What Does a Financial Analyst Do?
A financial analyst collects, evaluates, and interprets financial data to help companies make informed business decisions. They create forecasts, identify trends, and assess key financial indicators to improve budgeting, planning, and overall financial performance. Analysts often serve as the bridge between raw financial data and leadership strategy.
Whether supporting a business unit or the entire organization, financial analysts play a vital role in evaluating past results and shaping future financial outcomes. They may work in corporate finance, consulting, investment management, or across specialized departments like marketing, operations, or supply chain.
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Financial Analyst Core Responsibilities
- Analyze historical and current financial data to identify trends and variances
- Develop and maintain financial models for forecasting and budgeting
- Support monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting processes
- Prepare variance and profitability analyses with actionable insights
- Assist in the preparation of presentations for senior leadership and stakeholders
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and support strategic planning
- Collaborate with accounting, operations, and business unit leaders
- Ensure data accuracy in reporting tools, dashboards, and ERP systems
- Conduct ad hoc analysis and scenario planning based on business needs
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Advanced Excel modeling and data analysis
- Proficiency with ERP or reporting systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Workday, Tableau)
- Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting principles
- Strong understanding of financial statements and metrics
Soft skills
- Strong analytical and critical thinking
- High attention to detail and organizational skills
- Clear, concise communication of complex financial concepts
- Ability to meet tight deadlines and adapt to changing priorities
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field
Certifications
- None required
CFA or CPA certification is preferred for more advanced or specialized roles.
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–4 years of experience in financial analysis or corporate finance
- Experience supporting budgeting and forecasting processes
- Familiarity with financial planning tools or business intelligence platforms
- Industry-specific knowledge (e.g., healthcare, tech, manufacturing) can be an asset
National Average Salary
Financial analyst salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Financial Analyst is:
$88,622
Sample Job Description Templates for Financial Analysts
Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst
Position Overview
We are seeking an FP&A Analyst to support financial planning, forecasting, and performance reporting. This role plays a critical part in shaping data-driven decisions by analyzing results and helping the business plan for future growth. The ideal candidate will be comfortable building models, partnering with leadership, and offering insights that influence strategy.
Responsibilities
- Support annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes
- Develop financial models to project revenue, expense, and cash flow scenarios
- Analyze business performance versus budget and prior periods
- Monitor KPIs and present findings to department leaders and senior management
- Collaborate with accounting to ensure reporting accuracy
- Prepare executive-level dashboards, reports, and presentations
- Recommend improvements to financial planning tools and processes
Requirements
Hard skills
- Strong Excel and financial modeling expertise
- Proficiency in FP&A tools (e.g., Adaptive Insights, Anaplan, Workday Planning)
- Understanding of GAAP and corporate financial statements
Soft skills
- Analytical thinker with attention to detail
- Strong business acumen and cross-functional communication
- Organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or economics
Preferred Qualifications
- 2+ years of FP&A or corporate finance experience
- Experience with dashboarding tools (Power BI, Tableau)
Investment Analyst
Position Overview
We are hiring an Investment Analyst to conduct research, evaluate securities, and assist with investment recommendations for institutional or high-net-worth portfolios. This role supports portfolio managers and advisors by performing in-depth market and financial analysis.
Responsibilities
- Analyze equities, bonds, ETFs, and other investment vehicles
- Build valuation models using DCF, comparables, and market multiples
- Monitor market trends, macroeconomic indicators, and company performance
- Prepare investment memos and present recommendations to stakeholders
- Support portfolio rebalancing and risk analysis activities
- Maintain investment databases and tracking tools
Requirements
Hard skills
- Strong knowledge of financial markets, asset classes, and valuation techniques
- Advanced Excel and familiarity with tools like Bloomberg or Capital IQ
- Understanding of portfolio theory and investment risk metrics
Soft skills
- Curiosity and a research-driven mindset
- Effective presentation and written communication skills
- Comfort working under pressure with market-sensitive data
Education
- Bachelor’s in finance, economics, or investment management
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–3 years of experience in investment analysis
- Progress toward CFA designation strongly preferred
Budget Analyst
Position Overview
We are looking for a Budget Analyst to manage expense tracking, monitor spending trends, and support cost allocation across departments. This role is essential to maintaining financial discipline and supporting fiscal decision-making.
Responsibilities
- Assist in preparing the organization’s annual operating budget
- Track departmental expenditures and compare them to budget allocations
- Investigate and explain budget variances to leadership
- Prepare monthly and quarterly budget performance reports
- Recommend ways to reduce costs and improve financial efficiency
- Support capital budgeting and multi-year planning initiatives
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficient in Excel and budgeting tools (e.g., Hyperion, Oracle, or SAP)
- Understanding of cost accounting and expense classification
- Strong data analysis and forecasting capabilities
Soft skills
- Detail-oriented with strong time management
- Comfortable communicating budget insights to non-finance stakeholders
- Problem-solver with a proactive mindset
Education
- Bachelor’s in accounting, finance, or public administration
Preferred Qualifications
- 2+ years in a budget analyst or finance analyst role
- Experience supporting budget development in large organizations
Risk Analyst
Position Overview
We are hiring a Risk Analyst to identify, assess, and monitor financial and operational risks that could affect business performance. This role contributes to business continuity planning, regulatory compliance, and strategic decision-making.
Responsibilities
- Conduct risk assessments across business units, vendors, and financial exposures
- Develop models to quantify risk exposure and probability
- Support regulatory and internal audit compliance efforts
- Maintain risk registers and incident tracking systems
- Partner with departments to mitigate identified risks
- Prepare reports for senior leadership on emerging risks and controls
Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience with risk modeling tools and analytics platforms
- Knowledge of risk management frameworks (e.g., COSO, ISO 31000)
- Familiarity with internal controls, SOX, or operational risk management
Soft skills
- Analytical with strong investigative instincts
- Effective at communicating risk to technical and non-technical audiences
- Structured thinker with a high sense of ownership
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, risk management, or statistics
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–4 years in a risk, audit, or compliance role
- Experience with SQL or Python for risk data modeling
Revenue Analyst
Position Overview
We are looking for a Revenue Analyst to evaluate sales trends, monitor pricing performance, and support revenue forecasting. This role is central to identifying growth opportunities, tracking revenue KPIs, and improving pricing or discount strategies.
Responsibilities
- Analyze actual revenue vs. forecast across products, channels, or regions
- Develop dashboards and reporting on revenue trends and profitability
- Identify drivers of revenue leakage and propose corrective actions
- Support pricing strategy by modeling elasticity and competitive impacts
- Collaborate with sales, marketing, and operations to align forecasting
- Prepare revenue performance summaries for leadership
Requirements
Hard skills
- Strong Excel and analytical modeling skills
- Familiarity with Salesforce, NetSuite, or similar systems
- Experience with revenue forecasting and sales pipeline metrics
Soft skills
- Business-minded with a results-driven attitude
- Effective communicator with cross-functional teams
- Self-starter with high attention to numerical accuracy
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, business analytics, or accounting
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–3 years of experience in a revenue, sales, or pricing analyst role
- Experience working in SaaS, subscription, or volume-based business models