What does a budget/finance analyst do?
Budget/finance analysts are financial professionals who are responsible for allocating the financial resources of private companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. These analysts are required to perform financial analysis and reporting to monitor the finances that are associated with business operations. They must monitor the execution of budgets within assigned offices to ensure that the organization's goals and objectives are achieved. Budget/finance analysts must also compile and evaluate accounting records to identify the necessary financial resources for the implementation of programs.
Budget/finance analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real budget/finance analyst resumes:
- Develop, maintain financial models/applications (VBA Excel/Access) to automate and streamline business processes and perform financial analysis.
- Prepare month-end journal entries in assign areas involving reconciliations and resolving accounting errors.
- Protect spending by reviewing/approving invoices, monitoring receivables and post journal entries, and handling bank reconciliations.
- Interpret and apply all fiscal laws, instructions and policies pertaining to DoD budgetary and appropriate funding processes.
- Review month-end financial reports and upload data using Hyperion.
- Provide analysis of various government appropriations within DoD to identify unliquidate obligations (ULO).
- Develop, maintain financial models/applications (VBA Excel/Access) to automate and streamline business processes and perform financial analysis.
- Facilitate purchase and sale of securities by working with traders.
- Advise account holders on market trends and quantitative models for select securities and execute both solicit and unsolicite trades.
Budget/finance analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Budget/Finance Analysts are proficient in Financial Data, Financial Analysis, and Financial Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Writing skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Budget/Finance Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Financial Data, 8%
Evaluated financial data submitted by Program and Cost Center Managers for accuracy, completeness and adequacy.
- Financial Analysis, 8%
Performed financial analysis and monthly reporting in order to monitor finances associated with business operations, targeting financial performance expectations.
- Financial Management, 8%
Designed procedures to complete IT Financial Management report; accompanied CIO to corporate headquarters for report presentation.
- DOD, 5%
Executed current year funding with a primary focus on reimbursable funds from external Federal, Intelligence Community and DoD agencies.
- Financial Performance, 4%
Supported strategic planning, forecasting, analysis of financial performance, expense and revenue analysis.
- Financial Resources, 3%
Examined past and current budgets to evaluate financial resources.
Most budget/finance analysts use their skills in "financial data," "financial analysis," and "financial management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential budget/finance analyst responsibilities here:
Writing skills. The most essential soft skill for a budget/finance analyst to carry out their responsibilities is writing skills. This skill is important for the role because "budget analysts must present written technical information in a way that is understandable to the intended audience." Additionally, a budget/finance analyst resume shows how their duties depend on writing skills: "assist in writing justification documents in support of pom submissions. "
Detail oriented. Many budget/finance analyst duties rely on detail oriented. "creating an efficient budget requires careful analysis of each budget item.," so a budget/finance analyst will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways budget/finance analyst responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "analyze and periodic financial data, ensuring accuracy, recording and generating detailed reports to senior leadership. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for budget/finance analysts to perform their duties. For an example of how budget/finance analyst responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "budget analysts need math skills and the ability to use financial-management software and programs." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a budget/finance analyst: "developed advanced financial models and conducted analysis using a broad range of quantitative toots and techniques. ".
Analytical skills. A big part of what budget/finance analysts do relies on "analytical skills." You can see how essential it is to budget/finance analyst responsibilities because "budget analysts must be able to process a variety of information, evaluate costs and benefits, and solve complex problems." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical budget/finance analyst tasks: "provided data analysis and input to historical and out year workload projections to analyze project/platform production and financial trends. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for budget/finance analyst responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of budget/finance analysts all the time, as "budget analysts must be able to explain and defend their analyses and recommendations in meetings and legislative committee hearings." An excerpt from a real budget/finance analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a budget/finance analyst does: "uploaded monthly forecast into general ledger developed and maintained relationships with other departments to increase workflow communication"
The three companies that hire the most budget/finance analysts are:
- University of Virginia4 budget/finance analysts jobs
- SAIC3 budget/finance analysts jobs
- FNCB Bank
3 budget/finance analysts jobs
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Budget/finance analyst vs. Treasury analyst
A treasury analyst is an individual who manages and analyses the financial activities of an organization that can include cash flows, liability obligations, and assets. Treasury analysts are required to execute the daily cash management of the organization such as cash forecasting, investing of excess cash, and running a hedging program in interest rates. They must present monthly reports and daily briefings on cash flows to senior management and provide advice on the financial operations of the movement of cash. Treasury analysts also update treasury policies and procedures for the organization to comply.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between budget/finance analysts and treasury analyst. For instance, budget/finance analyst responsibilities require skills such as "financial data," "financial management," "dod," and "financial performance." Whereas a treasury analyst is skilled in "treasury," "cash management," "ach," and "treasury operations." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Treasury analysts really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $87,077. Comparatively, budget/finance analysts tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $73,601.On average, treasury analysts reach similar levels of education than budget/finance analysts. Treasury analysts are 2.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Budget/finance analyst vs. Analyst
Analysts are employees or individual contributors with a vast experience in a particular field that help the organization address challenges. They help the organization improve processes, policies, and other operations protocol by studying the current processes in place and determining the effectiveness of those processes. They also research industry trends and data to make sound inferences and recommendations on what the company should do to improve their numbers. Analysts recommend business solutions and often help the organization roll out these solutions. They ensure that the proposed action plans are effective and produce the desired results.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that budget/finance analyst responsibilities requires skills like "financial management," "financial performance," "financial resources," and "accruals." But an analyst might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "troubleshoot," "project management," and "digital transformation."
Analysts earn a higher average salary than budget/finance analysts. But analysts earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $79,330. Additionally, budget/finance analysts earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $73,601 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than budget/finance analysts. In fact, they're 4.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for budget/finance analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Assistant Professor of Economics, Campbell School of Business, Berry College
Budget/finance analyst vs. Finance planner
A financial planner is responsible for handling client accounts and providing financial advice to determine the best investment options according to the clients' interests and risk appetite. Financial planners record the clients' living expenses as a part of their portfolio, identifying their long-term goals and objectives, and giving tax advice. They also educate clients with investment options and opportunities to improve the clients' account performance and sell financial products. A financial planner must have excellent analytical and communication skills to conduct data and statistical analysis, especially in researching financial instruments in the market.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a budget/finance analyst is likely to be skilled in "financial management," "dod," "financial performance," and "financial resources," while a typical finance planner is skilled in "financial aid," "financial services," "client facing," and "retirement planning."
Finance planners make a very good living in the insurance industry with an average annual salary of $71,594. On the other hand, budget/finance analysts are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $73,601.finance planners typically earn lower educational levels compared to budget/finance analysts. Specifically, they're 6.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Budget/finance analyst vs. Control analyst
A control analyst is an individual who is responsible for identifying weaknesses in the work process of an organization and implement methods to minimize risks. Control analysts are required to supervise the process for incident reports and provide technical guidance to their personnel. They must prepare monthly general ledger account analysis and balance sheets reconciliations that are according to the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Control analysts should also assist with the organization's ISO audit procedures and findings.
Types of budget/finance analyst
Updated January 8, 2025











