Budget Analysis
Budget analysts help organizations plan their finances by developing, reviewing, and managing budgets. They ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and spending stays within limits. They solve issues related to financial forecasting, cost control, and resource prioritization. Work is generally performed in government agencies, corporations, or nonprofit organizations in office environments.
Common Job Titles: Budget Analyst Budget Manager Cost Analyst Financial Analyst Program Analyst
Related Academic Programs
The accounting minor requires students to complete 16 additional credits in accounting beyond the 4 credits required in ACCTG 211. It is designed to introduce students to advanced topics in financial and cost accounting, as well as to the basics of income tax accounting for individuals. This minor can provide an enhanced understanding of accounting information flows, costing systems, and the general tax environment to students majoring in other business areas and it is a particularly good compliment to the finance and management information systems majors. On its own, it will not generally enable students to meet the requirements for professional licensing in accounting.
Accounting is more than bookkeeping or number crunching. With the Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Penn State Behrend, you’ll develop your talents as a strategic business adviser—one who can think critically, solve problems, and anticipate organizational challenges.
And since there isn’t an industry that doesn’t employ accountants, you’ll have a wide variety of career options. You can prepare for a traditional role of CPA or auditor, or use your Accounting degree as a foundation in fraud detection, forensic investigation, financial services, law, underwriting or actuarial science, and more.
Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. Actuaries are in high demand, with the job outlook expected to grow much faster than average in the next decade. This certificate program is designed to prepare current and returning students for a career as an actuary. Students completing the certificate are prepared to pass the P/1 (Probability) and FM/2 (Financial Mathematics) examinations, and would obtain VEE credit for economics, corporate finance, and applied statistical methods topics once a second actuarial examination is passed. The certificate requires a total of 31 or 32 credit hours and can be completed concurrently with a Penn State Behrend degree or via continuing education.
The Applied Economics minor is a strong complement to virtually any major, including those within, and outside of, the School of Business. (Note that most School of Business majors will, as part of their major, already have earned 6 to 9 credits toward the Applied Economics minor, making it particularly attractive.)
The minor can enhance the market value of a major and can provide students with options and opportunities beyond those offered by the major program of study.
We all make shortcuts as we process new information. But how do those shortcuts impact our everyday decisions—particularly about financial matters?
That’s what the Certificate in Behavioral Finance, offered jointly by the Black School of Business and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, explores. You’ll learn to consider why financial managers make decisions to merge firms, pay dividends, or choose investments.
The certificate covers core content in social psychology, cognitive psychology, behavioral economics, and behavioral finance. The certificate requires a total of 18 credit hours and can be completed concurrently with a Penn State Behrend degree or via continuing education.
Wondering what you can do with a major in business economics? The answer—practically anything and everything.
With the B.S. in Business Economics from Penn State Behrend, you’ll get the “big picture” skills needed to analyze and understand the world around you—making you a valuable asset for any industry.
Energy is a vital sector of our economy—both traditional resources and emerging renewable markets.
The Certificate in Energy Finance is designed to combine an interest in the engineering aspects of energy systems with the financial expertise gained through courses in financial analysis and risk management.
The program prepares you for the Global Association of Risk Professionals’ Sustainability and Climate Risk certification and Financial Risk Manager certification.
Penn State Behrend offers the innovative interdisciplinary-based Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ENTI) minor to students in any major.
The minor equips students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset; think critically and “outside the box” to sense opportunities; develop value propositions; and create sustainable value in fast-paced socio-technological environments. The minor at Penn State Behrend currently offers the New Ventures Cluster, although additional clusters will be made available.
The Finance minor offers students an introduction to principles of finance and its major areas: financial management, investments, and financial markets. Accounting and Economics majors, in particular, would benefit from the additional exposure to finance.
Looking to make yourself more valuable in the workplace? The graduate certificate in Financial Analysis from Penn State Behrend could give you the competitive edge you need to advance your career.
In this 12-credit program, you’ll study foundational business topics like financial theory and risk management, hone your skills in analysis and critical thinking, and apply your lessons through hands-on coursework and real-world case studies.
This online financial engineering certificate can help you apply knowledge of finance, economics, statistics, and data analysis to make sound financial decisions and design innovative financial instruments and risk management strategies.
This certificate program is designed to prepare both current and returning students for a career in risk management; and, for those interested, to gain exposure to topics that constitute the first part of the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) exam, sponsored by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). The FRM exam is the primary industry designation, with over 20,000 candidates taking the exam twice a year. Students completing the certificate are prepared to pass the first part of this two-part exam. The certificate requires a total of 22 credit hours and can be completed concurrently with a Penn State Behrend degree or via continuing education.
Our world runs on data, and the people who best understand it—and who can explain it—are essential to any organization. With the B.S. in Functional Data Analytics, you’ll learn to analyze and interpret the numbers, but also discover how to clearly convey that information to others.
Take your career to the next level with an MBA from Penn State Behrend.
Our MBA program draws students from a wide range of fields, including management, banking, insurance, engineering, nursing, the sciences, and the liberal arts. Whether you’re looking to change careers, get ahead at your current job, or be more attractive to prospective employers, you can get ahead with our MBA.