Data & Finance for Work & Life
Have you ever seen a graph that seemed too good to be true? Or heard a percent-based fact that felt too high or too low? You’re not the only one. The reality is that unbelievable graphs and statistics are often correct, but warped. Their creators use a series of techniques to represent the data in […]
Data Distortion: What is it? And how is it misleading? Read More »
The words “data analyst” produce a mental image of someone working behind a computer in a dark room with many complex charts. That, or someone working in a millennial startup with a cup of coffee and a Mac computer. In my experience, few understand all the benefits of working as a data analyst. So, why
Why be a data analyst? (And why not to!) Read More »
If you’ve ever seen Wall Street, Margin Call, or any other classic money movie, the no-life working-man attitude in finance is hard to forget. Hollywood is partially responsible for this glum finance reputation. It’s why many people envision finance roles (and financial analyst roles in particular) as high-stress. However, a study by the United States
Financial Analyst Stress: Company vs Bank, & How to Manage Read More »
(Updated) Not all data is good quality, and a common driver of poor quality is a lack of data completeness. Completeness is one of 10 standards for data quality: Accessibility, Accuracy, Comparability, Consistency, Credibility, Relevance, Timeliness, Uniqueness, Reasonableness, and Completeness In a sentence, data completeness is the percent of all required data currently available in
Data Completeness: Definition, Testing, & Quality Assurance Read More »
The term “growth” in business spurs images of financial statements — items such as cash, assets, profits, and liabilities. While these on-balance sheet are fundamental to revenue growth, they ignore the biggest driver of all: off-balance sheet items, or items not listed on financial statements. For example, an e-commerce website’s loyal customers and strong relationships
Revenue Drivers: 5 Growth Metrics & How to Analyze Them Read More »
The most successful companies today leverage data to optimize customer experiences. While understanding one’s customers is key, small and medium-size businesses earn a strong competitive edge when they use data to understand market conditions and competitors. In a sentence, market intelligence data consists of tabular details addressing a market’s customers, competitors, suppliers, and macroeconomics, using
What is Market Intelligence Data? 4 Easy Examples & Sources Read More »
Financial planning can make the difference between success and failure for companies in today’s dynamic markets. In most companies, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) teams are responsible for outlining financial plans using an analytical toolbox to deliver consistent and flexible insights that feed the corporate decision-making process. Financial planning methods are the fundamental elements in
Financial Planning Methods: 3 Types & Excel Examples Read More »
If you’ve ever tried to understand data objects from a textbook or formal documentation, you probably ended up confused. Data object are a simple concept, but their meaning usually gets lost in dense wording. The purpose of this article to to clearly define data objects, explain their various types, and provide examples so you walk
What is a data object? Definition, Types, & Examples Read More »
Dummy data isn’t exactly dumb — on the contrary. Analysts that use dummy data are often the smart ones in the room, since dummy data is kind a safety mechanism for data integrity. It’s a trial subject of sorts, applied to unknown programs, or program modifications, before valuable data is used. OK, that’s a high-level
Dummy Data: Definition, Example & How to Generate It Read More »
In a corporate context, presenting works wonders for a career. Most professionals get exposure to presenting to informed colleagues and department managers. It’s an ideal way to get visibility and show value. But a management presentation to senior executives who aren’t familiar department nuances is a different ballgame. A management presentation is a high-level summary
Management Presentation: 8 Tips, Examples & a Template Read More »
