Financial analysis in the context of "Chartered financial analyst"

A financial analyst is a professional undertaking financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core feature of the job.The role may specifically be titled securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, investment analyst, or ratings analyst. The job title is a broad one: In banking, and industry more generally, various other analyst-roles cover financial management and (credit) risk management, as opposed to focusing on investments and valuation.

Financial planning and analysis (FP&A), in accounting and business, refers to the various integrated planning, analysis, and modeling activities aimed at supporting financial decisioning and management in the wider organization. See Financial analyst § Financial planning and analysis for outline, and aside articles for further detail. In larger companies, "FP&A" will run as a dedicated area or team, under an "FP&A Manager" reporting to the CFO.

FP&A is distinct from financial management and (management) accounting in that it is oriented, additionally, towards business performance management, and, further, encompasses both qualitative and quantitative analysis. This positioning allows management—in partnership with FP&A—to preemptively address issues relating, e.g., to customers and operations, as well as the more traditional business-finance problems.Relatedly, although Budgeting and Forecasting are typically done at specific times in the year—and correspondingly cover specific time periods—FP&A, by contrast, has a wider brief re both horizon and content. "FP&A Analysts" thus play an important role in every (major) decision by the company—ranging in scope from changes in headcount to mergers and acquisitions.