Chapter: 2 Decoding Placements- A guide to navigating job descriptions

15 Aug 2020
10 minute read

While going through different job opportunities by various companies do you find yourself in a position where you don’t understand what the profile offers? The roles and responsibilities, if or not you’re eligible for the job and many more confusions? If yes, we’ve got you covered! Through this month’s blog, we’ve tried to deliver the information and analysis of 11 popular profiles that companies offer during the campus placements.

Content:

• Assurance Associate
• Tax Analyst
• Business Development Associate
• Content Developer/Web Developer
• SEO Developer
• Research Analyst
• Management Consultant
• Actuarial Consultant
• Risk Analyst

1) Assurance Associate

About:

As an Assurance Associate you test financial statement accounts to ensure the proper recording of financial performance. As an associate you tend to work on accounts such as cash, accounts receivable, property plant & equipment and salaries. In assurance you will be working on areas mostly related to audit hence the candidate must have strong knowledge of auditing & accounting standards.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Audit Executives are required to carry out operational, financial, process and Systems audits designed to review and appraise its activities, systems and controls, which includes:

• Identifying accounting & auditing issues; discuss with audit in-charge to solve issues that arise,
• To carry out substantive testing of appliances in accordance with the audit plan formulated & appropriately document all work performed,
• Presenting audit reports clearly highlighting key audit recommendations to management
• Preparing & maintaining statutory books of accounts, audit, reconciliation of account receivable & payable, finalization of accounts
• Assist the seniors in reviewing & checking the financial statements.

Skills Required:

Must have strong knowledge of auditing & accounting standards and basic knowledge of the service line you’re applying for: meaning of accounting terms, ratios, logic behind the methodology and formulas, purpose, use etc.

Top Recruiters:

1. EY GDS
2. PwC
3. BDO

2) Tax Analyst

About:

Tax analysts help companies and high-wealth individuals file tax returns, ensuring that they are in compliance with local, state, and federal laws. This includes collecting and preparing tax data, reviewing returns, performing tax research, and maintaining records.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• To calculate the amount of taxes are owed and to file and process tax returns
• To analyze the existing tax policies, ensuring that the company is fully compliant.
• To understand federal, state, and local tax laws and ensure knowledge about these remains up to date
• To provide assistance during audits

Skills Required:

• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent computer skills
• Detail oriented
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills

Top Recruiters:

1. EY
2. PwC
3. Amazon

3) Business Development Associate

About:

A Business Development Associate helps companies to boost growth and sales. They conduct market research, develop business strategies, build client relationships, and identify new business opportunities. Business Development Associates find work in a variety of industries from marketing to information technology. The core responsibility of a business developer is growing a business.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Willing to familiarize yourself with the company’s vision and mission, seeking to accomplish set goals and objectives.
• Conducting market research and identifying potential clients.
• Cultivating strong relationships with new clients, while maintaining existing client relationships.
• Collating and maintaining client information in the CRM database.
• Working closely with staff across departments to implement growth strategies.
• Developing and implementing sales strategies, client service and retention plans, and analyzing sales data to inform or update marketing strategies.

Skills Required:

• Sales Skills
• Strong Communication Skills
• Marketing Skills
• Business Intelligence
• Data Analysis

Top Recruiters:

1. Google
2. Amazon
3. HUL

4) Content Developer/ Web Developer

About:

Content developers, also called web developers, use their knowledge and skills in programming and software as well as web-based technology to create and update websites. The SEO Executive is responsible for improving the websites of clients to increase web traffic. They focus on keyword research, limiting the repetition of content and building links.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Know HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and other relevant web design coding languages
• Present design specs
• Work with graphics and other designers
• Troubleshoot website problems
• Maintain and update websites
• Monitor website traffic

Skills Required:

• Digital Communication Skills
• Strategic thinking skills
• Analytic Skills
• Proficiency with Content Management Software

Top Recruiters:

1. Amazon
2. Walmart
3. W3 Schools

5) SEO Developer

About:

SEO Developers are responsible for designing an overall company’s SEO strategy using best SEO coding practices. SEO or Search Engine Optimisation, are the things that you do to your blog/website to make it more visible on the internet. It is what allows you to grow your traffic organically. This means that people will be able to find your blog/website naturally through search engines, such as Google.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a well designed SEO strategy
• Analyze data to identify trends in the web space
• Make changes to the web codes in order to improve website position
• Track and analyze website analytics
• Analyze the performance of current SEO strategies

Skills Required:

• Knowledge of A/B testing
• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on company’s success
• Critical thinker and problem-solving skills

Top Recruiters:

1. WebFX
2. Ignite Visibility
3. Google

6) Research Analyst

About:

A research analyst is responsible for researching, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data related to markets, operations, finance/accounting, economics, customers, and other information related to the field they work in. They provide analysis of trends and forecasts and recommend actions for optimization. Identifying trends and make recommendations for improvements is also their role.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Analyze past results and perform variance analysis
• Identify trends and make recommendations for improvements
• Provide analysis of trends and forecasts and recommend actions for optimization
• Identify and drive process improvements, including the creation of standard and ad-hoc reports

Skills Required:

• Good with numbers
• High attention to detail
• Inquisitive
• Organized

Top Recruiters:

1. Tredence
2. JP Morgan
3. B&B Analytics

7) Management Consultant

About:

Management consultants work to provide solutions to the client’s changing business needs. The scope of engagement is highly variable and can include core strategy development, large scale implementation, process optimization, change management, and new technology introduction. The analysis pertaining to each engagement is variable, but often includes intensive data and financial analysis performed in Microsoft Excel. Management consultants provide their expertise to help their clients attain efficiency through the proposed changes.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Identify Problems
• Analyze Business Structure
• Evaluate Management Staff
• Analyze Financial Data

Skills Required:

• Analytical, problem solving, and critical thinking skills
• Ability to structure and manage intensive workloads
• A worthy team player, dedicated to contributing toward the outcome desired by the team
• High degree of emotional intelligence to effectively deal with increasingly diverse clients and teams

Top Recruiters:

1. Mckinsey & Co.
2. Boston Consulting Group
3. Bain & Co.
4. Deloitte
5. AT Kearney

8) Actuarial Consultant

About:

An actuarial consultant is a professional who advises clients on investment, insurance, and pension-related decisions. The actuarial consultant will apply the extensive use of statistics, contingency plans, and large amounts of data to formulate a plan best suited to the client. They calculate and analyze the data, make forecasts, provide the most accurate information to clients, and help them realize what their best options are.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Advise clients on actuarial issues
• Conduct Actuarial Life and/or Non-Life modelling
• Provide actuarial support to company’s financial auditors of insurance companies and pension funds
• Engage in assignments which company takes up actuarial functions in national and international companies

Skills Required:

• Specialized math knowledge- Calculus, statistics, probability
• Keen analytical, project management, and problem solving skills
• Good business sense- Finance, accounting, economics
• Solid communication skills (oral and written)
• Strong computer skills- Formulating spreadsheets, statistical analysis programs, database manipulation, programming languages

Top Recruiters:

1. Deloitte
2. EY
3. Max Life
4. KPMG
5. WTW

9) Risk Analyst

About:

A risk analyst evaluates financial documents, economic conditions and potential clients to help companies determine the level of risk involved in making a particular business decision. They typically work for banks and insurance companies, though any company handling large amounts of money may choose to hire a risk analyst. You can get a job as a risk analyst after college, provided that you have the relevant experience and internship credit, and can progress to higher levels of management throughout your career.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Analyze and determine risks to help clients make sound financial decisions.
• Determine solutions to minimize or eliminate risks.
• Help clients meet financial goals.
• Analyze financial statements such as profit and loss, company budget and employee headcount.

Skills Required:

• Strong numeracy, analytical and strategy skills
• Good research skills
• Planning and organisational skills and problem-solving ability
• IT competence and computer literacy
• Negotiation skills
• Written and oral communication skills

Top Recruiters:

1. PayPal
2. JP Morgan
3. Amazon
4. Deloitte

10) Financial Analyst

About:

Financial analysts examine financial data and use their findings to help companies make business decisions. Often, their analysis is meant to inform the investing decisions of companies. More specifically, financial analysts research macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions along with company fundamentals to make predictions about businesses, sectors, and industries by evaluating current and historical financial data.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Perform financial forecasting, reporting, and operational metrics tracking
• Analyze financial data and create financial models for decision support
• Report on financial performance and prepare for regular leadership reviews
• Analyze past results, perform variance analysis, identify trends, and make recommendations for improvements
• Work closely with the accounting team to ensure accurate financial reporting
• Evaluate financial performance by comparing and analyzing actual results with plans and forecasts

Skills Required:

• Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Statistics are preferred major fields.
• Strong financial modeling experience
• Formal Accounting Qualification
• Critical Thinking
• Analysis

Top Recruiters:

1. Goldman Sachs
2. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
3. Deloitte
4. Morgan Stanley

11) Human Resource Executive

About:

Human resources specialists are responsible for recruiting, screening, interviewing and placing workers. They may also handle employee relations, payroll, benefits, and training. They are responsible for administrative tasks and contribute to making the company a better place to work. The goal is to provide excellent assistance and support to employees and managers.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Work with company CEO and/or Director to strategically plan HR initiatives that will benefit the company and encourage more efficient and beneficial work from employees
• Direct all hiring and training procedures for new employees
• Continually educate employees on company policies
• Administer or change benefits, health plans, retirement plans, etc.
• Monitor employee progress and stay abreast on company climate and culture, ensuring it stays positive and productive
• Coordinate and direct work activities for managers and employees

Skills Required:

• Administrative Expertise
• Human Resource Information Software (HRIS) knowledge
• HRM Knowledge
• HR reporting skills

Top Recruiters:

1. Google
2. Microsoft
3. Amazon
4. Facebook