If you’ve followed my blog, you know I usually write about web development, automation, and technical rabbit holes. Today is different. This has nothing to do with technology – it’s something that’s quietly annoyed me for years.
The problem with “Finance Analyst”
Open LinkedIn and search for “Finance Analyst”. You’ll find:
- Accounts Payable roles
- Management Accountants
- FP&A positions
- Commercial Finance
- Finance Business Partners
- And even roles that look suspiciously like Finance Manager jobs
Apparently, they’re all Finance Analysts now.
The title itself isn’t the problem. I’ve never had an issue with it personally. The problem is dilution. “Analyst” used to signal a way of working – asking “why” instead of just producing numbers:
- Why did revenue move?
- What’s driving the variance?
- What assumptions are in this forecast?
- How do we explain this to non-finance stakeholders?
The spreadsheet isn’t the deliverable. Insight is.
Unfortunately, that’s no longer what the title guarantees.
When titles fail
I’ve met brilliant Finance Analysts building sophisticated models, influencing commercial decisions, and presenting to leadership. I’ve also seen “Finance Analyst” roles that are almost entirely transactional month-end work.
Neither is wrong. Both are valuable. But they’re not the same job.
Not too long ago, during an interview for an FP&A Manager role, the first question was why I wanted to “step up” from being a “Finance Analyst” into management. As we talked, it became clear my actual current responsibilities already closely matched the role. We weren’t discussing a promotion – we were discussing two similar jobs with different labels.
Titles create first impressions. Recruiters search keywords. Hiring managers skim CVs. When “Finance Analyst” can mean anything, it stops being useful.
Why specificity matters
I’ve seen “Finance Managers” with less responsibility than some “Finance Analysts.” I’ve seen Commercial Finance Analysts owning massive forecasts and strategic decisions, while others focus purely on reporting.
Job titles should set clear expectations. They help candidates benchmark their careers and make recruitment more efficient. Right now, one title is trying to describe half the finance department:
- Need someone to own forecasting? → Finance Analyst
- Need management accounts? → Finance Analyst
- Need business partnering? → Finance Analyst
- Need pricing models? → Finance Analyst
- Good with Excel? → Definitely Finance Analyst
A better approach
Maybe it’s time to get more specific:
- FP&A Analyst or FP&A Manager
- Commercial Finance Analyst
- Management Accountant
- Finance Business Partner
These aren’t just trendy names – they’re different disciplines with different skill sets and career paths.
Job titles don’t need to sound impressive. They just need to describe the job.
If “Finance Analyst” can mean six completely different careers, then perhaps it doesn’t really mean anything at all.