What Do Budget/Cost Analysts Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for budget/cost analysts?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what budget/cost analysts do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Budget/Cost Analysts Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about budget/cost analysts by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Budget/Cost Analysts examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
Popular Job Titles For Budget/Cost Analysts
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Budget Analysts
- Financial Management Analysts
- Budget Managers
- Budget Coordinators
- Staff Services Analysts
- Budget Officers
- Fiscal Officers
- Budget Administrators
- Budget Specialists
- Supervisory Budget Analysts
- Lead Budget Analysts
- Finance and Budget Officers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for budget/cost analysts can be found.
Best Industries for Budget/Cost Analysts
Budget/Cost Analysts Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 25.9%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 11.6%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 10.4%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 7.6%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 6.1%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 3.6%
- Other: 34.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of budget/cost analysts can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2022, about 25.9% of all jobs for budget/cost analysts were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (11.6%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (10.4%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (7.6%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (6.1%) and Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (3.6%).
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- Accreditation: IACBE
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What Do Budget/Cost Analysts Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what budget/cost analysts do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work budget/cost analysts do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that budget/cost analysts tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for budget/cost analysts, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Budget/Cost Analysts
Based on 11,065 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Budget/Cost Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Analysis | 7,259 | 66% |
| Accounting | 6,801 | 61% |
| Finance | 5,608 | 51% |
| Financial Management | 3,376 | 31% |
| Financial Statements | 3,232 | 29% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Budget/Cost Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Budgeting | 7,326 | 66% |
| Management | 6,566 | 59% |
| Communications | 4,173 | 38% |
| Planning | 4,074 | 37% |
| Operations | 3,745 | 34% |
Based on 11,065 job postings related to budget/cost analysts, budget analysis was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 66% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for accounting, finance, financial management, financial statements and financial analysis were also highly sought.
As for common skills, budgeting was the most desired skill found in job postings for budget/cost analysts, followed by management, communications, planning, operations and forecasting.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Analysis | 7,259 | 66% |
| Accounting | 6,801 | 61% |
| Finance | 5,608 | 51% |
| Financial Management | 3,376 | 31% |
| Financial Statements | 3,232 | 29% |
| Financial Analysis | 2,767 | 25% |
| Auditing | 2,231 | 20% |
| Budget Development | 1,713 | 15% |
| Financial Systems | 1,653 | 15% |
| Public Administration | 1,578 | 14% |
| Financial Data | 1,471 | 13% |
| Invoicing | 1,331 | 12% |
| Purchasing | 1,257 | 11% |
| Economics | 1,215 | 11% |
| Procurement | 1,172 | 11% |
| Data Analysis | 1,154 | 10% |
| Reconciliation | 1,102 | 10% |
| Operating Budget | 1,101 | 10% |
| Financial Planning | 1,076 | 10% |
| Project Management | 1,054 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Budgeting | 7,326 | 66% |
| Management | 6,566 | 59% |
| Communications | 4,173 | 38% |
| Planning | 4,074 | 37% |
| Operations | 3,745 | 34% |
| Forecasting | 3,251 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3,240 | 29% |
| Research | 2,802 | 25% |
| Leadership | 2,292 | 21% |
| Writing | 2,206 | 20% |
| Business Administration | 2,194 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 1,984 | 18% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,874 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,767 | 16% |
| Customer Service | 1,681 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 1,562 | 14% |
| Spreadsheets | 1,526 | 14% |
| Presentations | 1,506 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 1,455 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,216 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Budget/Cost Analysts
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Analysts | 14,418 | 58.4% |
| Financial Management Analysts | 1,397 | 5.7% |
| Budget Managers | 1,092 | 4.4% |
| Budget Coordinators | 1,150 | 4.7% |
| Staff Services Analysts | 2,384 | 9.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was budget analysts, with 6,699 unique job postings. Financial management analysts were second, with 599 postings, followed by budget managers, budget coordinators and staff services analysts.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to budget/cost analysts.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Analysts | 14,418 | 58.4% |
| Financial Management Analysts | 1,397 | 5.7% |
| Budget Managers | 1,092 | 4.4% |
| Budget Coordinators | 1,150 | 4.7% |
| Staff Services Analysts | 2,384 | 9.7% |
| Budget Officers | 717 | 2.9% |
| Fiscal Officers | 730 | 3% |
| Budget Administrators | 627 | 2.5% |
| Budget Specialists | 463 | 1.9% |
| Supervisory Budget Analysts | 200 | 0.8% |
| Lead Budget Analysts | 235 | 1% |
| Finance and Budget Officers | 297 | 1.2% |
| Capital Budget Analysts | 152 | 0.6% |
| Cost and Budget Analysts | 187 | 0.8% |
| Directors of Budget and Planning | 134 | 0.5% |
| Customer Engagement Managers | 230 | 0.9% |
| Budget Examiners | 90 | 0.4% |
| Budget Directors | 45 | 0.2% |
| Budget Accountants | 83 | 0.3% |
| Accountants/Budget Analysts | 66 | 0.3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for budget/cost analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for budget/cost analysts.
How much do budget/cost analysts make?
Budget/Cost Analysts: How do you become one?
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