A Budget Analyst is someone who helps various organizations and businesses to allocate their financial resources by developing and executing budgets for them. They monitor spending to remain within budget and estimate future spending requirements. In a private firm, a budget analyst will review the budget and look for new ways to improve efficiency and increase profits. In a non-profit and government organization where profit is not a concern, budget analysts find the best way to allocate the funds amongst various programs or departments. Budget Analysts spend most of their time analyzing data, evaluating budget proposals, recommending spending cuts, redistributing extra funds, and preparing annual reports. They work with project managers in developing the budget of the organizations while looking over proposals, checking for accuracy, completeness, and compliance. They use cost-benefit analyses to explore alternative funding methods, review financial requests, and assess program tradeoffs. They may also look at past budgets and research any financial developments that could affect income and expenditures. Government officials and chief executives in private companies rely on the work of budget analysts to prepare data for them to make informed financial decisions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must possess at least 50% aggregate from a recognized institution in 12th, from any board PUC/CBSE/ICSE/ISC, etc. However, the cut-off margin varies with the selection process of different colleges.
• There are no standardized entrance exams for enrolling in Budget Analysis. The availability of these exams is exclusively based on the prospects of the University.
• Any degree is viable, but opting for B.Com/BBA or a diploma in Budget Analysis will provide a better overview and understanding of the market than you do from other courses.
• An M.BA in Budget Analysis can also prove to be helpful while looking for a higher degree and better learning.

Tasks to perform

• To calculate the monetary resources needed to conduct a programme, compile and evaluate accounting information as well as other information.
• Compare operational plans, examine financial demands, and look into alternate funding options using cost-benefit analysis.
• Check budget projections for correctness, thoroughness, and compliance with processes and rules.
• Present evidence in front of investigating and funding bodies, explaining and supporting the recommended expenditures.
• Summarize finances and provide suggestions for funding proposals that are approved or denied.

Knowledge required

• Finance and Management – Understanding of corporate governance concepts and procedures, as well as capital industry, finance, and business information monitoring and interpretation.
• Arithmetic Prowess — Being able to evaluate and interpret various mathematical equations and use them to address complex problems in arithmetic, geometry, calculus, and other areas.
• Computer Application — Understanding the prospects and functioning of circuit boards, processing units, circuits, electrical devices, computer equipment, plus applications and programming.
• Development and Manufacturing — Utilizing natural resources, process innovations, quality management, prices, and other strategies for optimizing the productive produce and delivery of products.
• Secretarial — Experience in technical and administrative tools and methodologies such as note-taking, document and record handling, stenography and annotations, the layout of forms as well as other workplace practices and etymology.

Skills required

• Method of Learning – Practises and processes for selecting and implementing strength and conditioning approaches and techniques that are suitable for the case when learning or introducing new items.
• Processes Assessment — Entails identifying metrics or indices of service quality as well as the steps required to enhance or change effectiveness in relation to the system's objectives.
• Critical Analysis — Learning and identifying the strengths and weaknesses along with providing solutions and countermeasures to reduce the impact of potential problems.
• Processes Assessment — Entails identifying metrics or indices of service quality as well as the steps required to enhance or change effectiveness in relation to the system's objectives.
• Strategic Thinking — Evaluating the possible expenses and advantages of various decisions in order to recognise the best one.

Job roles offered

Once you procure the required qualifications for becoming a Budget Analysis, a myriad of options is open to you. There are multiple projects you can undertake throughout this line of work, and there are many other fields you can branch out to as well.

• Accountant: Accounting jobs range in level from entry-level to managerial. In any firm, the accountant performs a critical function. It is a highly important element of a company's employment, audits, and corporate governance. The demand for accountants is rising as a result of the diverse demands of various businesses. Eligible individuals can find people in the health, commercial, or non-profit sectors. Candidates seeking employment in accounting have a variety of alternatives. Accountants are employed in both the public and private sectors. If you want to pursue a career as an accountant, you have a wide range of possibilities. Under this course, you can apply for a variety of employment. It is also possible to work elsewhere in India. Every business needs an accountant to oversee and preserve corporate accounting records. It allows the company to assess its success or failure and make plans for the future. In this sector, there are a variety of job opportunities. Chartered accountants can find lucrative positions in both India and other nations.
• Financial Analyst: Financial analysts are in charge of evaluating the profitability of the business against a plan, analyzing organizational effectiveness and market circumstances to develop predictions, and giving monthly reports to top management to assist them in making tactical and strategic choices. However, not all investment managers work for banks or assist their companies in encouraging acquisitions. They’re also in charge of a corporation's budgeting and forecasting, which allows it to make possibly the best business choices. The expertise to evaluate the optimum utilization of resources to meet organizational goals must be at the top of a Finance Analyst's employment contract. They'll be expected to contribute frequent presentations based on economic information and collaborate with the rest of the accounting department to evaluate operational efficiency and direction.
• Policy Analyst: A policy analyst's job includes evaluating the potential of organizational regulations and setting the basis for new programs and laws to achieve goals and strategies. Evaluating and modifying financial reports, as well as making recommendations to enhance the impact of current regulations, are among the responsibilities of this job. In order to identify the aims and objectives of policies, policy analysts engage closely with participants. A policy analyst may advance to directorship or executive positions, according to the organization. Reviewing and evaluating policies and laws to assess the advantages and consequences of any modifications is an important element of this profession. This entails recognizing good aspects of a policy as well as any weaknesses in its legality. Policy analysts consult with stakeholders to assess the documents' requirements, problems, and perspectives, as well as the project's objectives.
• Accounting Supervisor: Accounting supervisors are in charge of ensuring the quality and compliance of the finance department. Supervising personnel, preserving accounting statements, and aiding with audits are all examples of this. Accounting supervisors are in charge of operating accounting departments in locations like investment banks, corporations, and educational establishments. Accounting supervisors are in charge of arranging operations and allocating responsibilities to employees in the finance department. Accounting supervisors assist in fundamental accounting duties such as recording transactions and preserving financial documents, in addition to administrative and management responsibilities. In addition to upholding accounting norms and legislation, the supervisor payment requirements auditing processes. When dealing with difficulties and finding solutions, accounting supervisors should be competent to consistently interact with staff and support a balanced professional relationship.
• Chief Financial Officer:A chief financial officer (CFO) is a senior executive in charge of a corporation's economic operations. The CFO's responsibilities include managing working capital and money management, as well as assessing and suggesting remedial actions for the corporation's economic advantages and shortcomings. A CFO's job is comparable to that of a secretary or director in that they are in charge of the financial management departments, as well as guaranteeing that the corporation's economic reports are correct and finished on time.

Career opportunities

Budget Analyst can opt for various fields of work in the companies listed below:

• Indeed
• ICF
• Wells Fargo
• LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group)
• Devdutt Exports Bharat
• Honeywell
• Metaphase Consulting
• Oracle
• Deloitte India
• WRI India

Colleges offering courses

• Swami Vivekananda University (SVU), Kolkata
• International College Of Financial Planning (ICOFP), Delhi
• International College Of Financial Planning (ICOFP), Kolkata
• International College Of Financial Planning (ICOFP), Mumbai
• Chitkara Business School (CBS), Rajpura
• University School Of Management Studies, Guru Gobind Singh
• Indraprastha University (USMS IPU), New Delhi
• Swami Vivekananda University (SVU), Kolkata
• IPE Hyderabad - Institute of Public Enterprise
• University School of Management Studies, Rayat Bahra University