Budgeting is important in any venture. People must budget household expenses and businesses have to budget their own financial profits in relation to their expenses. A budget analyst reviews and interprets financial data so that an organization can more effectively spend its money in the future. A budget analyst can instruct an organization on the most effective plan that can be put in place so that it can accomplish its goals.
As the name implies, a budget analyst analyzes budgets. They look over financial records, track expenses, note profits, and then interpret the data so that a reasonable budget can be created to ensure maximum success for the business or non-profit organization. Basically a budget analyst determines the best distribution of money throughout an organization. No organization has limited funds. That’s why the work of the budget analyst is so important.
There are several variations of budget analyst, though each variation differs in its job duties. There are budget Accountants, managers, and supervisors, as well as budget planners. There are differences in these occupations, some small some large. All are connected through their work with budgeting.
Budget analysts begin making $45,110 to $69,469, depending on the type of organization they’re budgeting for. Most analysts work for local, state, or Federal governments. They receive wonderful health benefits as well as a good salary.
Education is a requirement to become a budget analyst. It’s a very competitive field. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement to obtain this job, and many employers now require a master’s degree. The more education a budget analysis has, the better their chances of acquiring a good job, and in some cases any job at all.
A budget analyst is a big part of the success of any organization and can make a difference in all branches of government. Many annual budgets for states come directly from the important work of budget analysts, so it isn’t just work with numbers. The numbers are analyzed but the end result is that people receive the kind of funds they need to perform their tasks. Analyzing and interpreting a budget is one of the most important functions in any organization.
Potentially a budget analyst will have a higher salary but this is depedant on how much you work yourself up as a finsancial analyst. You could be earning just as much depending on your position.
Though it may be difficult these days to find a good budget analyst, several different sites online offer legit, clear, and easy-to-use budget analyst tools. Sites like Indeed or BudgetAnalyst offers services and even jobs to those looking for careers as budget analyst or just plain services.
Each year around October and November
To get a job as a budget analyst one would need skills in software such as Excel and Microsoft Suite and Power Point, accounting and mathematical skills acquired though education and certification.
The GFEBS role responsible for maintaining the budget formulation interfaces for Business Intelligence (BI) is typically the Budget Analyst. This role involves managing the integration and accuracy of budget data within the BI systems to ensure effective financial reporting and analysis. The Budget Analyst collaborates with various stakeholders to streamline processes and enhance data accessibility for decision-making.
Finance degree have a big range of jobs. You can be an accountant, Financial Adviser, Financial Analyst, Auditors, Loan officer, Collector, Budget Analyst, Treasurer, Bank Teller or even Buyer.
A budget analyst is likely to question or adjust a budget request if there is a significant increase in funding for a specific line item without a clear justification or explanation. For instance, if a department requests a 50% increase in personnel costs without providing details on new hires or changes in salaries, it would raise red flags. Additionally, any discrepancies between the requested budget and historical spending patterns could prompt further scrutiny.
A person who makes a budget is often referred to as a budget analyst or a financial planner. In a corporate context, they may also be called a financial manager or accountant. In personal finance, individuals who create budgets for their households are simply known as budgeters.
A person who specializes in budgeting is often referred to as a budget analyst or budget officer. These professionals are responsible for developing, analyzing, and managing budgets for organizations, helping to ensure financial resources are allocated efficiently. They may work in various sectors, including government, corporations, and non-profits.
Budget analysts investigate a company or firm’s finances and advise on new budget allocations. They work mostly in the private sector, but some analysts work for non-profits and some government agencies. Any company that requires help with their finances may be aided by these analysts. A company submits their finances at the beginning of each budget cycle so the analyst can accurately estimate the company’s budget data. The analysts usually advise the company about any pitfalls to the budget proposals and then give financial alternatives to help the company’s bottom line. Budget analysts may work as independent contractors or for budget analysts firms. An individual analyst usually works 40 hours a week compiling and researching data for the companies they are contracted with. Most of their workload comes within different company’s quarters and near the beginning and end of the financial years. A budget analyst needs a bachelor’s degree, but some budget analyst firms require a master’s degree. Many budget analysts simply are promoted within their firms without the need for certification. However, if budget analysts work for government agencies, the Advancing Government Accountability can give certification in the form of a Certified Government Financial Manager. Budget analysts that desire this certification need a bachelor’s degree, 24 hours of financial management course work, and work for at least 2 years in a government agency’s budget analysis office. The government has become one of the biggest employers for budget analysts. This new trend is from state and local governments. Local government requires the help of budget analysts so that towns and cities can balance their budgets and public finances. This trend has helped fuel the hiring of more government budget analysts. However, the private sector contacts independent budget analysts heavily. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is expecting around a 15 percent increase in job opportunities for budget analysts across the United States. Budget analysis earn higher than average wages. The highest 10 percent of budget analysts make over $100,000 a year and many mid-level budget analysts contracted by large firms make approximately $70,000 a year.
London Business School is a good place to start looking at for a master's degree in finance. With a master's degree in finance, one could become a budget analyst for elected officials. Advising them in budget making decisions.
It really depends on what type of business you are talking about. In a large corporation, the budgeting functions (or financial analyst, budget analyst function) would be to prepare a yearly budget based on: 1. the previous year's actuals, plus 2. increases to employee hourly wages, and increase/decreases to staffing levels. Increases in taxes. 3. capital projects and other projects. 4. asset management (decrease/increase in depreciation). 5. increase in vendor service contracts. 6. Several other items that may increase/decrease the previous year actuals. 7. It may also be the analyst's responsibility to look for areas to trim the budget actuals from the previous years. Once the yearly budget process is complete, it would be the analysts responsibility to provide monthly variance analysis (actual vs budget) explanations and forecast (budget vs projected) explanations. Not sure why you are asking the question, but if it is that you are looking to take a position like this, you may also be responsible for multiple projects - i.e., process improvement, project management, business planning, trend analysis, etc. Hope I answered your question.