The impact of AI on finance careers

There is a quiet shift happening in finance. AI is no longer just a buzzword. It is changing how deals are sourced, how research is done, and what entry-level roles now look like at top firms.

This doesn’t mean jobs are going away. But it does mean the skills required for the roles are changing. Analysts are no longer valued just for speed or execution. They’re now expected to bring sharper thinking to the table and focus more on insights than manual tasks.

This week, we break down how AI is changing the future of finance roles and what that means for candidates today:

• 📘 How AI is changing the analyst role

• 💼  Available internship offers

• 🎯 What this means for a career in finance

— Investor Briefcase Team

AI is already being used across the industry. But the biggest change is not in the tools themselves. It is in how analysts are expected to think.

The analyst role used to be defined by execution. You were expected to gather data, build models, and format slides. Much of that is now getting faster, if not completely replaced. Market summaries, comps tables, and even the first draft of a DCF can be generated in a fraction of the time it took before.

Firms like BlackRock are already integrating this shift into core systems. Their internal platform helps analysts run risk reports in minutes. Private equity and hedge funds use similar platforms to flag targets or surface trends in operating data. At investment banks, new tools support junior teams in preparing comps, slides, and even basic memo drafts.

The result is a faster workflow. But speed is only part of the equation. Analysts are now expected to bring better judgment to what they build. The real skill is not in how fast you can complete a task, but in how well you can challenge assumptions, prioritize what matters, and turn output into insight.

S&P Global

💼 Position: Analytical Intern – Credit Ratings
📍 Location: Boulder, CO, USA
🏛️ Industry: Credit Ratings
📅 Deadline: May 2025

Click here to apply

Corient

💼 Position: Summer Intern - Investment Analyst
📍 Location: New York, USA
🏛️ Industry: Asset Management
📅 Deadline: June 2025

Click here to apply

Group One Trading

💼 Position: Summer Intern – Options Trading
📍 Location: Chicago, USA
🏛️ Industry: Hedge Fund/Trading
📅 Deadline: June 2025

Click here to apply

The skills that stand out are not changing. But how you demonstrate them is.

Firms still want people who can break down a company, think through a transaction, and communicate clearly. But they also want analysts who know how to work smarter. The best candidates are combining core finance skills with the ability to move fast and think independently.

You will still need to know your way around a DCF and comps. But your edge now lies in how you apply them. Can you identify the key drivers that matter most? Can you spot inconsistencies in a model and explain them? Can you take fifty pages of data and extract one useful idea?

Recruiters are picking up on this. When a candidate can explain how they approached a project, prioritized their work, and used the right tools to bring sharper thinking to the table, it sets them apart. These are the people teams want to work with.

If you are preparing for interviews, be ready to speak to how you work. Talk about tools you used to streamline research or ways you found insight others missed. If you are in a student group, show how you thought about risk in an investment pitch. If you have work experience, explain how your output helped your team move faster or make better decisions.

The role is not disappearing. But the way you prepare for it should evolve. The faster you adapt, the more valuable you become.

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