A Nonlinear Journey to Financial Analysis: How Martin Kaminskyj Advanced His Career via Data Analytics

Martin Kaminskyj’s career has been busy, fulfilling, and dynamic — but certainly not linear. When he graduated from Sheridan College in 2007 with a degree in furniture design and craftsmanship, he couldn’t predict the financial recession that would follow. 

Unable to find a job in a niche industry and difficult job market, Martin decided to continue his education at Ryerson University. His initial plan was to study marketing, but he unexpectedly fell in love with accounting.

“Not many people pivot from craftsmanship to accounting. I was looking for a career that challenged me and when I learned more about the CPA designation, I thought it was perfect for me,” he explained. 

After various internships at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, Martin graduated from Ryseron and secured a full-time job as an external auditor. 

He was fascinated by forecasting and analysis in particular. However, corporate restructuring left Martin without a job after two years at the firm. He soon realized that public accounting wasn’t his long-term career goal, but the analysis side of his work was still compelling. 

He transitioned into the world of financial analysis swiftly, landing a new position at an ad tech startup. Unfortunately, Martin faced financial fallout once again — this time in the wake of the pandemic. Instead of standing idly by, he decided to upgrade his technical toolkit and enroll in the University of Toronto SCS Data Analytics Boot Camp.

Understanding the industry 

The pandemic gave Martin time to think about his next steps. He realized his developing passion for financial analysis was arriving at a pivotal moment in the industry.

“It’s essential that accountants and CPAs understand data analysis considering the traditional financial analyst route will most likely become obsolete in the next 10 to 15 years. Machine learning and advanced automation are on the rise,” he said. 

Aware of this evolution, Martin wanted to better understand how he could contribute to a changing professional landscape. 

“I didn’t enroll in the boot camp to become a data scientist or data analyst, but instead to see where I could find some common ground with the techniques and tools I use as a financial analyst,” he explained. 

Fortunately, Martin found exactly what he was looking for in the program — and more. 

“Some people say, ‘Why didn’t you just learn these skills on YouTube?’ but the value of this course is direction from your instructors and assistant instructors, as well as insight from your peers,” he said. This support proved crucial to Martin. 

Strength in collaboration

While he might have learned a lot on his own, Martin excelled in the boot camp because it gave him a collaborative network. 

“One of the most impactful parts of this program is learning from people who have industry knowledge and experience that you don’t. Learning the material would be overwhelming without their support,” he said. 

Martin benefited most from group collaboration that accentuated individual strengths. “For one group project, I was still grasping machine learning elements but I was able to contribute with interactive charts and analysis. You learn quickly by building off each other’s strengths,” he said. 

While forming professional relationships, Martin also connected with his peers on a personal level. “I made some great friendships during the program,” he said.

Applying data analytics to financial analysis 

During a tumultuous time in his career, Martin embraced challenges and built meaningful professional and personal relationships. 

His successful completion of the program led to a new opportunity as the senior financial analyst for a fintech startup called DealMaker. While he’s not working on the data team specifically, he is applying a new framework of thinking to his position on the finance and operations side. 

“I’ve learned how to break down complex data problems and apply strategic thinking to finance questions. Because of the boot camp, I’m able to better understand the data team’s initiatives and speak a common language with them. Hopefully as the company grows, I will continue applying these invaluable skills,” he said.

Eager to advance your career and upgrade your technical toolkit? Consider applying to University of Toronto SCS Boot Camps in coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, UX/UI, fintech, or digital marketing.