Financial analyst job description template

What a financial analyst does

Financial analysts turn financial data into decisions. In a company, they build budgets and forecasts, explain variances, and model the impact of new projects or hires. Analysts want to know who they'll partner with, what models they'll own, and how much of the job is reporting versus strategy. Including those details helps you attract people who enjoy influencing decisions, not just updating spreadsheets.

Financial analyst job description template

Copy the description, replace everything in [brackets], and cut any line that isn't true for your job. The duties and requirements are a starting point written by HR practitioners, not a legal standard, so edit them to match the real work.

Financial analyst

Details
- Department: [Department]
- Reports to: [Manager title]
- Location: [City, State, or remote]
- Employment type: [Full-time, part-time, or seasonal]
- FLSA status: Exempt
- Pay range: [$X to $Y per year]

About [Company]
[Two or three sentences about what your company does, who it serves, and why people like working here.]

Job summary
We're looking for a financial analyst to build forecasts, analyze performance, and give our leaders clear insight into what's driving the numbers.

What you'll do
- Build and maintain budget, forecast, and long-range planning models.
- Analyze monthly results against plan and explain key variances.
- Prepare management reports and leadership presentations.
- Model business cases for new investments, pricing, and hiring.
- Partner with department leaders on headcount and spending plans.
- Track key performance indicators and build dashboards.
- Support the annual planning process.
- Improve financial data, tools, and reporting processes.

What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field.
- [Two] or more years of financial analysis experience.
- Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
- Clear communication with non-finance leaders.

Nice to have
- MBA or CFA progress.
- Experience with [planning or BI tools].
- Experience in [industry].

Skills
Financial modeling, Forecasting, Data analysis, Business partnering, Presentation, Excel.

Physical demands and work environment
Office, hybrid, or remote setting.

Pay and benefits
[$X to $Y per year], based on experience and location. [List benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plan match, paid time off, and training.]

Equal opportunity
[Company] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview, contact [name] at [email or phone].

How to customize it for your job

• Name the leaders the analyst will partner with.
• Describe the models and reports they'll own.
• Say what tools you use for planning and reporting.
• Describe the planning calendar.

Then check it against the HRTally job description standard, our 10-point checklist, and run it through the inclusive language swap list. Both take about five minutes.

How much to pay a financial analyst

Half of US financial and investment analysts earned more than $49.40 an hour in May 2025, and half earned less, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That national figure is a starting point, not a pay range. Pay for the same job can differ by 30 percent or more between metro areas, so check the BLS occupation profile for state and metro data before you set your range.

To convert between hourly and annual pay, use our salary to hourly calculator. If you hire in a state or city with a pay transparency law, the range must appear in the posting itself. Our pay transparency laws guide lists where, and our guide to salary bands explains how to set ranges you can defend.

Exempt status, licenses, and legal notes

FLSA status: Usually exempt. Job titles don't decide overtime eligibility. Duties and pay do. Our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees walks through each test, and the overtime calculator shows what a nonexempt employee is owed.

Financial analysts are usually exempt under the administrative exemption when they analyze data and make recommendations that affect business operations, and they're paid on a salary basis above the threshold. The DOL has noted that employees who mainly sell financial products don't qualify on that basis. Analysts who handle investments for clients may also need FINRA registration.

This is general information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by state and city, so confirm the current rules or talk to employment counsel before you rely on them.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same core questions and score answers against the same criteria. Structured interviews are fairer and predict job performance better than open conversation.

1. Walk me through a model you built and how leaders used it.
2. Revenue came in 8 percent under forecast. Where do you start?
3. How do you present bad news to a department head?
4. How would you model the cost of adding 10 people to a team?

When you're ready to schedule, use our interview invitation email template. For a full hiring process, read the recruitment process guide.

Frequently asked questions