FINANCIAL ANALYST SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Updated: Jun 12, 2025 - The Financial Analyst demonstrates strong proficiency in financial analysis and reporting within complex, matrixed organizations, utilizing tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau, PowerBI, and COGNOS. This role requires critical thinking to interpret ambiguous data, benchmark performance, and drive continuous process improvements with exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills. The analyst also builds credible relationships with stakeholders through clear communication, ethical conduct, and a collaborative, self-motivated approach to professional growth.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Financial Analyst Resume
  • Financial Analysis
  • Data Analysis
  • Financial Reporting
  • Budget Planning
  • Forecast Reporting
  • Variance Analysis
  • Financial Modelling
  • Cost Management
  • Account Reconciliation
  • Journal Entries
  • Problem Solving
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Relationship Building
  • Business Partnership
  • Collaboration Skills
  • Change Management
  • Process Improvement
  • Decision Support
  • Ad Hoc Support
  • Audit Support

Summary of Financial Analyst Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BA in Financial Management with 1 year of Experience

  • Experience working as a financial analyst.
  • Basic understanding of accounting processes.
  • Basic analytical skills.
  • Good business application skills (e.g., Microsoft Excel).
  • Good verbal and written communication skills
  • Good teamwork skills.

2. BA in Accounting with 2 years of Experience

  • Experience as a Financial Controller or similar
  • Working knowledge of SAP
  • Proficiency with relevant accounting experience (IFRS)
  • Good MS Office knowledge, preferably experience with Excel
  • Communication skills and team-oriented
  • Flexibility and the ability to work under pressure, in a changing environment
  • Strong strategic judgment, business competence, and professional ethics
  • High level of self-motivation, pro-activeness, and an independent way of working

3. BA in Economics with 3 years of Experience

  • Previous applicable industry experience, and currently enrolled in an accounting designation program
  • Intermediate experience with spreadsheet applications, Word documents, and email (Office Suite)
  • Ability to converse comfortably with business partners
  • Highly motivated, professional attitude (business attire, communication with colleagues, positive attitude), professional demeanor
  • Ability to implement required process improvement or transition to new work
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with keen attention to detail and commitment to excellence
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently or as part of a team, with strong/effective communication skills, both internal and external
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Be flexible and able to adapt to change in a positive manner
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

4. BA in Mathematics with 8 years of Experience

  • Advanced accounting certification (e.g., CPA, MBA)
  • Experience working as a financial analyst.
  • Typically experienced in a variety of finance functions.
  • Excellent understanding of accounting principles and financial analysis.
  • Must have excellent analytical skills.
  • Superior business application skills (e.g., Microsoft Excel).
  • Superior communication and influencing skills with teamwork skills
  • Excellent business acumen.
  • Excellent project management skills.
  • Strong business partnering and acumen.
  • Must have strong finance and accounting acumen.
  • A strong ability to make decisions and solve problems.

5. BA in International Business with 4 years of Experience

  • Experience in finance or a related analytical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Strong understanding of core corporate finance and accounting concepts
  • High proficiency in organizing and manipulating data in Excel.
  • Knowledge of SQL, dashboards, and data analysis.
  • Prior experience in corporate finance, management consulting, public accounting, or investment banking
  • Excellent organizational skills, with an ability to manage multiple projects at once, follow through, and meet deadlines.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously, drive projects to completion, and work cross-functionally.

6. BA in Finance with 5 years of Experience

  • Relevant experience with a background in finance and accounting
  • Strong command of complex data modeling using Microsoft Excel, such as the utilization of pivot tables, vlookup, hlookup, sumif, sumifs, countif, if/and/or
  • Ability to lead live Webex meetings and perform on-the-spot data analysis
  • Capability to transform large data sets into digestible summaries
  • Succinct communication with the ability to connect the dots from the numbers to the business
  • Familiarity with finance tools (Business Object, Hyperion/Essbase, FinABC)
  • Technical aptitude to quickly learn and adapt to new tools

7. BA in Business Administration with 7 years of Experience

  • Prior experience in a Manufacturing or Aerospace Company
  • Familiarity with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 15)
  • Strong written communication skills using business/financial writing techniques
  • Basic working knowledge and experience with SQL, Python, or R
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, growing company
  • Self-starter, innate curiosity
  • Strong Excel skills (model building, sumifs, sumproduct, index/match, pivot tables, nested if statements, chart formatting)
  • Analyst experience in Pricing, Finance, Aerospace, or a related field in an analytical role
  • Strong skills in Power BI or Tableau (or other Business Intelligence software), including dashboard building, data gathering/cleaning, and best practices
  • Strong presentation skills with the ability to distill and explain complex data simply and concisely

8. BBA in Finance and Investment with 1 year of Experience

  • Experience in financial planning, analysis, or accounting
  • Demonstrated leadership ability in organizations or activities
  • Proficient with financial modeling, systems, and tools, including Excel and PowerPoint
  • Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact with and support business partners
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work on multiple priorities and execute in a fast-paced environment

9. BSc in Actuarial Science with 3 years of Experience

  • Knowledge of the auto industry or manufacturing
  • Results-oriented, works towards goals, sets high standards for self and others
  • Fluent in English both verbally and in writing, good computer skills (SAP, BI, Think Cell, Excel, etc.)
  • Ability to take own initiatives to further develop processes and improve efficiency
  • A continuous improvement mindset with creativity to come up with new ways of thinking/working
  • Ability to work both independently and within a team environment.
  • Be flexible with the ability to multitask with requested ad hoc activities to perform
  • Eager to learn new areas, curious to understand what is going on within the business
  • Positive attitude, good communication, and presentation skills with attention to detail
  • Ability to interact cross-functionally and to act in a multi-cultural environment
  • Proactive mindset, plan for success, and take initiative

10. BSc in Management Information Systems with 2 years of Experience

  • Progressive experience in finance, preferably within operations finance
  • Must be a resourceful problem solver, with the ability to prioritize and create approaches to meet required objectives
  • Excellent analytical abilities, including advanced Excel
  • Demonstrate leadership values and ability to develop and participate in diverse/cross-functional teams
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with and influence a wide spectrum of customers
  • Ability to maintain a big picture perspective as well as be detail-oriented

11. BA in International Business with 4 years of Experience

  • Experience in problem solving through statistical analysis or with large data sets, such as in derivatives, structured finance, or business analytics, or in a similarly demanding and analytical role
  • Excellent verbal, written, and social skills
  • Prior knowledge of spreadsheets and ERP systems
  • Familiarity with Business Intelligence (BI) reporting tools
  • Demonstrated ability to build and deliver effective presentations to audiences with wide-ranging backgrounds
  • Solid understanding of financial analysis
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Excel
  • Working knowledge of financial planning and analysis (go-to-market experience suggested)
  • Eager problem-solver who listens for customer cues and actively resolves problems with grace and integrity

12. BA in Banking and Finance with 6 years of Experience

  • General accounting and financial reporting experience
  • Strong work ethic and the ability to juggle multiple tasks
  • A background in WM systems (PeopleSoft, Hyperion, Salary Planning) and Excel
  • Effective decision-making and strong interpersonal skills to work across groups and divisions to consolidate the budget.
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills
  • Media, entertainment, or technology industry experience
  • Previous experience doing data validation and financial reporting
  • Demonstrated knowledge of Ledger Account Analysis

13. BA in Statistics with 2 years of Experience

  • Relevant finance working experience
  • Advanced analytical skills and an ability to work independently in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment, work ethic based on a strong desire to exceed expectations
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including written and oral communication
  • Demonstrated ability to build and manage financial models for business forecasting, variance analysis, and problem solving
  • Advanced Excel and analysis skills
  • Experience working with Cognos and SQL
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including written and oral communication skills
  • Comfortable with large volumes of complex data and presenting their findings to senior management

14. BA in Economics with 3 years of Experience

  • Significant hands-on experience developing MS Access or SQL Server
  • Advanced Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) skills
  • Proficient in visualization software such as Power BI or Tableau.
  • Experience working with workflow management
  • Strong written communication ability.
  • Goal driven and resourceful, able to meet tight deadlines and produce high-quality work.
  • Team-oriented with excellent communication skills.

15. BA in Business Administration with 1 year of Experience

  • Related financial analysis experience
  • Basic knowledge of financial analysis techniques and general accounting procedures
  • Well-developed mathematical and analytical skills
  • Basic knowledge in financial analysis, forecasting, and planning
  • Ability to identify and resolve exceptions and to analyze data
  • Self-motivated individual with strong analytical, quantitative and computer skills.

16. BA in Finance with 8 years of Experience

  • Experience in analyzing data sets, developing assertions, relationships, comparability, trends, etc.
  • Experience in evaluating and analyzing various options and working through scenarios to provide a resolution
  • An ability to use search engines and other sites (or other media) to examine resources in developing an opinion based on reliable, authoritative resources.
  • Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) cost principles and contracting activities
  • Experience in Concur Travel and Expense, Cognos Reports, JAMIS (Timekeeping), Mural, Trello Board, Box shared Files, W3 Publisher page
  • Understanding of Journal Entries, Depreciation, Treatment of Expense Types, Job/Project Costing, etc.
  • Understanding of internal and external audit activities and processes
  • Able to prepare agendas and supporting documents for routine team meetings
  • Excellent writing and verbal skills to address concerns via phone, instant messages (i.e., Slack), and computer (i.e., email, reports, letters, etc.)
  • Flexible to work on several internal tasks and activities within a day, and can follow through until task or project completion and/or resolution
  • Able to meet deadlines and mitigate challenges to project schedules
  • Keep records and data organized and filed in proper locations, document processes and procedures, categorize information in a format and form, etc
  • Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

17. BA in Risk Management with 3 years of Experience

  • Relevant experience in a high-performance organization
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct complex, data-driven analyses.
  • Strong knowledge of Excel, experience with enterprise software systems (e.g., SAP, Tableau, and Essbase)
  • Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to articulate complex analyses in concise business terms
  • Strong ability to prioritize tasks and juggle multiple projects
  • Ability to quickly learn and navigate through a large organization
  • Ability to thrive in a hardworking and collaborative environment

18. BA in Accounting with 2 years of Experience

  • Previous experience as a Financial Analyst in a healthcare setting
  • Financial Analyst experience including financial statement and budget preparation, variance analysis, and identifying financial trends
  • Experience working with PowerBI
  • Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Kronos Visionware Productivity System, database applications, procedural cost accounting systems and query-based finance systems.
  • Able to build and deliver effective presentations to audiences with wide-ranging backgrounds
  • Understanding of Business Intelligence (BI) reporting tools

19. BA in Banking and Finance with 6 years of Experience

  • Skills in problem solving through statistical analysis or with large data sets  (such as in derivatives, structured finance, or business analytics, or in a similarly demanding and analytical role)
  • Previous experience working with Lawson
  • Comprehension of budget forecasting
  • Earlier work involving Pivot Table
  • Proficiency in intercompany accounts
  • Command of Accounts Receivable (AR)
  • Good understanding of VLOOKUP
  • Solid understanding of Accounts Payable (AP)
  • Quality experience with Ledger Account Reconciliation
  • General familiarity with Account Reconciliation
  • Experience with forecasting and modeling
  • Excellent problem-solving skills with written, verbal and social communication skills
  • Prior experience in spreadsheets and ERP systems

20. BA in Financial Management with 5 years of Experience

  • Direct experience in financial analysis and reporting, preferably within a large, matrixed organization
  • Proven ability to make logical assumptions, identify trends, include external and internal information, draw conclusions from ambiguous data, and effectively benchmark results against appropriate baselines
  • Excellent skills with MS Excel and MS PowerPoint, and skilled in Data Warehouses, COGNOS, and Visual Basic
  • Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication, with the ability to work collaboratively to accomplish objectives
  • Ability to develop high levels of credibility and forge strong professional relationships with peers and upper management
  • Ability to drive continuous improvement with a successful track record of optimizing processes with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Outstanding organizational skills and can prioritize multiple projects
  • Self-motivated with a bias for action, and commit to continued learning, show career progression, and seek opportunities to stretch capabilities
  • High level of integrity and ethics, and demonstrates a partnership and collaborative approach to work
  • Knowledge of Tableau, PowerBI, and COGNOS
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