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A budget analyst with long hair works at a desk in an office, using a laptop. Papers with charts and graphs are spread out in front of her, alongside shelves stocked with office supplies in the background.

Budget Analyst

accounting degree career guide
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A Budget Analyst in a yellow shirt uses a calculator and holds a tablet, working at a desk with charts, a laptop, documents, and a Budget Template. Sunlight streams in from the left.

What is a Budget Analyst?

Budget analysts help companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies and other entities in organizing their financial resources. They generate, analyze and put budgets into action, while making estimates of future financial need for these concerns. For private businesses, this may mean examining the budget to find new ways to improve efficiency and increase profits. For non-profits and government organizations, this may mean analyzing the most efficient way of allocating funds and resources across various programs and departments. Budget analysts also prepare reports on an annual basis and whenever needed to evaluate budget proposals. They may also be involved in policy analysis, and drafting budget related legislation. The top executives in private companies who make the final decisions on the budget rely on budget analysts to develop the information they need for those decisions.

A bachelor’s degree can help set you apart from the competition. Bryant & Stratton College has a wide range of business degrees that prepare you for a career as a budget analyst, accountant, auditor, or tax preparer.

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What does a Budget Analyst do?

A budget analyst’s job requires that spending is checked throughout the year to be sure it follows the proposed budget and to decide if changes are necessary for various programs or projects. Here are some of the responsibilities of a budget analyst:

  • Collaborate to develop the organization’s budget
  • Summarize budgets and offer insight regarding funds requests
  • Review budget proposals for completeness, accuracy, and compliance
  • Defend budget recommendations against management or stakeholders
  • Conduct cost-benefit analyses to determine program efficiency
  • Maintain expenditure controls
  • Create consolidated organizational budget
  • Oversee preparation of regular and special budget reports
  • Explain funding requests to the organization, legislators, and the public
  • Technical assistance with cost analysis
  • Relay status and availability of funds
  • Estimate future financial needs

What are the steps to becoming a Budget Analyst?

Accounting Bachelor’s Degree
Program Duration Icon

32-40 months

Approximate Program Length

Credits Icon

120 credits

Total Credits

Program Start Date Icon

May 06

Next Start Date

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Starting with the right degree program is the next step to becoming a budget analyst. The BBA Accounting Degree Program at Bryant & Stratton College will prepare you for opportunities in many different industries. This program puts emphasis on accounting concepts as well as management, finance, technology, marketing and business law. You will also learn important business skills via courses in operations management and strategic planning.

In addition, you will be able to recognize the common factors between financial theory and tax law as well as the economic and social policy issues of taxation. You will be able to report and record financial information using GAAPs (generally accepted accounting principles). You will learn to judge appropriate ethical behaviors that follow the laws and regulations applicable to accounting practice. Also, you will learn the tools to integrate theory, knowledge, and technology to interpret financial and non-financial information to aid leaders within an organization.

Related Degrees

AAS Accounting

AAS Accounting

Want to start a career in accounting? Prepare yourself and gain additional pathway to further education with our AAS Accounting degree.

Next Online Start Date:
July 01

Next On-Campus Start Date:
September 09

Total Credit Hours: 60

Approximate Program Length:
Under 2 years

Careers available with this degree:

  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Billing Cost and Rate Clerk
  • Tax Preparer
Online On-Campus
BBA General Management

BBA General Management

Prepare yourself for the challenges of management positions through active learning techniques, practical application of research methods, team projects, and presentations.

Next Online Start Date:
July 01

Next On-Campus Start Date:
September 09

Total Credit Hours: 120

Approximate Program Length:
32-40 months

Careers available with this degree:

  • General and Operations Manager
  • Office and Administrative Supervisor
Online On-Campus
AAS Business

AAS Business

Lay the foundation for a career in a wide range of fields. Gain essential skills in business and management like communications, sales, marketing, data analysis, accounting, and more.

Next Online Start Date:
July 01

Next On-Campus Start Date:
September 09

Total Credit Hours: 60

Approximate Program Length:
Under 2 years

Careers available with this degree:

  • Administrator
  • Sales Supervisor
Online On-Campus

Next Start Dates

Online

July 01

Start Date

On-Campus

September 09

Start Date

Our flexible delivery model is designed to cater to diverse schedules and preferences, offering many different terms to accommodate the unique needs of our students. With starts available every 8 to 16 weeks, you have the freedom to choose a timeline that aligns with your lifestyle and commitments.

This approach ensures that you can embark on your educational journey at a time that suits you best, providing the convenience and accessibility necessary for a successful learning experience.

Academic Calendar

Career Outlook for a Budget Analyst

A woman sitting at a desk with a laptop reviews financial data using a Budget Analyst Template.

What is the projected job growth?

Employment of budget analysts is projected to grow 1% percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 3,100 openings for budget analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

This is not to say that there will be no competition for this type of employment. Those who distinguish themselves early will have the best prospects. A Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree in Accounting from Bryant & Stratton College could be just what you need to stand out.

What industries can I work in?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of budget analysts were as follows:
  • Federal government 24%
  • Educational services; state, local, and private 14%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals 11%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals 10%
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services 9%
A young man wearing glasses and a light brown shirt is smiling while holding a laptop. He stands in front of two large monitors displaying code, embodying the modern budget analyst at work in a sleek office setting.
While these projections can help career-minded people evaluate potential employment fields, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It should not be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither BLS nor Bryant & Stratton College can guarantee employment in any field.

What Skills Do You Need as a Budget Analyst?

  • Attention to detail: being detail-oriented is a key skill that enables you to review requests for compliance and accuracy. This responsibility is vital to ensuring the financial records of a business meet certain standards and are audit-ready.
  • Effective communication: being able to clearly communicate financial insights, data analysis, and recommended actions is essential. Stakeholders in your business look to you, in both written and verbal communications, to distill your findings in a way that is understandable.
  • Analytical insights: Providing well-informed recommendations and reports to business leaders is an important contribution of budget analysts. Being able to effectively evaluate spending, review budgets, and research industry benchmarks are important skills to maintain.
  • Technical proficiency: budget analysts frequently use different software tools to manage and analyze data. Continued development in this area will help you stay ahead of changes in the industry.

In addition to being detail oriented, budget analysts must have good analytical, communication, math and writing skills. While additional mathematics courses may put you ahead of the pack, your degree will provide you with the firm foundation, needed to excel.

Gain Real World Experience at Bryant & Stratton College

Through our partnership network, students are provided with opportunities to actively apply their learnings in real-world settings.

There are several benefits to internship experiences that can impact your career success. Internships can provide insight into the hiring process, help you sharpen your professional skills, and learn to work with confidence in real-world situations.

Plus, internships are a valuable way to prove yourself to potential employers who may want to hire you as a result. You can also start developing a network of peers and mentors you can lean on for guidance and support. If you want to learn how we connect students with local internships that align with their goals, request info today.

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Browse our Business Blogs and Unlock Valuable Insights

For insights into a career as a budget analyst, please visit the Business Degrees section of our blog. Here you will find valuable information about business and financial careers and a career as a budget analyst. Explore the website and be sure to visit the Accounting Bachelor’s Degree page.

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