Fraud Risk Analysts: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of fraud risk analysts about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for fraud risk analysts to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of fraud risk analysts expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for fraud risk analysts.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Fraud Risk Analysts?
Do fraud risk analysts need a degree? What kind of experience do fraud risk analysts typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for fraud risk analysts to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Fraud Risk Analysts
Jobs Postings for Fraud Risk Analysts By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 8,044 (37%)
- Master's degree: 4,828 (22%)
- No Education Listed: 4,084 (19%)
- High School or GED: 2,584 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,207 (10%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of fraud risk analysts. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 37% of positions. In 22% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 19% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Fraud Risk Analysts
Jobs Postings for Fraud Risk Analysts By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,114 (18%)
- 2-3 Years: 4,369 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 3,671 (32%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,000 (9%)
- 10+ Years: 457 (4%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for fraud risk analysts. In 38% of job postings for Fraud Risk Analysts, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for fraud risk analysts.
What Kind of Degree Do Fraud Risk Analysts Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for fraud risk analysts, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 18 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective fraud risk analysts, and in 2021 a total of 209,233 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective fraud risk analysts.
Top Degree Programs for Fraud Risk Analysts
Top 5 Degree Programs for Fraud Risk Analysts (2021)
Program | Completions |
---|---|
Accounting. | 71,881 |
Finance, General. | 51,430 |
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 46,381 |
Organizational Leadership. | 15,128 |
Applied Mathematics, General. | 4,658 |
Program | Completions |
---|---|
Accounting. | 71,881 |
Finance, General. | 51,430 |
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 46,381 |
Organizational Leadership. | 15,128 |
Applied Mathematics, General. | 4,658 |
Financial Mathematics. | 4,612 |
Financial Planning and Services. | 4,087 |
Accounting and Finance. | 3,644 |
Health Services Administration. | 3,027 |
Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,537 |
Banking and Financial Support Services. | 991 |
Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 814 |
Risk Management. | 396 |
Investments and Securities. | 346 |
International Finance. | 121 |
Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 97 |
Public Finance. | 48 |
Religious Institution Administration and Management. | 35 |
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Degree Options for Fraud Risk Analysts
Help organizations analyze financial statements and accounts to help prevent fraud, maintain data integrity, assess operational risk, and mitigate or remediate deficiencies as an accounting technician, assistant or bookkeeper.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Skills Do Fraud Risk Analysts Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by fraud risk analysts to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for fraud risk analysts, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Fraud Risk Analysts
Based on 16,200 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Fraud Risk Analysts
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Python (Programming Language) | 4,070 | 25% |
Risk Management | 3,953 | 24% |
SQL (Programming Language) | 3,884 | 24% |
Finance | 3,878 | 24% |
Statistics | 3,341 | 21% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Fraud Risk Analysts
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Communications | 7,485 | 46% |
Management | 6,385 | 39% |
Research | 4,760 | 29% |
Problem Solving | 3,771 | 23% |
Operations | 3,668 | 23% |
Based on 16,200 job postings related to fraud risk analysts, python (programming language) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 25% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for risk management, sql (programming language), finance, statistics and data analysis were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for fraud risk analysts, followed by management, research, problem solving, operations and investigation.
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Python (Programming Language) | 4,070 | 25% |
Risk Management | 3,953 | 24% |
SQL (Programming Language) | 3,884 | 24% |
Finance | 3,878 | 24% |
Statistics | 3,341 | 21% |
Data Analysis | 3,228 | 20% |
Fraud Prevention And Detection | 3,228 | 20% |
Financial Services | 3,055 | 19% |
SAS (Software) | 2,814 | 17% |
R (Programming Language) | 2,687 | 17% |
Fraud Investigation | 2,566 | 16% |
Economics | 2,563 | 16% |
Auditing | 2,402 | 15% |
Model Validation | 1,910 | 12% |
Project Management | 1,905 | 12% |
Accounting | 1,858 | 11% |
Computer Science | 1,810 | 11% |
Machine Learning | 1,653 | 10% |
Bank Secrecy Act | 1,611 | 10% |
Risk Analysis | 1,610 | 10% |
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Communications | 7,485 | 46% |
Management | 6,385 | 39% |
Research | 4,760 | 29% |
Problem Solving | 3,771 | 23% |
Operations | 3,668 | 23% |
Investigation | 3,632 | 22% |
Detail Oriented | 3,513 | 22% |
Writing | 3,508 | 22% |
Mathematics | 3,433 | 21% |
Customer Service | 3,309 | 20% |
Leadership | 2,967 | 18% |
Microsoft Excel | 2,934 | 18% |
Verbal Communication Skills | 2,382 | 15% |
Microsoft Office | 2,328 | 14% |
Decision Making | 2,283 | 14% |
Presentations | 2,188 | 14% |
Analytical Skills | 2,154 | 13% |
Self-Motivation | 2,137 | 13% |
Influencing Skills | 1,777 | 11% |
Organizational Skills | 1,633 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about fraud risk analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for fraud risk analysts.
What do fraud risk analysts do?
How much do fraud risk analysts make?
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