# Perplexity — raw output, 2026-09-13 22:14 (+07), free plan, default "Search" mode, **incognito**, one message, no follow-ups "Research complete, 46 s", 49 sources. Interface Russian; answer in English. Captured from the page text; the inline source chips (skyvia, liora, careery, nuecareer, ascendurepro…) are SEO blogs. Chat URL kept open for review (expires in 24 h). --- Here's a realistic, budget‑conscious 6‑month plan tailored to your situation (evenings, ~8 h/week, ≤€500 total), with specific courses, what to skip, salary expectations in Lisbon, and an honest odds assessment. **Bottom line up front** - You can get interview‑ready in 6–9 months at 8 h/week if you focus ruthlessly on SQL + Excel + one BI tool (Power BI) and build 2–3 strong portfolio projects that leverage your bookkeeping domain knowledge. [nuecareer +2] - Realistic first salary in Lisbon: entry‑level data analyst roles typically pay €25k–€35k base, with total comp around €30k–€33k on average. [glassdoor +2] - Your odds: good relative to other career‑changers because you already have 8 years of finance/domain context; the main risk is timeline slippage at 8 h/week. [ascendurepro +2] **6‑month evening study plan (8 h/week, ≤€500)** Budget allocation (example): Google Data Analytics Certificate (Coursera): ~€45–€55/month; finish in 4–5 months → €180–€250. Optional: Microsoft PL‑300 exam if you want a credential: ~€165 in Europe. Total: €180–€250 (Google cert only) or €345–€415 (Google cert + PL‑300). Everything else below uses free resources. Month 1–2: SQL foundations (highest ROI) — Mode Analytics SQL Tutorial (analyst‑focused, covers window functions). Kaggle Learn: Intro to SQL + Advanced SQL. Practice: SQLBolt or SQLZoo. Deliverable: 1 mini‑project: "Monthly revenue, AR aging, and cash flow trends" using a public dataset or synthetic accounting data; publish queries on GitHub. Month 3: Excel advanced + start a BI tool (Power BI) — Excel: Power Query, Power Pivot, XLOOKUP/INDEX‑MATCH, dynamic arrays, a clean monthly close dashboard; Microsoft Learn and YouTube. Power BI: Microsoft Learn Power BI learning path (official, free). Optional structured course: Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate — but you can skip this. Deliverable: "Bookkeeping KPIs" dashboard in Power BI. Month 4: Statistics for analysts + storytelling — Khan Academy: Statistics. Pair with a short "data storytelling" resource. Deliverable: extend the Month‑3 dashboard with narratives. Month 5: Capstone project (domain‑leveraged) — "From ledger to insights": ingest a sample GL/AR/AP dataset, clean in Power Query, model in Power BI, analyze with SQL (BigQuery sandbox), present revenue recognition timing, client profitability, cash flow forecasting, expense anomaly detection. Publish on GitHub; 1‑page case study on LinkedIn. Month 6: Job‑search prep + applications — Resume reframed in analyst language; LinkedIn headline "Aspiring Data Analyst | Ex‑Bookkeeper (8y) | SQL + Power BI"; apply in month 6 even if you don't feel 100% ready. Optional: PL‑300 (~€165). **Specific courses/certificates (links + current prices)** — All prices are as reported in 2025–2026 sources; Coursera bills monthly. - Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (Coursera) — ~$49/month (~€45–€55 depending on region); typical total $147–$294 if finished in 3–6 months. https://www.coursera.org/google-certificates/data-analytics-certificate - IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate (Coursera) — similar subscription model; typical total ~$200–$350. https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ibm-data-analyst - Microsoft PL‑300: Power BI Data Analyst — ~€165 in Europe for the exam; training free. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/powerplatform/power-bi - Free must‑use: Mode Analytics SQL Tutorial; Kaggle Learn; Microsoft Learn Power BI; Khan Academy Statistics. [named, not linked] **What to skip** — Python deep dive early; multiple BI tools (Power BI only); expensive bootcamps; advanced machine learning. **Realistic first salary in Lisbon (with sources)** — Glassdoor (Lisbon): average total pay ~€32,311/yr, with base €25k–€35k. Levels.fyi (Lisbon): average total comp ~€21k–€24k, range roughly €20k–€27k for many postings. Levels.fyi (Portugal overall): average total comp ~€27k, with Lisbon around €23.8k. Taking these together, a realistic target for your first analyst role in Lisbon is: Base €25k–€32k; total comp €28k–€35k. **Honest assessment of your odds** — Strengths: 8 years as a bookkeeper = strong business context; Excel comfort; some SQL. Constraints: 8 h/week is on the low side; many roadmaps assume 10–20 h/week — expect 6–9 months to feel job‑ready. No degree is not a hard blocker but some larger corporations may filter on it; target SMEs, startups, shared services, consultancies. Lisbon market is smaller and lower‑paid than major tech hubs; be flexible on title. Overall: above average compared to a generic career‑changer; reasonable to good chance of landing an entry‑level analyst/BI role within 9–12 months, salary €28k–€35k total comp. If you'd like, I can turn this into a week‑by‑week checklist. --- ## Links (hrefs in the answer) https://www.coursera.org/google-certificates/data-analytics-certificate · https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ibm-data-analyst · https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/powerplatform/power-bi · https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/lisbon-portugal-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,15_IM1121_KO16,28.htm · https://www.levels.fyi/t/data-analyst/locations/portugal · skyvia.com blog (cited for prices). Mode, Kaggle, SQLBolt, SQLZoo, Khan Academy named without links.