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What is a senior finance planning analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Nate Peach Ph.D.

The senior financial planning analyst is accountable for financial and operational projects of individuals, corporations, and the like. He/She helps clients make informed financial decisions. He/She performs quantitative analyses and makes recommendations using his/her results. Asides from that, he/she defines the client's financial situation by appraising assets and financial holdings. Furthermore, he/she prepares financial records using calculations, data, other information provided by the client. Additionally, he/she suggests and creates financial action plans for companies and individuals. Also, he/she analyzes debt restructuring and refinancing options.

To become a senior financial planning analyst, you need at least a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related discipline. You must have prior experience in a similar role. Core skills include financial planning, strategic planning, risk management, computer, and analytical skills. You must be familiar with database maintenance and design. Senior financial planning analysts are paid about $89,520 a year. Their salary varies between $65,000 and $124,000.

What general advice would you give to a senior finance planning analyst?

Nate Peach Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Economics, George Fox University

Try to stay optimistic. You've invested your time, energy, and money on a precious degree. The pandemic has not changed the value of the skills you've acquired. What it has done is to make it challenging to find a job for the moment. Things are weird right now. Many companies are redesigning their hiring practices, which is bound to cause challenges for job seekers. The skills that you developed as an economist are precious to employers, be diligent in your job search, and you will be rewarded with a great career.
ScoreSenior Finance Planning AnalystUS Average
Salary
6.9

Avg. Salary $87,863

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.10%

Asian 14.09%

Black or African American 5.64%

Hispanic or Latino 7.67%

Unknown 4.50%

White 68.00%

Gender

female 33.53%

male 66.47%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Senior finance planning analyst career paths

Key steps to become a senior finance planning analyst

  1. Explore senior finance planning analyst education requirements

    Most common senior finance planning analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.0 %

    Master's

    24.6 %

    Associate

    1.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior finance planning analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Hyperion11.00%
    Financial Analysis10.83%
    Financial Planning Analysis8.03%
    Financial Models6.40%
    Ad-Hoc Analysis5.23%
  3. Complete relevant senior finance planning analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior finance planning analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior finance planning analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior finance planning analyst resumes.
  4. Research senior finance planning analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Prepare payroll and manage all human resource functions including recruitment, training and performance reviews for all administrative and financial personnel.
    • Reconcile main Essbase data repository to correct annual operating profit discrepancies of $750k.
    • Improve business analysis, developing Essbase models adopt for all program approval evaluations.
    • Perform extensive modeling for service internalization, make-vs-buy decisions, ROI and scenario analyses.
  5. Get senior finance planning analyst experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior finance planning analyst. The most common roles before becoming a senior finance planning analyst include senior finance analyst, finance analyst team lead and finance planning analyst.
  6. Prepare your senior finance planning analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior finance planning analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior finance planning analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior finance planning analyst resume templates

    Build a professional senior finance planning analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior finance planning analyst resume.
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
    Senior Finance Planning Analyst Resume
  7. Apply for senior finance planning analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior finance planning analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior finance planning analyst job

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Average senior finance planning analyst salary

The average senior finance planning analyst salary in the United States is $87,863 per year or $42 per hour. Senior finance planning analyst salaries range between $64,000 and $120,000 per year.

Average senior finance planning analyst salary
$87,863 Yearly
$42.24 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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