A financial analyst is the person who examines and investigates a company's assets, debts, investments and growth potential. He/she may do this for the general interest of one or several shareholders but more often, the information he/she gathers is used as a guideline for potential investments, mergers or divestitures. A person with this job may work as an independent consultant or for a corporation, government agency, bank, stock brokerage firm or insurance company.