What is a Budget Analyst?
Budget Analysts assess budget plans in order to find the most efficient use of project resources. They are in charge of analysing budget plans and funding requests, as well as evaluating expenditure needs and conducting cost-benefit evaluations.
Budget analysis, in a nutshell, is scrutinising the specifics of a financial budget.
Budget analysis is used to learn about and improve how money is spent and handled.
This form of examination guarantees that organisations make the most efficient use of all available funds in order to achieve their overall objectives.
Budget Analysts benefit from high average pay, steady employment during difficult economic times, and a diverse range of career opportunities in various work settings.
Budget analysis may be time-consuming. Budget Analysts can work long hours, particularly during budget formulation or when the legislature is in session. Those hours are spent dealing with high-ranking officials who don’t have time to discuss the agencies or programmes’ history.
In addition to delivering technical analyses, Budget Analysts must convey their ideas effectively inside the company. They are occasionally called upon to examine the effectiveness of a program, review policies, and create budget-related legislation. For example, if there is a gap between the approved budget and actual expenditure, Budget Analysts may create a report outlining the disparities and recommend modifications to reconcile them.
Government Budget Analysts may testify before committees to clarify their recommendations to legislators. A Budget Analyst working for a private business will analyse the budget and seek new methods to enhance efficiency and profitability. In nonprofit organisations, where profit is not a factor, Budget analysts discover the best approach to allocate funds among various projects or departments.
Responsibilities
The following are examples of specific responsibilities related to all Budget Analysts:
- Develop the organisations budget with program and project managers
- Review managers’ budget plans and funding requests for accuracy, correctness, and compliance with laws and other requirements.
- Consolidate program and department budgets into an organisational budget
- Assist top managers in analysing proposed plans and finding alternatives if the projected results are unsatisfactory
- Inform program managers on the status of funds and their availability
- Estimate future financial requirements.
- Systems Evaluation- Identify system performance measurements or indicators, as well as the activities required to enhance or rectify performance in relation to the system’s goals.
- Systems Analysis – Identify how a system should operate and how changes in circumstances, activities, and the environment will impact the system’s outputs.
- Management of Personnel Resources – Identifying the best individuals for the task and motivating, developing, and leading them as they work.
- Management of Financial Resources – Choosing how the money will be spent to complete the task and keeping track of the costs.
- Learning Strategies – Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Operations Analysis – Building a design, analysing demands and product requirements.
- Service Orientation – Actively seeking out methods to assist others.
- Coordination – Adapting one’s activities in response to the actions of others.
- Judgement and Decision Making- Considering the relative costs and advantages of many options in order to select the best one.
- Monitoring- Monitoring and evaluating your own, other people’s, or organisations’ performance in order to make changes or take remedial action.
- Instructing- Explain funding requests to others in the organisation, legislators, and the public
Salary
Your salary as a Budget Analyst will be determined by a variety of factors, including the type of job, location, experience, skills, education, qualifications, and the type of company for which you decide to work.
The national average income for a Budget Analyst In the UK is £44,181, ranging from £29,000 for entry-level positions to £68,000 for more senior positions.
There is a considerable wage gap across areas. Budget Analyst salaries in London range from £31,000 to £70,000, making it one of the highest-paying cities in the UK. The average salary per year is £46,427 which isn’t surprising given London’s reputation as the United Kingdom’s financial capital.
Working hours and work location
Most Budget Analysts work full-time. Their schedules change during the budget cycle, and many work extra hours during budget formulation, mid-year reviews, and final reviews.
Budget Analysts usually operate in an office environment although they may travel to gather firsthand budget information or to double-check funding allocations.
They work individually, for the most part, gathering and evaluating data and generating budget suggestions.
Some of the work settings that Budget Analysts work in are:
- Government,
- Educational services (national, municipal, and private)
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is required for a Budget Analyst.
The CPA certificate along with other finance certificates is a distinct benefit for many occupations, and it is occasionally required.
An MBA or a master’s degree in accounting, finance, or a similar discipline is required for some senior analyst positions.
While a bachelor’s degree is normally adequate to get employment as a Budget Analyst, certain employers may insist on a Master’s Degree.
By being certified as a qualified Budget Analyst, you can ensure that you continue to grow your talents and earn higher pay. This entails earning internationally recognised qualifications.
The following international finance certifications relevant to Budget Analysts are available:
The CPA qualification identifies qualified accounting professionals who are dedicated to public service. These experts provide financial statement audits and other attestation services to assist investors to understand a company’s financial health.
The CFP credential is the gold standard in financial planning. CFP experts have completed extensive education, training, and ethical requirements, and they are dedicated to serving their customers’ best interests now in order to help them plan for a more secure future.
ChFC certification is a complete financial planning qualification. This is a prestigious financial planning qualification that can be used instead of a CFP. You must finish the relevant coursework and pass a series of course-specific tests to receive a ChFC.
The CFA program is designed to help professionals, undergraduates, and graduate students who want to work in wealth management, financial planning, or investment management advance their careers. The program is well-known across the world, and Charter holders have access to job prospects all around the globe.
The Investment Adviser Association(IAA) bestows this credential on qualified financial professionals. Candidates must complete specific professional requirements to become a CIC, including obtaining the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential.
The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) has a professional credential called Financial Risk Manager (FRM) . The Global Association of Risk Professionals FRM accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard for financial risk managers who work in financial markets.
A Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) is a financial professional with extensive knowledge of life insurance. In most countries, a CLU designation exempts you from pre-licensing education and underwriting certification requirements.
Skills
Not everyone is cut out to be a Budget Analyst. In order to break into the field, you'll need a set of particular abilities. Here are some essential skills that you must possess or acquire in order to thrive in this position:
must have skills:
- Active listening- paying close attention to what others are saying, taking the time to grasp what they’re saying, asking questions when necessary, and not interrupting at inopportune moments.
- Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Mathematics – Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Writing – Communicating successfully through writing in a manner that is appropriate for the audiences’ needs.
- Reading Comprehension- Comprehending written sentences and paragraphs in work-related materials.
- Critical Thinking- Identifying the merits and drawbacks of alternate solutions, conclusions, or approaches to issues using logic and reasoning.
- Complex Problem Solving – Identifying and examining related information to design, analyse, and execute solutions to complex challenges.
- Active learning- Understanding the significance of new information for present and future problem-solving and decision
- Time management- Managing ones’ own time as well as the time of others.
- Social perceptiveness- Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react the way they do.
- Persuasion- Persuading people to alter their ideas or conduct.
- Negotiation-Bringing people together and attempt to resolve conflicts.
- Analytical capabilities- Being able to process a variety of information, evaluate costs and benefits, and solve complex problems.
Work experience
If you enjoy numbers and planning this may be a fantastic career choice for you!
In the beginning, you’ll work in an entry-level role under strict supervision. While your duties may be restricted, after you demonstrate your abilities, you might be promoted to a mid-level job within two years.
Budget Analyst, Budget Manager, Senior Financial Analyst, and Finance Director are possible professional paths. Moving along this career path will take years as you gain additional knowledge, expertise, certifications, and managerial experience.
Budget Analysts will likely spend more time diving deeper into the multiple streams of data accessible to them as the world of business continues to move toward globalisation and our concentration on technology increases.
Budget Analysts will never be outdated because someone will always be needed to convert all of that raw data into ideas that managers can utilise to make real-world choices.
That is why, as AI becomes more widespread in data analysis, the area continues to develop.
Career prospects
The field of budget analysis offers a diverse range of career options.
As a prospective student you’re undoubtedly asking yourself the most crucial question: What Can You Do With an MBA in Finance?
As a Budget Analyst, you have several options when it comes to your career path. Some of those options are:
Financial Budgets Analysts’ key task is to find the likely (anticipated) profit that will be left over after all costs have been taken into account.
Production Budget Analysts are responsible for determining the expenses associated with the manufacture of a product (i.e., Finished Goods). They obtain a list of all the components necessary for manufacturing from the organisations’ production manager.
They also have an overview of all the overheads associated with the manufacturing process.
Division/Branch Analysts perform the same functions as Financial Budget Analysts. However, they are just concerned with one part of the company, not the entire company.
Cash Flow Budget Analysts’ primary responsibility is to forecast net cash flows from the organisations operating, investment, and finance operations. They are in charge of allocating cash flows to various operations and arriving at net cash that will be retained by the company.
Budget Analysts will continue to be in high demand as the need for effective use of public funds grows. Despite the fact that many countries are experiencing fiscal deficits, Budget Analysts should continue to be employed as they supervise resource allocation even in times of constrained budgets.
Employers
Related Courses
This one-year full-time program, delivered by the University of the West of Scotland, will provide you with the executive training you need to kick-start your budget analysis career.
The London Campus is located in the heart of London’s financial sector and the course is designed for graduates with extensive past financial industry job experience who want to further their careers.
Other related courses
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Finance (MFin)
FAQ Summary
Budget Analysts assess budget plans in order to find the most efficient use of project resources.
The national average income for a Budget Analyst In the UK is £44,181, ranging from £29,000 for entry-level positions to £68,000 for more senior positions.
A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is required for a Budget Analyst.
