Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst is responsible for monitoring the performance of all aspects of a company's finances and making recommendations. They also help to prepare reports for management review. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Financial Analysts.
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Main Responsibilities of Financial Analyst
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Financial Analyst:
Analyze
Analyze and evaluate different cost variables.
Analyze and reconcile the financial statements accounts under your responsibility.
Analyze data to ensure consistency with corporate assumptions and strategies.
Analyze experience of in-force business and recommend rate actions.
Analyze financial data and transactions for appropriate use.
Analyze qualitative and quantitative information.
Analyze reward currency values and dynamics of customer behavior specific to loyalty programs.
Approve
Approve funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.
Arrange
Arrange monthly billings and settlement of intercompany balances.
Assist in
Assist accounting on the monthly and quarterly financial close process.
Assist accounting team to analyze P&L and cash flow forecasts.
Assist Accounts Payable with PO discrepancies.
Assist Director of Finance with the organization's budget.
Assist & evaluate the brewery cost savings initiatives & continuous improvement projects.
Assist in annual budget process and multi-year forecast.
Assist in budget preparation and rolling forecast.
Assist in capital deployment decisions.
Assist in Capital project cost development and ongoing cost tracking.
Assist in creating and reviewing audit procedure documentation.
Assist in creation, management and maintenance of operational processes.
Assist in financial evaluation of future business opportunities.
Assist in identifying and implementing process improvements.
Assist in monthly and quarterly cost accounting close process.
Assist in special projects and other operational functions as needed.
Assist in the budget and reforecast process.
Assist in the completion of quarterly and yearly financial statement disclosures.
Assist in the formation of syndicates in connection with client managed underwritings.
Assist in the implementation of business and financial process improvements.
Assist in the monthly closing process by preparing account analysis on various P&L and B / S account.
Assist in updating Investor Relations slides on a quarterly basis.
Assist negotiating team with deal submittal.
Assist the invested portfolio companies in preparing their historical reports and budgets.
Assist with ad hoc analyses and other internal projects as needed.
Assist with annual audit requirements.
Assist with annual budget as required.
Assist with annual target setting processes and related communications.
Assist with detailed financial analysis of financial statement.
Assist with in preparation of the annual financial statements audits.
Assist with month end close- propose journal entries, reconciliations, and bank deposits.
Assist with monthly analysis on show, studio, and project type revenue performance.
Assist with monthly and quarterly external reporting requirements.
Assist with NOAA, OAR, and OWAQ taskers to compile a response by the requested date and time.
Assist with ongoing changes and updates to leasing standards.
Assist with preparation of budgets, forecasts and reforecasting.
Assist with preparing fixed asset capitalization and asset maintenance requests.
Assist with projects as needed.
Assist with special projects periodically as requested by senior management.
Assist with the interpretation of requests for data and facts.
Attend
Attend staff meetings and participate in task forces, special studies and initiatives as assigned.
Audit
Audit contact and response to audit requests (including internal / external auditors).
Build
Build and monitor cash flow projections, prepare cash call and distribution instructions.
Build compelling storyline for financial updates to collaborate with business partners.
Build consensus across teams to assist and lead forecast related activities.
Build / Create custom reports for the Branch Managers and GMs.
Build pro forma utilizing Argus DCF / AE.
Build relationships with external issuing partner, currently Synchrony Financial.
Calculate
Calculate and analyze the impact of exchange and currency changes in the exchange flex process.
Close
Close the accounting books for the area under responsibility.
Collaborate
Collaborate tightly within Finance team for unified voice and excellence in client service delivery.
Collaborate with business partners and finance teams to improve accuracy of financial forecast.
Collaborate with other departments to ensure billing accuracy.
Collect
Collect, consolidate and extract data.
Communicate
Communicate difficult concepts and negotiates with others to adopt a different point of view.
Communicate net sales forecast changes with key drivers on a monthly basis to actual performance.
Complete
Complete ad-hoc and special projects as requested by senior leadership.
Complete property inspections, tours and tenant interviews.
Compose
Compose and maintain playbook with updated processes.
Conduct
Conduct research to assist with comparative analysis supporting Benefits Analysis assessments.
Conduct special projects to improve process efficiency and performance.
Conduct thorough industry / account research and analysis.
Conduct weekly, quarterly and annual Area / Segment-level Bookings and P&L forecasting.
Consolidate
Consolidate and create financial summary of Funded Heads by RTM.
Consolidate the revenue and expense forecast of the projects on a monthly basis.
Construct
Construct financial data on overall store results by banner in a multitude of different views.
Contribute
Contribute on a variety of client projects and ad hoc analysis.
Contribute to weekly, quarterly and annual Area / Segment-level Bookings and P&L forecasting.
Coordinate
Coordinate and maintain an inventory of related documentation.
Coordinate inspections for the lender or insurance-related inspections.
Coordinate the annual Lease Accounting assessment.
Coordinate the calculation of the Net Asset Value per unit for all funds.
Coordinate with accounting, business partners on financial and operational issues.
Coordinate with budget owners on forecast changes and assumptions.
Create
Create and enters Accounts Receivable billings as requested.
Create and / or automate key performance metrics.
Create and update financial reports.
Create a positive team member experience.
Create documentation to ensure the support of analyses.
Create & monitors recharge centers.
Create recommendations to be presented to management and executives.
Define
Define department organizational structure.
Define steps and plan to launch new automation initiatives for the MSSP team.
Design
Design and document dashboards, alerts, and reports for operations analysis.
Design and implement complex, scalable processes to facilitate reporting and other requirements.
Design workflows and procedures.
Develop
Develop and analyze timecard reporting metrics.
Develop and document best practices.
Develop and implement actions to streamline the reporting and planning processes.
Develop and implement assigned financial processes and models.
Develop and maintain accurate cashflow forecasts.
Develop and oversee internal management reporting.
Develop and utilize sound financial processes to drive improved business performance.
Develop Annual Budget and Forecasts for Client Finance.
Develop financial analysis by leveraging capabilities of SAP to aid in management decision making.
Develop financial models and analyze them to support strategic initiatives.
Develop forecasts and forecast to actual variance analysis.
Develop, interpret, and implement financial concepts for financial planning.
Develop metrics each cycle to present to Spectrum leadership staff.
Develop new initiatives internally and for client.
Develop new metrics / reports as needed for use in regular package.
Develop realistic action plans.
Develop tools to improve financial visibility and tracking of operating expenses.
Document
Document expected behaviors by working with stakeholders and development teams.
Draft
Draft lease and sale proposals and counter-proposals.
Drive
Drive the strategy and business planning process.
Endorse
Endorse weekly, quarterly and annual Area / Segment-level Bookings.
Engage
Engage in monthly close and reporting activities.
Engage with Senior Leadership to gather data to support forecasting / presentation materials.
Enhance
Enhance the forecast accuracy for CSAP.
Ensure
Ensure accurate and timely loading in our systems, of budget and forecast related information.
Ensure all accruals / rebate calculations are updated for the month end close process.
Ensure compliance with both internal and external auditors.
Ensure invoices are correctly coded & approved.
Ensure monthly financial results are stated accurately and in accordance with GAAP.
Ensure ongoing forecasts incorporate trends and relevant information.
Ensure we have strong data cleanliness and source of truth reporting.
Enter
Enter and post deposits.
Establish
Establish structured intervention strategies to support its business partners in decision-making.
Evaluate
Evaluate the completeness and accuracy of financial information that supports the controls.
Facilitate
Facilitate exchanges with outside agencies on behalf of WL Plastics for taxes, credit, etc..
Focus
Focus on your development through tuition reimbursement, training, and mentorship programs.
Follow-Up
Follow-Up on corrections and disputes with vendor (with Procurement).
Gather
Gather and analyzes market data and devises methods and procedures for obtaining data.
Gather and organize financial data from multiple sources.
Gather and publish financial information related to historical, current, and future performance.
Gather data and create financial models for budgeting, forecasting, business decisions.
Generate
Generate monthly and ad hoc client billings.
Generate scorecards that drive improved performance.
Help
Help establish and enforce cost control processes.
Identify
Identify and drive process improvement and reporting automation and enhancement opportunities.
Identify and implement process improvement initiatives.
Identify and implement process improvements.
Identify and provide reports and analysis based on current and future business requirements.
Identify data integrity issues within company CRM and other databases.
Identify defects (8 Years).
Identify errors in general ledger coding at month-end and assist in error remediation.
Identify financial team process improvements and implement changes.
Identify issues and proactively recommend areas for improvement.
Identify key trends and potential risks and opportunities across the Content Production business.
Identify lessons learned to establish trends and resolutions to improve effectiveness.
Identify new forms of analysis and offer insight and guidance to leadership.
Identify patterns and insights within structured and unstructured data.
Implement
Implement a Governance on the cost of Client Options.
Improve
Improve forecast accuracy and visibility.
Improve forecast accuracy for CSAP markets.
Improve procedures, update and organize documentation of reporting and planning processes.
Improve processes, controls and efficiency in Logistics month-end financial close and reporting.
Initiate
Initiate independent action and resolve issues with broad corporate impacts.
Interface
Interface directly with operations teams to creatively resolve various reporting and data roadblocks.
Interpret
Interpret market data and analyze industry and competitive data.
Investigate
Investigate inventory counts adjustments (if unreasonable).
Investigate returned cheques and handle all stale dated cheques.
Keep
Keep management educated on new or changing customer programs or incentives and financial impact.
Lead
Lead annual external audit process.
Lead development of business cases using appropriate indices.
Lead process improvement initiatives to drive efficiencies across ICF Next.
Lead quarterly forecast process by partnering with Business Units leaders.
Lead the creation and maintenance of product profit centers and cost centers in SAP.
Lead the month-end close process associated to our simulator fleet and fixed asset base.
Lead the monthly, quarterly and annual budgeting process for business areas.
Lead the operating expense forecast and budget for the Corporate and R&D Functions.
Lead the reporting, analyzing and explain budget and forecast variances.
Leverage
Leverage historical trends and changes in internal or external factors to project future performance.
Leverage Smartview Analysis and Financial Reporting Studio for reporting purposes.
Liaise
Liaise and build relationships with other departments to provide better analysis and forecasts.
Liaise and respond with the internal and external auditors.
Liaise with Real Estate team, Accounting and other FP&A / finance teams on a regular basis.
Liaise with the employees for all Social benefits applications.
Maintain
Maintain and updates accounting and business policies, procedures and process documentation.
Maintain Area / Segment-level Bookings and P&L forecasting.
Maintain balance sheet accounts analysis and continuity schedules.
Maintain control of key areas of balance sheet and support external audit.
Maintain control tables in the production financial reporting environments.
Maintain detailed models of 3.
Maintain / improve financial information sharing mechanism among APAC MITG Leadership team.
Maintain knowledge and stay current on developments in the real estate markets.
Maintain master files of the company annual plan, and assist in enhancement of management reporting.
Maintain monthly HC rosters for distribution to F.
Maintain monthly, quarterly, and annual revised forecasts (Sales, Margins, Main P&L expenses).
Maintain security for requisition approval queues, cashier access and financial data access.
Maintain the operational period-end and year-end financial close duties related to the project.
Maintain trial balances and general ledgers.
Make
Make decisions with sound judgement while complying with policies and procedures.
Make your mark in the fight against cancer.
Make yourself a valued business partner by providing meaningful and insightful analysis.
Manage
Manage and analyzes the deferred funds on a monthly basis and prepare reports for management review.
Manage and drive key cross functional initiatives from start to finish.
Manage complexity across business value, technology, and interaction models.
Manage fund operations, including compliance, controls and investor requests.
Manage monthly reporting to business partners on financial results and actions required.
Manage operational process improvement projects.
Manage the assessment of impacts for system upgrades or other upcoming enhancements.
Manage the plant's overall accounts payable processes.
Manage trade marketing funding allocations.
Maximize
Maximize customer adoption of direct deposit payment method.
Model
Model generation and reporting of key business drivers for annual and strategic planning.
Monitor
Monitor compliance as well as maintain SOX standards at all times.
Monitor liquidity and assess capital needs for the business.
Monitor performance indicators, highlighting trends and analyzing unexpected variances.
Monitor the financial position of the BU's product families.
Monitor timely expense booking and payout advising local teams and accounting groups.
Conduct
Conduct and document complex financial analysis projects.
Operate
Operate with substantial latitude for un-reviewed action or decision.
Own
Own the forecasting and guidance process for one of Salesforce's key external metrics.
Participate in
Participate as required in the corporate internal and / or external reporting process.
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and ensure understanding of issues before proceeding.
Participate in finance and accounting activities.
Participate in process improvement initiatives or projects related to MRE objectives.
Participate in special projects and other ad hoc analysis as required.
Participate in the development and updates of project plans.
Participate in the various periodic processes.
Participate in various financial projects and provide information for management for decision making.
Participate on cross-functional project teams as the finance support.
Perform
Perform ad-hoc analysis and reporting as needed.
Perform ad-hoc analysis as needed at local and consolidated levels.
Perform ad-hoc analysis on particular areas of investors' and management interests.
Perform ad hoc financial modeling.
Perform ad hoc reports and other analyses and special projects as requested.
Perform analysis on monthly financial results against Budget and forecasts, including trend analysis.
Perform analytical tasks to verify compliance with budget objectives and recommends required.
Perform and validate Standard Cost Updates.
Perform cost accounting activities for the flex sites.
Perform cost accounting activities for the sites of Flex.
Perform customer and product sales and margin analysis.
Perform data entry into loan origination systems as needed for loan requests.
Perform financial and operational analysis to enhance business objectives.
Perform general ad-hoc analysis as required.
Perform Internal Controls in compliance with SOA.
Perform market opportunity assessment and financial modelling for R&D business cases.
Perform month end procedures including account reconciliations and journal entries.
Perform monthly, quarterly, and annual variance analysis to budget and to forecast.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Capital Director and / or Commercial Director.
Perform responsibilities comparable to full-time analysts with support from experienced colleagues.
Perform strategic and scenario analysis to determine present and future financial performance.
Perform trend and variance analyses.
Perform variance analysis and identify key drivers vs.
Plan
Plan, coordinate and consolidate the budget process of the different offices.
Plan, design and develop training materials and execute training sessions to end users as needed.
Plan, organize, and prioritize own daily work routine to meet established schedule.
Prepare
Prepare account reconciliations including prepayment and accruals schedules on monthly basis.
Prepare actual-to-budget variance analysis reports.
Prepare ad hoc financial analysis as needed.
Prepare analyses and information for senior management or other internal groups.
Prepare analyses and reporting for management.
Prepare and deliver financial presentations, as necessary.
Prepare and distribute information for efficient use and control of financial resources.
Prepare and generate budget and financial reports.
Prepare and interpret complex model analyses.
Prepare and maintain Quarterly Performance Incentive Reports by region.
Prepare and present summary of analyses.
Prepare and process semi monthly payroll, ROE and T4.
Prepare and review annual financial statements for a number of subsidiaries in various jurisdictions.
Prepare and review Board presentations.
Prepare and track accrual entries.
Prepare / assist in preparing schedules for audit, year-end and quarterly reviews.
Prepare, attend, minute and keep track of follow ups regarding performance and strategy meetings.
Prepare Balance Sheet and other reconciliations along with supporting analysis.
Prepare client funding requests.
Prepare cost estimates as required.
Prepare de format and budgeting tools.
Prepare / facilitate forecasts for triage, budget and Strat Check purposes.
Prepare financial statement analysis and metrics and comparatives with industry peers.
Prepare general accounting entries.
Prepare insightful reports and analysis for the leadership team.
Prepare journal entries to be posted in SAP, and manage and correct master data in financial systems.
Prepare manual journal entries (i.e. tax, payroll, sales / COGS, restructuring, etc.).
Prepare monthly / annual balance sheet reconciliations, and prepare and post monthly closing entries.
Prepare monthly budget to actual variance analysis on a departmental, entity, and consolidated level.
Prepare necessary schedules for each quarter and year end to be reviewed by Corporate.
Prepare P&L forecast and act as a POC for any arising queries related to the same.
Prepare quarterly management financial reports for senior management and board of directors.
Prepare reconciliation of data among systems.
Prepare reporting packages presented in finance meetings.
Prepare reports analyzing key line items on the income statement and balance sheet.
Prepare revenue and expense variance analysis and business-specific ad-hoc analysis as required.
Prepare special reports required by regulatory needs.
Prepare the main insights / comments of the forecast for management.
Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly management reporting packages.
Present
Present and manage risks and opportunities for the business unit.
Produce
Produce and support analysis and reports for the Corporate teams.
Produce and support monthly management reporting.
Produce financial reports and develop related presentations.
Produce financial statements and accounting reports in CAD GAAP / IFRS.
Produce post-mortem financial analysis on investment profitability and effectiveness vs.
Produce reports, documents, and deliverables that are concise, clear, and consistent.
Provide
Provide ad hoc analysis, insight and support, to include.
Provide ad-hoc support to guide strategic and operational decisions.
Provide analysis during month-end close process.
Provide analysis of trends and forecasts and recommend actions for optimization.
Provide audit support as necessary for internal and external audit reviews.
Provide backup support for functions within the department.
Provide data-based recommendations for remediation and improvement.
Provide detailed TE travel / supply management (execution spreadsheet).
Provide finance training to staff of respective departments as needed.
Provide financial ad-hoc analysis.
Provide financial modeling advice and input to team members.
Provide financial support to AMC & CFS controllers.
Provide in-depth analytical support and analysis for budgeting and forecasting processes.
Provide insightful financial dashboards to report on key engineering matters.
Provide key performance indicators relevant to the real estate portfolio on a regular basis.
Provide on-going to support to business partners (compliance, recognition, sales force operations).
Provide other recurring and ad hoc analysis and technical research as required by management.
Provide risks & ops analyses and proactively partner with management to govern them.
Provide support for ad hoc requests, as may be required in a dynamic environment.
Provide support of the CAR process to facilitate timely and accurate completion and approval.
Provide support to sales management for promotional opportunities.
Provide technical support within area of responsibility.
Provide timely, accurate, and concise ad-hoc financial performance reporting.
Recommend
Recommend cost improvement measures.
Reconcile
Reconcile projected and actual budgets.
Reconcile Salesforce Closed Won Opportunity total to sales bookings.
Reconcile To Ledger Expense.
Report
Report financial results to the leadership team and Board of Directors on a monthly basis.
Report on business metrics including KPI dashboards.
Report sales down to operating income for multiple business segments monthly.
Research
Research and / or analytics, ideally in market, business, or financial analytics function.
Research and resolve business unit inquiries for all Digital products.
Respond
Respond to any payroll related inquires from staff.
Respond to requests for ad-hoc reports and variance analysis.
Respond well to changes in priorities without compromising quality of work.
Review
Review and analyzes project and operational financial transactions.
Review and identify new model requirements.
Review and process cash distributions from the outsourced property managers.
Review and submit draw packages for all properties.
Review AP and other expense invoices and recommend proper coding.
Review audit reports and follow up on discrepancies to improve internal processes.
Review letters of credit and monitors collateral issued to Toronto Hydro.
Review monthly actual labor hours versus earned labor hours.
Review of outsourcing services for accuracy and proper tagging.
Review project setup to ensure completed in accordance with ICF's procedures.
Review
Review, reconcile and verify key transactional activities to ensure processes are efficient.
Review standard management and executive level reports.
Review the accuracy of the accounting adjustments entered for invoice related charges in AP system.
Revise
Revise the standard costs of all products on a monthly basis with the analytical tools in place.
Seek
Seek and recommend improvements in process, reporting and analysis.
Seek guidance and deliver proposed solutions on issues outside of normal scope.
Seek ways to reduce costs.
Set
Set financial and operating targets and lead monthly performance reviews to ensure we are on track.
Submit
Submit Monthly Flash, Quarterly Forecast and Annual Operating Budget.
Support
Support and explains reasoning for decisions.
Support annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes.
Support business and operational functions and analyze data.
Support Chief Strategy Officer Organization.
Support Finance and Business Unit leadership in preparation of the annual budget.
Support management with ad hoc analyses for new initiatives.
Support month-end close activities, including accruals, adjusting journal entries, etc..
Support new technology initiatives and process changes to improve the finance function.
Support ongoing maintenance of Annual Plan, Business Updates, Outlook and monthly financial models.
Support operational decisions.
Support quarterly financial reporting of corporate finance activities.
Support reporting and operational processes.
Support sales team in building business cases, financial models, and RFP preparation.
Support site personnel in understanding costs and process.
Support the regional credit and collections in assuring clean AR subledger.
Support with External and Internal Audits (External Auditor, Government Agencies, etc.).
Support with Treasury Activities.
Take
Take all steps necessary to resolve Unliquidated Obligations (ULOs).
Take initiative to review and update procedures and training documents.
Track
Track and analyze the performance of the Finance Unit.
Track record of innovation, optimization and contributing to establishing processes.
Track record of success and high performance in a top tier environment.
Translate
Translate complex financial data into an understandable format for a variety of audiences.
Understand
Understand product roadmap and promotional calendar and assess impact on product lifecycle.
Understand the complexities and nuances with reporting on multiple dimensions.
Undertake
Undertake special projects from time to time.
Upload
Upload monthly property results from third party managers.
Use
Use intuition and experience to complement data.
Use reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Utilize
Utilize accounting tools for tracking client specifics.
Utilize critical thinking and analytical skills on a regular basis to complete tasks.
Work with
Work closely and develop relationship with AP, Operations Fiber Controller and operations.
Work closely with BIS Operation, IBM and Supply Chain.
Work closely with business unit finance leaders as well as external auditors.
Work closely with Finance Manager and operations team in managing the business.
Work closely with Pharma Finance (Accounting and Pricing) teams.
Work effectively under time pressure to meet deadlines.
Work in pressured environment with tight deadline.
Work next to cross-functional partners in Accounting and Operations to execute against plans.
Work with business development to provide accounting support on deals.
Work with Business Managers to understand current TPM environment and related financial impacts.
Work with Cisco counterparts to communicate Meraki's forecast and actual performance.
Work with labour / industrial relations team on confidential labour matters.
Work with sites to improve their ROIC and OP.
Work with stakeholders to track system & training enhancement needs and other impacts.
Work with Supply Chain Finance to continually improve processes.
Work with the team to strengthen client relationships and deliver excellent client service.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Financial Analyst:
MS Excel
CPA
SAP
Word
Economics
CMA
Analysis
Tableau
Business Administration
Reporting
Financial Modeling
Oracle
SQL
Microsoft Office
Forecasting
CGA
Budgeting
Pivot Tables
Financial Reporting
Hyperion
Commerce
Financial Planning
Accounting Designation
Ifrs
Access
Gaap
MS Office
Power BI
HFM
FP&A
Outlook
Project Management
ERP
Essbase
Planning
Modeling
TM1
Business Acumen
Internal Controls
VBA
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Financial Analyst:
Written and oral communication skills
Analytical ability
Interpersonal skills
Problem-solving attitude
Attention to detail
Organizational capacity
Time-management
Work independently with little direction
Leadership
Self-starter
Team player
Detail-oriented
Presentation
Initiative
Bilingualism
Flexible
Multi-task
Critical thinker
Self-motivated
Collaborative
Organized
Accurate
Proactive
Priority management
Work ethic
Creative
Adaptable to changes
Confident
Results-oriented
Teamwork
