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Senior budget analyst skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Frank Cabano Ph.D.,

Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior budget analyst skills. We ranked the top skills for senior budget analysts based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.4% of senior budget analyst resumes contained financial management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior budget analyst needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior budget analyst skills for your resume and career

1. Financial Management

Here's how senior budget analysts use financial management:

Trusted with delegated authority to work autonomously to perform functions IAW fiscal/appropriations law, financial management regulations, and standard policies.
Developed, reviewed, and/or coordinated on accounting and financial management policy changes in the DoD Financial Management Regulation.

2. PowerPoint

Here's how senior budget analysts use powerpoint:

Developed presentation materials and supporting graphics using PowerPoint.
Developed and prepared issue papers, MS PowerPoint briefings and other technical documents relevant to my programs.

3. Financial Analysis

Here's how senior budget analysts use financial analysis:

Researched and provided financial analysis on issues with financial implications; interpreted, recommended and developed policies and procedures.
Conduct diverse and highly complex financial analysis of the University's operations and annual operating budget.

4. Budget Analysis

Budget analysis entails explaining and examining the components of revenue and expenditure in a budget plan. The primary aim of the budget analysis is to predict and control future expenditures, needs, thus providing the information needed to prepare a budget for the subsequent fiscal cycle. The structure of the budget can vary based on the goals that the organization aims to accomplish.

Here's how senior budget analysts use budget analysis:

Provide budget analysis of anticipated revenues and costs, identifying funding requirements for the supported divisions.
Prepare and present monthly budget analysis including variance to plan analysis to management team.

5. Financial Data

Here's how senior budget analysts use financial data:

Facilitated a project development working group to draft the operating requirements to study the alternatives to program and financial data management.
Analyzed financial data warehouses and created complex allocations across all channels of business regarding fixed assets and software amortization.

6. Financial Systems

A financial system is an organized pathway for the exchange of funds in a financial market. It covers all aspects of funds sale, including loans, investments, and lending.

Here's how senior budget analysts use financial systems:

Engaged in data gathering, analysis and reporting unilaterally across client financial system to satisfy audit request.
Entered funding, commitments, and all economic obligation information into corresponding financial systems.

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7. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how senior budget analysts use dod:

Reviewed commitments, obligations and expenditures and reconciled monthly reports on transactions processed in DoD accounting systems.
Prepared and monitor fiscal year projected spend plans and monitored fund execution according to DoD Obligation Targets.

8. Budget Formulation

The budget formulation is the process of establishing the resources necessary for an organization (private/public/federal) to carry out plans, perform operations, and to achieve goals in a set period. The process of budgeting begins with reviewing budget proposals. Budgets need to be accurate and in compliance with laws/regulations of the organization and region.

Here's how senior budget analysts use budget formulation:

Collaborated with various offices and presenting recommendations to upper management on the resolution of complex budget formulations and management issues.
Linked Agency execution to budget formulation, developing long and short range fund requirements and validating requirements for additional resources.

9. Budget Preparation

Budget preparation is a calculative process between the finance department and the spending department. It indicates the start of the budget process and supervises departments and agencies for developing revised assessments (for the past year) and budget estimates (for the coming year). Budget preparation makes the organization responsible for its expenses, lessens costs, and provides for a worst-case scenario. It works as an assessment tool that can visually explain if you have sufficient funds to operate or to grow.

Here's how senior budget analysts use budget preparation:

Prepared programmatic and technical instructions for assigned offices related to budget preparations, monitoring, and re-appropriations.
Developed many improvements to the budget preparation process to speed development and improve accuracy.

10. PPBE

Here's how senior budget analysts use ppbe:

Tracked FMS Admin funds throughout PPBE and determined allocation of FMS Admin funds.
Provided PPBE support for millions of dollars of requirements.

11. Budget Execution

Budget execution refers to the process in which financial resources made available to an agency get directed and controlled toward achieving the purposes and objects for which budgets were approved.

Here's how senior budget analysts use budget execution:

Prepared monthly budget execution reports with narrative, graphical and statistical analysis depicting activities and alternative solutions for resolving issues.
Established procedures for numerous budgetary activities; provided budget execution support to Headquarters and other FMCSA offices.

12. Budget Development

Budget development is the process of estimating the revenue and expenses for a period of time. A budget is a financial plan that can be adopted by an individual, government, or business.

Here's how senior budget analysts use budget development:

Assisted department managers with strategic planning and budget development, including determining revenue from course fee and estimated student enrollment.
Prepared the monthly budget/cost variance analyses on administrative expenses and provide re-forecasting for budget development for Medicare Administration Contract.

13. Variance Analysis

Here's how senior budget analysts use variance analysis:

Implemented new variance analysis process and developed the necessary tools and reporting exhibits to support variance reasons.
Conducted variance analysis and analyzed budgetary impact of federal and state laws.

14. Budget Analysts

Here's how senior budget analysts use budget analysts:

Provided functional advice or training to less experienced budget analysts.
Supervised a team of four financial and budget analysts to determine the financial impact of decisions made at all review levels.

15. Financial Resources

Fіnаnсіаl rеѕоurсеѕ аrе ѕоurсеѕ оf fundѕ thаt a buѕіnеѕѕ can drаw uроn tо bе successful, to finance its investments, саріtаl, and day-to-day operations. It соvеrѕ аll fіnаnсіаl fundѕ оf the organization fоr the іmрlеmеntаtіоn оf сurrеnt costs and extended rерrоduсtіоn еxреnѕеѕ, fоr the fulfіllmеnt оf financial оblіgаtіоnѕ аnd economic incentives fоr еmрlоуееѕ.

Here's how senior budget analysts use financial resources:

Prepared specialized reports detailing management utilization of financial resources.
Determined financial resources required to implement programs.

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What skills help Senior Budget Analysts find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on senior budget analyst resumes?

Dr. Frank Cabano Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Texas at El Paso

I think these days something that really stands out on a resume is data analytic skills. Given the large amounts of data that companies have access to nowadays, employers are often looking for employees who have the knowledge and skills to be able to manage, analyze, and draw insights from that data. Therefore, knowledge of advanced statistics and being able to use different statistical packages to analyze large data sets, and then being able to offer evidence-based insights from this data, are important skills to have on today's job market. In addition, and related to the importance of having data analytic skills, is being able to demonstrate one's communication skills. Both written and oral communication skills are critical, and pairing these "soft" skills with the "hard" skills of data analytics, where one can effectively communicate practical implications from data analyses, should be great assets for a candidate currently on the job market.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior budget analysts?

Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Eastern Mennonite University

Quantitative and technical skills like coding, knowledge of complex hardware and/or software systems, and the ability to perform quick and dirty calculations are of utmost importance. Depending on the context, specific skills might be required by the job, however, handling any type of computer language/framework plus a math-oriented mindset often is a winning mix.

What soft skills should all senior budget analysts possess?

Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Eastern Mennonite University

Definitively a team working attitude and communication skills. Nowadays, everything is accomplished within the realm of a team, so functioning well in that dynamic, diverse context is crucial. No matter your role in the team, use your capacity to contribute to the shared goal.
Of course, translating and abstracting your work to a larger audience should also be the focus of your activity.

What senior budget analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Jarrad Harford Ph.D.

Professor of Finance, University of Washington

They should try to enhance the practical skills to complement the foundational knowledge they learned in college. So, this could include spreadsheet modeling, programming in R, expertise with Bloomberg terminals, etc. There are plenty of online courses that can help with these types of practical skills.

What type of skills will young senior budget analysts need?

Dr. Reid Cummings

Associate Professor of Finance & Real Estate, University of South Alabama

As computing systems continue to advance and evolve, and as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in data analytics, the ability to work with a variety of data manipulation, analysis, and presentation platforms will become increasingly important. Equally, a focus on improving critical thinking and communication skills, and the abilities to present outcomes, analysis, and ideas in a succinct, cogent, and logical fashion, will largely differentiate those who will succeed at a high level from everyone else.

Do you want to know more?

List of senior budget analyst skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a senior budget analyst resume and required skills for a senior budget analyst to have include:

Financial Management
PowerPoint
Financial Analysis
Budget Analysis
Financial Data
Financial Systems
DOD
Budget Formulation
Budget Preparation
PPBE
Budget Execution
Budget Development
Variance Analysis
Budget Analysts
Financial Resources
OMB
Defense Travel System

Management System
Budget Estimates
Internal Controls
DHS
Budget Data
Technical Assistance
Earned Value Management
Program Budget
Develop Recommendations
Hyperion
GFEBS
Financial Statements
Capital Budgets
Automated Financial
Budget Submissions
POM
Reconciliations

Financial Performance
FTE
General Fund
Financial Models
PeopleSoft
Accruals
Cost Analysis
General Ledger
Corrective Action
Journal Entries
Cost Estimates
DTS
Strategic Plan
Budget Adjustments
Financial Issues
Cash Flow

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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