Exclusively written for agentrealestateschools.com by Jam Blake
In order to stay competitive, companies need access to advanced technology, excellent teams, and well-designed spaces. These elements tend to come into place gradually as a business develops. That said, companies with enough resources may ultimately decide to purchase other assets or businesses as well, in order to gain valuable resources and accelerate growth. Before making the decision to do so however, it’s necessary to do a thorough assessment of the acquisition in question –– which is where acquisition analysts come into play.
In order to evaluate whether or not buying a company is going to be profitable, an acquisition analyst processes enormous amounts of data about the organization’s assets like hardware and properties, and transforms it into easily digestible insights –– which in turn inform the ultimate decision from leadership. This is a particularly common process in industries like commercial real estate, where buying up existing assets and businesses (like office buildings or retail spaces) is a frequent occurrence. As a result, there’s a lot of demand for acquisition analysts.
But what exactly do you need to start a career in this field?
A Bachelor’s Degree
One of the basic requirements is a degree in a relevant field of study. Generally speaking, education in business administration and accounting are considered to be suitable foundations for this kind of career. A degree in business administration allows professionals to familiarize themselves with the different skills involved in the management of a business –– among them financial decision-making. Studying accounting, meanwhile, involves and even more direct focus on assessing and managing finances relating to business needs and goals.
Similarly, a degree in mathematics can also set you on a path toward becoming an acquisition analyst. This field of study is not mentioned as commonly as the others, but it does provide students with the skills necessary to perform complex statistical analysis and data-based projections –– all of which comes in handy when assessing acquisitions for company leadership or stakeholders.
Experience in a Related Position
If there’s something a company demands from a potential acquisition analyst –– beyond relevant education –– it is proof that the candidate understands how a business makes deals.
Previous experience as a contract specialist is sometimes considered to be particularly relevant. In real estate specifically though, combining the right educational background with work as a real estate broker can be advantageous also, as it demonstrates experience with supervising contracts and assessing prices (not to mention general familiarity with the industry at hand). And while working in this position requires a license, there are online courses that prepare you specifically to take the broker exam.
Working in either of these fields can serve as a stepping-stone toward becoming an acquisition analyst.
Applying for the Right Company
Once you have an appropriate degree and some relevant experience, you can begin approaching real estate companies and investment firms with job openings for acquisition analysts.
Before sending an application, it’s important to do some research about the company at hand and, specifically, the responsibilities you will have within the organization. Make sure it’s a fit in both directions. For example, some jobs need familiarity with Real State Law, but this can be learned quickly through our fast track program. And if you have already taken a course, finding a position that puts emphasis on this aspect might increase your chances of being recruited.
Additionally, try to get an idea of the salary range you’re looking at (it’s okay to ask in an interview!). Acquisition analysts are often paid between $75,000 and $125,000 annually, depending on a variety of factors.
Ultimately, becoming an acquisition analyst means setting yourself up in a stable, profitable career in an industry that is always busy. However, those who choose this career path have to develop certain skills and obtain the right qualifications. Outline your path, focus on what’s needed to fulfill a position, and you can find yourself succeeding in this line of work.
Exclusively written for agentrealestateschools.com by Jam Blake
To find out more about becoming a real estate agent, contact Agent Real Estate Schools. Reach us at (858) 329-0999 or email us at [email protected].
