What does a senior finance planning analyst do?
A senior financial planning analyst is responsible for monitoring the financial situation and stability of the company by conducting data and statistical analysis from account statement reports and market trends. Senior financial planning analysts review cost and expense forecasting, budgeting for resource allocation, and resolve financial discrepancies that may affect business functions and operations. They also identify business opportunities to generate more revenues and increase the company's profitability, design an efficient financial database, and prepare organized financial and billing reports.
Senior finance planning analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior finance planning analyst resumes:
- 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.
- Facilitate periodic forecast and annual plan submission process into Hyperion by partnering with MetLife s business units.
- Collaborate with executives and financial managers from numerous cross-functional disciplines on high-level financial projections, reporting and Hyperion administration.
- Prepare payroll and manage all human resource functions including recruitment, training and performance reviews for all administrative and financial personnel.
- Maintain and validate account receivables (A/R) and account payables (A/P).
- Utilize PeopleSoft on a daily basis to generate reports and track finances.
- Review procedures for revenue reporting with auditors and provide supporting documentation for quarterly and SOX audits.
- Consolidate financial information and participate in monthly closing ensuring completeness and accuracy for SOX financial statement assertions.
- Analyze potential investments, including securities, real estate, options strategies and structure derivatives and make recommendations to senior management.
Senior finance planning analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Senior Finance Planning Analysts are proficient in Hyperion, Financial Analysis, and Financial Planning Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Math skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Finance Planning Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hyperion, 11%
Collaborated with executives and financial managers from numerous cross-functional disciplines on high-level financial projections, reporting and Hyperion administration.
- Financial Analysis, 11%
Developed and maintained financial models and process that supported global long-term corporate strategy, including scenario planning & financial analysis.
- Financial Planning Analysis, 8%
Provided competitive/strategic financial planning analysis vs. industry competitors from a cost perspective in revenue forecasting.
- Financial Models, 6%
Developed various financial models and metric dashboards to evaluate sales, product performance and customer segmentation.
- Ad-Hoc Analysis, 5%
Provided ad-hoc analysis for owners regarding dividend policy, tax strategy, and credit ratings impacts of sensitive capital budgeting decisions.
- Financial Data, 4%
Interact with auditors to ensure understanding of financial data, methodology, and applicability under appropriate industry regulations.
Most senior finance planning analysts use their skills in "hyperion," "financial analysis," and "financial planning analysis" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior finance planning analyst responsibilities here:
Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior finance planning analyst to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "financial analysts must be adept at using software to analyze financial data and trends, create portfolios, and make forecasts." Additionally, a senior finance planning analyst resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "designed, developed, and maintained spreadsheet and mainframe computer models to generate financial forecasts. "
Math skills. Many senior finance planning analyst duties rely on math skills. "financial analysts use mathematics to estimate the value of financial securities.," so a senior finance planning analyst will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior finance planning analyst responsibilities rely on math skills: "conduct and document quantitative analysis of financial data needed in planning, budgeting, cost control, project control, etc. "
Analytical skills. senior finance planning analysts are also known for analytical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior finance planning analyst responsibilities, because "financial analysts must evaluate a range of information in finding profitable investments." A senior finance planning analyst resume example shows how analytical skills is used in the workplace: "prepared financial reports and analysis for product center management, enterprise management, and investor relations. "
Communication skills. A big part of what senior finance planning analysts do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to senior finance planning analyst responsibilities because "financial analysts must be able to clearly explain their recommendations to clients." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior finance planning analyst tasks: "promoted to leverage broad competencies in financial analysis and communication and relationship building. "
Detail oriented. Another common skill required for senior finance planning analyst responsibilities is "detail oriented." This skill comes up in the duties of senior finance planning analysts all the time, as "financial analysts must pay attention when reviewing a possible investment, as even small issues may have large implications for its health." An excerpt from a real senior finance planning analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a senior finance planning analyst does: "prepared monthly financial reports for select organizations down to the director level, including key variance drivers and program details. "
The three companies that hire the most senior finance planning analysts are:
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Senior finance planning analyst vs. Finance analyst-operations finance
Financial analysts are professionals who are in charge of the financial operations of businesses. The analysts analyze results, monitor variances, determine trends, and suggest management-related actions to improve corporate finances. They reconcile transactions through data comparison and correction. It is their duty to maintain the database through data input, verification, and backup. They produce presentations restating fiscal information used by supervisors, administrators, and others. This position requires skills in financial reporting, management, communications skills, and accounting qualification.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior finance planning analyst responsibilities require skills like "financial statements," "business plan," "strategic plan," and "develop financial models." Meanwhile a typical finance analyst-operations finance has skills in areas such as "financial operations," "data analysis," "customer service," and "project management." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Finances analyst-operations finances tend to make the most money working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $93,042. In contrast, senior finance planning analysts make the biggest average salary, $93,742, in the manufacturing industry.On average, finances analyst-operations finances reach lower levels of education than senior finance planning analysts. Finances analyst-operations finances are 9.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior finance planning analyst vs. Equity analyst
An equity analyst's role is to help clients navigate through stocks and bonds using their expertise. In a company setting, their responsibilities revolve around performing extensive research and analysis on areas such as the stock market, coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, identifying new opportunities, preparing and analyzing the company's financial records, and creating forecast models. Furthermore, as an equity analyst, it is essential to make recommendations in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior finance planning analyst responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "hyperion," "financial analysis," "financial planning analysis," and "ad-hoc analysis." Meanwhile, an equity analyst has duties that require skills in areas such as "securities," "portfolio companies," "powerpoint," and "fundamental analysis." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Equity analysts earn a higher average salary than senior finance planning analysts. But equity analysts earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $125,442. Additionally, senior finance planning analysts earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $93,742 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Equity analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than senior finance planning analysts. In fact, they're 2.3% 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 senior finance planning analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Nate Peach Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics, George Fox University
Senior finance planning analyst vs. Risk analyst
As a risk analyst, you will oversee the identification, assessment, and monitoring of risks that your company has been exposed to. You will evaluate financial documents, potential clients, and economic conditions to determine the level of risk in business decisions. You will be responsible for aggregating data from several sources to develop a comprehensive assessment and create reports, processes, and presentations to better present results. You are also expected to work closely with other team members to analyze and show data effectively.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior finance planning analyst is likely to be skilled in "hyperion," "financial planning analysis," "ad-hoc analysis," and "financial performance," while a typical risk analyst is skilled in "risk management," "risk assessments," "powerpoint," and "portfolio."
Risk analysts earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $77,608. Senior finance planning analysts earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $93,742.risk analysts typically earn lower educational levels compared to senior finance planning analysts. Specifically, they're 8.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior finance planning 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.
Types of senior finance planning analyst
Updated January 8, 2025











