI supports inputs. | 35% AI helps |
| Specialize in green financial instruments, such as socially responsible mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETF) that are comprised of green companies. AI aids product research; specialization expertise and client-facing role stay human. | 35% AI helps |
| Confer with clients to restructure debt, refinance debt, or raise new debt. Client meetings are live; AI prepares debt options and term comparisons. | 30% AI helps |
| Collaborate on projects with other professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, or public relations experts. Cross-professional collaboration relies on live coordination and interpersonal judgment. | 20% Needs a person |
| Assess companies as investments for clients by examining company facilities. Requires physical site visits and in-person facility inspection. | 12% Needs a person |
| Collaborate with investment bankers to attract new corporate clients. Winning new corporate clients depends on personal relationships and networking. | 12% Needs a person |
| Supervise, train, or mentor junior team members. Mentoring and supervision depend on in-person coaching and accountability. | 12% Needs a person |
| Develop and maintain client relationships. Relationship building depends on trust, in-person contact, and personal judgment. | 10% Needs a person |
How financial analysts compare
All occupations (923)
Business and financial operations (48)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $102,740 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 361,980 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +7.2% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Build and audit valuation models in Microsoft Excel
- Set scenario assumptions and judge results in Alteryx
- Lead debt restructuring meetings with corporate clients
- Conduct company site visits and facility inspections
- Mentor junior analysts on live transactions and deal teams
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about financial analysts and AI
Will AI replace finance jobs?
Partly. About 5 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly chart building in Excel and drafting client presentations. What stays with people is client relationships, site visits, and mentoring junior analysts.
Will AI take over finance jobs?
AI can already do 12% of the task time in finance and speeds up another 69%. People still do 19% of it. The US has 361,980 financial analyst jobs, with a projected change of +7.2% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks of financial analysts does AI take over?
Chart drawing, news monitoring, and client slide drafting are the most exposed. Drawing charts from spreadsheet data scores 85 on exposure, the highest in this job, because it is routine and readily automated. Monitoring industry, finance, and economic news scores 72, since AI scans sources continuously and an analyst reviews key items. Drafting client presentations of plan details scores 68, with an analyst checking the output.
Which tasks of financial analysts stay human?
Client relationships, company site visits, and mentoring stay human. Developing client relationships depends on trust and personal judgment. Assessing a company means inspecting its facilities in person. Mentoring junior team members depends on live coaching and accountability.
How can financial analysts stay valuable as AI spreads?
Stay responsible for the assumptions in valuation and scenario models you build in Excel and Alteryx. Lead the client meetings on debt restructuring, where you weigh term options AI has prepared. Make site visits yourself, and train junior analysts on live deals, since those tasks are the least exposed.
Related jobs
Next steps for financial analysts
Check which roles in your team AI can take on
We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first.
Related topics
- Jobs AI can't replaceCement masons score lowest, at 8.
- Jobs most at risk from AIProofreaders score highest, at 76.
- High-paying jobs with low AI exposureRadiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.
- Entry-level jobs with low AI exposureCement masons need little prior training and score 8.
- Jobs AI speeds up the mostFor natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.
- AI and jobs in Malta15 iGaming roles graded task by task.
- Skills that keep work humanThe skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.
- Jobs A to ZEvery job we publish, by first letter.
- AI exposure by industryAverage scores for 22 occupation groups.
- Write a CV screening software can readHow applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.
- AI for businessesThe tasks to automate first in each team and industry.
- How we score AI exposureThe grading, the weights and every source.