SOC Code: 13-2051
Pay Band(s): 4,5 and 6 (Salary Structure)
Standard Occupational Description: Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.
Financial Analyst positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Roles in the Financial Services Career Group:
Financial Services Specialist I
Financial Services Specialist II
Financial Services Specialist III
While Financial Analysts within the Commonwealth are all located within the Financial Services Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests.
Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest are:
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS
(Technical and Functional Expertise)
Skills
Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Financial Analysts commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
Knowledge
Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Financial Analysts commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Knowledge of:
Abilities
Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Financial Analysts commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Ability to:
Tasks
Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Financial Analysts. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.
Tasks
INTERESTED?
Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.
The occupation of Financial Analyst has Investigative, Conventional and Enterprising characteristics as described below:
Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Generally this is not required for Financial Analyst positions in state government.
Some government financial analysts employed at the Federal, State, or local level may earn the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation granted by the Association of Government Accountants http://www.agacgfm.org.
Financial analysts may receive the title Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), sponsored by the Association of Investment Management and Research.
Certification can enhance one’s professional standing and career progression.
EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Department of Labor provides the following information:
Financial analysts provide analysis and guidance to businesses and individuals to help them with their investment decisions.
Some financial analysts evaluate the ability of companies or governments that issue bonds to repay their debt. On the basis of their evaluation, a management team assigns a rating to a company’s or government’s bonds. Other financial analysts perform budget, cost, and credit analysis as part of their responsibilities.
A college education is required for financial analysts. Most companies require financial analysts to have at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, statistics, or finance. Coursework in statistics, economics, and business is required, and knowledge of accounting policies and procedures, corporate budgeting, and financial analysis methods is recommended. A master of business administration is desirable. Advanced courses in options pricing or bond valuation and knowledge of risk management also are suggested.
The State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) lists two Virginia educational institutions offering educational programs in financial management and services. They are James Madison University and Virginia Commonwealth University.
COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIES
Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.
The Commonwealth Competencies are:
The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences.
Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!
For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.state.va.us/cc_planningctr.htm. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like.
Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That’s because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth’s pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)
For example: Financial Analyst
| PAY BAND |
PRACTITIONER ROLES |
PAY BAND |
MANAGER ROLES |
|
| 4 |
Financial Services Specialist I |
|||
| 5 |
Financial Services Specialist II |
5 |
Financial Services Manager I |
|
| 6 |
Financial Services Specialist III |
6 |
Financial Services Manager II |
|
| 7 |
Financial Services Manager III |
|||
Sample Career Path
Financial Services Specialist I
The Financial Services Specialist I role provides a career track for financial analysts performing entry-level to first-line supervisory responsibilities ensuring or evaluating compliance and accountability of financial programs and business operations/processes. Tasks may include, but need not be limited to, technical report writing, monitoring budget, maintaining records, analyzing data, preparing financial reports, and developing budget forecasts.
Financial Services Specialist II
The Financial Services Specialist II role provides career tracks for financial analysts performing advanced-level responsibilities analyzing and evaluating data in one or more specialty areas including, but not limited to, resources management, business operations/processes, budgets, and financial systems. An applicable professional certification may be preferred. Employees are required to have strong technical knowledge in one or more specialty areas.
Financial Services Specialist III
The Financial Services Specialist III role provides career track for expert financial analysts who provide professional financial, analytical, technical, and policy/program expertise relating to areas such as reimbursements, resources management, and data collection or information systems. Duties may include gathering, evaluating, and maintaining data; determining fiscal and service impacts; analyzing and evaluating legislation; and implementing and evaluating statistical models. Employees may serve as project leaders or as expert resources to state agencies, the legislature, and other organizations.
Financial Services Manager I
The Financial Services Manager I role provides career tracks for first level managers involved in planning and managing assigned specialty areas such as grants, accounts payable, accounts receivable, taxation, budgeting, and other financial operations. Employees may be the single position through which all financial information flows. Employees have technical and supervisory skills to include serving as subject matter experts and performing personnel management tasks.
Financial Services Manager II
The Financial Services Manager II role provides career tracks for senior level managers involved in planning, organizing, and administering personnel and programs relating to one or more specialized areas such as resource management, business operations, budget, and financial systems. Employees typically manage professional employees and/or supervisors.
Financial Services Manager III
The Financial Services Manager III role provides career tracks for managers serving as directors or comptrollers involved in the overall direction and leadership of specialized financial programs. May direct the overall fiscal or audit management of an agency or institution having diverse and complicated financial and regulatory requirements or may direct the statewide function of a principle financial area to ensure achievement of organizational mission and goals.
O*NET (Occupational Information Network)
http://online.onetcenter.org/gen_search_page
Virginia Employment Commission
http://www.alex.vec.state.va.us/
Career One Stop
Virginia Career Resource Network
American Academy of Financial Management
http://www.financialanalyst.org
CFA Institute