Cracked CFA Level 1 and wondering what’s next?
You’re not alone. Thousands of finance students and professionals in India clear Level 1 of the CFA Program each year but the big question remains: “Can I get a good job after CFA Level 1?”
The short answer? Yes, but with the right expectations.
While Level 1 doesn’t make you a charterholder, it opens doors to entry-level roles in equity research, investment analysis, risk, and more, especially if you pair it with skills like Excel, financial modeling, or a strong LinkedIn profile.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
The best jobs after CFA Level 1, What recruiters are really looking for? Salary ranges and real examples from India’s job market. How to boost your chances of landing a finance role faster.
Let’s help you turn that CFA progress into a real career move.
Can You Get a Job After CFA Level 1?
It is very much possible to find jobs after CFA Level 1 in India, primarily in entry-level finance positions like research assistant, junior analyst, finance executive, or operational roles. CFA Level 1 shows robust foundational knowledge in finance; however, it does not qualify you as a CFA charterholder enhanced job opportunities and compensation are most effective when paired with a degree, internships, or hands-on skills (Excel, financial modeling, data analysis)
Top Job After CFA Level 1 (India)
After clearing CFA Level 1 in India, you can pursue roles such as Equity Research Analyst, Investment Banking Analyst, Risk Analyst, Financial Analyst, and Corporate Finance Executive. These positions leverage your foundation in investment principles, financial reporting, risk concepts, and ethics, helping you enter the finance industry with a competitive edge.
Equity Research Analyst
A common entry role for CFA Level 1 passers, equity research analysts help analyse company financials, build valuation models, and support senior analysts in preparing research reports. Employers in broking houses, AMCs, and boutique research firms value the fundamental knowledge of financial analysis and ethics that Level 1 demonstrates.
Investment Banking Analyst
CFA Level 1 can strengthen your profile for junior analyst or support roles in investment banking teams. You may assist in financial modelling, pitch books, industry research, and due diligence. While many IB roles still prioritise internships and degrees, Level 1 gives you an edge in technical interviews.
Risk Analyst
Banks, NBFCs, fintechs, and consulting firms hire entry-level risk analysts to monitor credit, market, and operational risk metrics. CFA Level 1 equips you with quantitative tools, ethics, and risk concepts that align with these responsibilities, making you a strong candidate for risk team rotations.
Financial Analyst
This broad role exists across corporates, consulting firms, and finance departments. As a financial analyst, you prepare budgets, forecasts, variance analysis, and management reports. Passing CFA Level 1 boosts your credibility with recruiters looking for people with a solid base in financial reporting and analysis.
Corporate Finance Executive
In corporate finance teams, CFA Level 1 holders support capital budgeting, cost analysis, cash flow planning, performance tracking, and project evaluation. This role helps build a strong foundation if you plan to pursue senior finance functions, strategy, or CFO-track roles later.
| Job Role | Key Skills Required | Average Salary (India) | Growth Potential |
| Equity Research Analyst (Entry) | Financial statement analysis, Excel, valuation basics (DCF, comps), report writing, accounting fundamentals | ₹4–8 LPA | High, can grow into Senior Analyst, Buy-side Analyst, Portfolio Manager |
| Investment Banking Analyst (Junior / Support) | Financial modelling, PowerPoint (pitch decks), industry research, valuation, attention to detail | ₹6–12 LPA | Very High, promotion to Associate; exits to PE, VC, corporate strategy |
| Risk Analyst (Junior) | Quantitative methods, statistics, Excel, risk concepts (credit/market), basic SQL | ₹4–9 LPA | High, progression to Risk Manager, FRM roles, Treasury |
| Financial Analyst (Corporate / Consulting) | Budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, Excel, financial reporting, business analysis | ₹4–10 LPA | Medium–High, growth into FP&A Manager, Finance Controller |
| Corporate Finance Executive | Capital budgeting, cash flow analysis, cost control, project evaluation, Excel | ₹5–10 LPA | High, pathway to Finance Manager, CFO-track roles |
Who’s Hiring CFA Level 1 Candidates?
CFA Level 1 is increasingly recognised by recruiters across finance, consulting, analytics, and risk functions. Many firms view it as a strong signal of financial fundamentals, ethics, and analytical ability. Here are top employers hiring candidates with CFA Level 1 or those in progress:
1. EY (Ernst & Young)
EY recruits CFA Level 1 candidates for audit, valuation, transaction advisory, and risk consulting roles. The firm values strong analytical skills and ethical grounding, both emphasised by CFA curriculum.
2. Deloitte
Deloitte hires Level 1 aspirants for financial advisory, risk advisory, analytics, and consulting positions. Candidates often rotate across sectors, gaining broad exposure early in their careers.
3. TresVista
A growing global financial services outsourcing firm, TresVista regularly hires CFA Level 1 candidates as equity research associates, financial analysts, and investment banking support personnel. The role is ideal for fresh graduates wanting hands-on modelling and analysis training.
4. Morningstar
Morningstar offers opportunities in investment research, data analytics, and portfolio analysis. CFA Level 1 candidates fit well into their research teams due to strong investment foundations covered in the program.
5. CRISIL & ICRA
Credit rating agencies like CRISIL and ICRA look for early-career analysts with CFA Level 1 to support credit analysis, financial modelling, industry research, and rating methodologies.
Offshore KPOs & Analytics Firms
6. WNS Global Services
WNS hires CFA Level 1 candidates in financial analysis, reporting, research, and risk teams, especially in their BFSI verticals.
7. Evalueserve
Evalueserve recruits for investment research, data analytics, and valuation support roles where financial knowledge and analytical skills matter.
8. Genpact
Genpact engages CFA Level 1 passers in finance, analytics, risk & compliance functions across sectors, including banking and insurance.
Current Hiring roles
1. Equity Research Analyst (AMC)
Company: Groww
Experience: 1–3 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
2. Research Analyst
Company: NJ Group
Experience: 0–3 years
Location: Surat
Salary: ₹3–5 LPA
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
3. Junior Analyst – Equity Research
Company: Finnovate
Experience: 0–4 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 2 weeks ago
Openings: 1
4. Equity Research | Indian Markets
Company: Crisil
Experience: 1–4 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 1 week ago
5. Equity Research Professional
Company: Insync Analytics
Experience: 0–2 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
Job description
1.Equity Research Analyst
Qualifications: Master’s in finance/economics/CA
Experience: 1–3 years
Skills:
Sector knowledge
Fundamental analysis
Financial modeling
Valuation
CFA/FRM/CA/MBA preferred
Department: BFSI, Investments & Trading
Role Category: Trading, Asset & Wealth Management
Education: UG – Any Graduate
2.Research & Development Role
Role: Research & Development – Other
Industry Type: Financial Services
Department: Research & Development
Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent
Education:
UG – Any Graduate
PG – Any Postgraduate
Preferred Skills:
CFA Level 1
Research Analysis
Fundamental Analysis
Equity Research
Stock Analysis
Investment Banking associate
1. Hiring Freshers as Investment Banking Analyst
Company: Calibre Infotech
Experience: 0 years
Location: Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Cuddalore
Salary: ₹5–6 LPA
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 2 days ago
Openings: 9
2. Investment Analyst
Company: White Oak Capital
Experience: 0–1 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
3. Investment Banking Analyst
Company: Smergers
Experience: 0–2 years
Location: Bengaluru
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
4. Investment Analyst
Company: Dezerv
Experience: 0–3 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 1 week ago
Openings: 1
Job description
1.Investment Banking Associate
Preferred Background: MBA / CA with 1–5 years equity research (sell side)
CFA Level 1, 2, or 3 (pursuing/completed) preferred
Skills Required:
Micro/macroeconomics knowledge
Accounting and financial analysis
MS Excel, VBA (preferred)
Communication, critical thinking
Industry Type: IT Services & Consulting
Department: BFSI, Investments & Trading
Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent
Role Category: Investment Banking, Private Equity & VC
Risk analyst:
1. Analyst – Risk Management
Company: American Express
Experience: 0–6 years
Location: Gurugram
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
2. Credit Risk Analyst
Company: Barclays
Experience: 0–5 years
Location: Mumbai
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 6 days ago
Openings: 1
3. ISG Lending Credit Risk Portfolio Analysis and Reporting, Analyst, FRM
Company: Morgan Stanley
Experience: 0–3 years
Location: Mumbai (All Areas) | Hybrid
Salary: Not disclosed
Applicants: 100+
Posted: 1 day ago
Openings: 1
4. Analyst – Credit Risk
Company: JPMorgan Chase Bank
Rating: 3.8 (7535 Reviews)
Experience Required: 0 – 4 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Mumbai
Posted: 1 day ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
5. Risk Analyst
Company: Deutsche Bank
Rating: 3.8 (4309 Reviews)
Experience Required: 0 – 6 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Mumbai
Posted: 3 weeks ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
6. Credit Risk Analyst
Company: FEEMONK
Rating: 3.4 (50 Reviews)
Experience Required: 0 – 1 years
Salary: ₹1.75–3.25 Lacs P.A.
Location: Remote (Hiring office in Coimbatore)
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
Financial Analyst
1. Financial Analyst
Company: eClerx
Rating: 3.1 (6029 Reviews)
Experience Required: 0 – 2 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Navi Mumbai, Pune
Posted: 5 days ago
Openings: 20
Applicants: 100+
2. Analyst
Company: Firstsource
Rating: 3.5 (5591 Reviews)
Experience Required: 0 – 6 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Chennai
Posted: 3 weeks ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
3. Financial Analyst – Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Company: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Experience: 0 – 5 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Bengaluru
Posted: 1 day ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
Employer Rating: 4.1 (4513 Reviews) – Employees’ choice
4. Financial Analyst – Clear Quant
Company: Clear Quant
Experience: 0 – 1 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Ahmedabad
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
Employer Rating: 5.0 (2 Reviews)
Corporate Associate
1. Associate – Corporate Finance CoE – Bain & Company
Company: Bain & Company
Experience: 0 – 5 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: New Delhi
Posted: 3+ weeks ago
Openings: 1
Applicants: 100+
Employer Rating: 3.8 (330 Reviews)
About you:
1. Graduates/postgraduates in finance with strong academic records
2. 2–5 years experience for undergraduates, 0–3 years for postgraduates
3.Experience in investment banking, equity research, or consulting with corporate finance exposure
4.Strong understanding of financial statement and ratio analysis, and valuation
5.Knowledge of equity markets
6.Proficient in business logic, thought leadership
7.Analytical, communication, and team skills
8.Leadership experience preferred
8.CFA preferred
9.Excel & PowerPoint required; Python/GenAI a plus
What you do:
1.Team member on BCN cases, manage analysis, guide Analysts
2.Lead simple cases independently
3.Coach team members, support execution
4. Team Member – Corporate Finance – Adani Group
Company: Adani Group
Experience: 0 – 4 years
Salary: Not Disclosed
Location: Ahmedabad
Posted: 1 week ago
Applicants: 100+
Employer Rating: 3.8 (2310 Reviews) – Employees’ choice
Source: Naukri.com
What Recruiters Expect Beyond CFA Level 1
Passing CFA Level 1 shows strong theoretical knowledge, but recruiters look for job-ready skills beyond the exam.
Soft Skills Recruiters Value
Clear communication: Ability to explain numbers and insights simply.
Attention to detail: Accuracy in models, reports, and data analysis.
Professional attitude: Ethics, discipline, and willingness to learn.
Technical Skills Recruiters Expect
Advanced Excel: Financial statements, ratios, projections, pivot tables.
PowerPoint: Clean slides for research notes, pitch decks, and reports.
Basic financial modelling: DCF basics, comparable analysis, forecasts.
Certifications That Add Strong Value
FMVA / Financial Modelling certifications – highly valued for analyst roles.
Python (for Risk & Analytics roles) – useful for automation and data analysis.
SQL / Power BI (optional) – bonus for analytics-heavy finance roles.
Recruiters prefer candidates who combine CFA knowledge + practical execution skills.
Salary Expectations After CFA Level 1 (India)
In India, CFA Level 1 salaries are entry-level but competitive.
Typical entry salary: ₹3.5 LPA – ₹6.5 LPA
Higher salaries depend on:
City (Mumbai, Bengaluru pay more)
Graduation background (BCom, BBA, BE)
Internships and certifications
CFA Level 1 alone won’t make you highly paid, but it opens doors to finance careers with strong long-term growth.
Source: Quora.com
How to Improve Chances of Getting Hired
Build a Finance-Focused LinkedIn Profile
Use keywords like Financial Analyst, Equity Research, Risk Analyst.
Highlight CFA Level 1, tools (Excel, modelling), and internships.
Share finance insights or simple analysis posts to show interest.
Do Internships & Build a Project Portfolio
Create valuation models, research reports, or company analysis decks.
Upload sample work (without confidential data) to Google Drive or GitHub.
Recruiters value proof of skills, not just certificates.
Upskill in Excel, PowerPoint & Finance Templates
Learn financial statement modelling, dashboards, and reporting formats.
Practice building one-page research summaries and management slides.
Join Finance Communities & Mock Interviews
Attend webinars, CFA society events, and finance meetups.
Practice mock interviews to confidently explain concepts and projects.
Conclusion
CFA level will surely boost your career greatly but remember this is just a start there is more to go and more to work forward into finance. CFA level one becomes the main door for finance students and professionals to enter into the core finance industry where you will be handling real financial tasks.
Here in mentor me careers we focus on student placements which makes sure your future is secured and open more doors to more opportunities
Visit now to get free counseling!
FAQ
Yes. CFA Level 1 helps you secure entry-level finance roles in research, risk, analytics, and corporate finance, especially when combined with graduation and basic skills like Excel and accounting.
In India, the average salary after CFA Level 1 typically ranges from ₹4–7 LPA, depending on role, company, location, and additional skills.
No. Many firms hire freshers after CFA Level 1. However, internships or practical skills (financial modelling, research projects) significantly improve hiring chances.
Yes. CFA Level 1 is a strong credential for career switchers, as it proves foundational knowledge in finance, investments, ethics, and financial reporting.
Not by itself. CFA Level 1 can help you get support or analyst roles, but core investment banking roles usually require internships, modelling skills, and relevant experience.
