Financial Analyst
Controller Job Description
Financial Analyst examine an organization’s financial data. By analyzing past financial and investment data, as well as estimating future revenues and expenditures, they can provide guidance to businesses making investment decisions and forecasting for the future. The main role of a financial analyst is to pore over data to identify opportunities or evaluate outcomes for business decisions or investment recommendations. Financial analysts can work in both junior and senior capacities within a firm, and it is a niche that often leads to other career opportunities. More specifically, financial analysts research macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions along with company fundamentals to make predictions about businesses, sectors, and industries. They also often recommend a course of action, such as buying or selling a company’s stock based upon its overall performance and outlook. An analyst must be aware of current developments in the field in which they specialize, as well as in preparing financial models to predict future economic conditions for any number of variables.
A successful career as a financial analyst requires strong quantitative skills, expert problem-solving abilities, adeptness in the use of logic, and above-average communication skills. Financial analysts have to crunch data, but they also have to report their findings to their superiors in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
Most analysts have a bachelor’s or master’s in a business-related field. The most common specialization is in finance, although some analysts recommend starting with an accounting degree, as it provides a stronger foundation for analyzing the workings of financial statements.
Adding a practical designation, like CFI’s Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)™ certification, is becoming an increasingly popular professional upgrade for a financial analyst. This financial modeling focused designation teaches analysts how to produce advanced financial analysis using Excel, PowerPoint, and the real tools of an analyst.
Typical duties of a Controller
• Perform financial forecasting, reporting, and operational metrics tracking
• Analyze financial data and create financial models for decision support
• Report on financial performance and prepare for regular leadership reviews
• Analyze past results, perform variance analysis, identify trends, and make recommendations for improvements
• Work closely with the accounting team to ensure accurate financial reporting
• Evaluate financial performance by comparing and analyzing actual results with plans and forecasts
• Guide the cost analysis process by establishing and enforcing policies and procedures
• Provide analysis of trends and forecasts and recommend actions for optimization
• Recommend actions by analyzing and interpreting data and making comparative analyses; study proposed changes in methods and materials
• Identify and drive process improvements, including the creation of standard and ad-hoc reports, tools, and Excel dashboards
• Increase productivity by developing automated reporting/forecasting tools
• Perform market research, data mining, business intelligence, and valuation comps
• Maintain a strong financial analysis foundation creating forecasts and models
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel is mentioned in virtually any financial analyst job description; familiarity with data query/data management tools is extremely helpful (Access, SQL, Business Objects)
Skills:
• Ability to streamline functions and passion to learn and grow
• Strong interpersonal skills, including written and oral communication skills
• Comfort dealing with ambiguity and the ability to work independently
• Experience working with, and presenting to, senior executives
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; be comfortable interacting with executive-level management
• Strong financial modeling experience
Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance/Economics