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The differences between lead finance analysts and finance leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a lead finance analyst, becoming a finance leader takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a finance leader has an average salary of $117,284, which is higher than the $85,672 average annual salary of a lead finance analyst.
The top three skills for a lead finance analyst include financial analysis, hyperion and financial planning analysis. The most important skills for a finance leader are financial analysis, financial management, and business development.
| Lead Finance Analyst | Finance Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $85,672 | $117,284 |
| Hourly rate | $41.19 | $56.39 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 89,105 | 93,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
A lead finance analyst is responsible for monitoring the company's financial conditions, analyzing account statements, and resolving payment discrepancies. Lead finance analysts create expense reports and budget forecasting, as well as identifying business opportunities that would minimize loss and generate revenues for the business. They also oversee financial and business transactions, perform bank reconciliations, and manage outstanding payments. A lead finance analyst must have excellent analytical and communication skills, especially in discussing financial results to the management and recommending strategic techniques for cost-reduction activities.
The duties of a finance leader depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the sales and financial operations in a company, preparing financial reports and statements, finding new sales opportunities, identifying the market and client needs, and maintaining records of all financial transactions. There are also instances where a finance leader may set and allocate budgets, perform audits in costs and expenditures, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Lead finance analysts and finance leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Finance Analyst | Finance Leader | |
| Average salary | $85,672 | $117,284 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $114,000 | Between $78,000 And $174,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead finance analyst and a finance leader in terms of educational background:
| Lead Finance Analyst | Finance Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between lead finance analysts' and finance leaders' demographics:
| Lead Finance Analyst | Finance Leader | |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0% | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 11% |