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Finance

Financial Analyst

See what a solar financial analyst does and build the modeling skills the role demands.

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About Financial Analyst

Financial analysts turn project assumptions into investment decisions. This course covers the role across developers, investors and lenders, how to read and build a solar project finance model, debt sculpting and tax equity, diligence workstreams and how to break into solar finance.

What You'll Learn

Know the role

Compare buy-side, sell-side and developer-side analyst roles.

Model with confidence

Work with CAPEX, OPEX, production and incentives and read IRR, NPV and DSCR.

Stress-test the deal

Run sensitivities, model debt and tax equity and avoid common modeling mistakes.

Support the decision

Own diligence workstreams and build investor memos and IC decks.

Explore the Course Topics

22 lessons, grouped by topic. Open a topic to see its lessons.

01The financial analyst's role5 lessons
  1. What a Solar Financial Analyst Does
  2. Buy-Side vs Sell-Side vs Developer-Side Roles
  3. Where Finance Sits in the Project Lifecycle
  4. A Day in the Life of a Solar FA
  5. Skills That Set Great FAs Apart
02Model inputs and outputs3 lessons
  1. Key Inputs: CAPEX, OPEX, Production, Incentives
  2. Reading a Solar Project Finance Model
  3. Key Outputs: IRR, NPV, DSCR, Cash-on-Cash
03Modeling practice5 lessons
  1. Model Audit, Assumption Logs and Version Control
  2. Common Modeling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
  3. Sensitivity and Scenario Analysis
  4. Modeling Debt and Sculpting Repayments
  5. Modeling Tax Equity and ITC Monetization
04Diligence, advisors and investment memos3 lessons
  1. Diligence Workstreams an FA Owns
  2. Working with Bankers, Lawyers, and Tax Counsel
  3. Building Investor Memos and IC Decks
05Building a finance career5 lessons
  1. Educational Backgrounds That Map to Solar Finance
  2. Adjacent Roles to Pivot From (IB, PE, Corporate Finance)
  3. Certifications and Programs (CFA, FMVA, Project Finance)
  4. How to Land Your First Analyst Role
  5. Career Progression: Analyst to Head of Structured Finance
06Capstone: review a solar investment case1 lesson
  1. Capstone: Review a Solar Investment Case