As a Financial Analyst at Viasat, your day-to-day responsibilities will vary depending on your specific team alignment, but they generally center around driving financial planning, reporting, and strategic analysis. You will be tasked with translating operational performance into clear financial metrics that empower leadership to make informed decisions.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Leading the monthly, quarterly, and annual budgeting and forecasting processes for your assigned business unit or cost center.
• Performing detailed variance analyses to compare actual financial results against forecasts, identifying key operational drivers, and presenting performance summaries to business leaders.
• Building and maintaining complex financial models to evaluate business cases, pricing strategies, capital expenditures, and strategic partnerships.
• Partnering cross-functionally with engineering, program management, supply chain, and sales teams to provide financial guidance and ensure alignment with corporate financial targets.
• Developing and tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor operational efficiency, revenue generation, and cost control.
• Assisting in the preparation of executive-level presentations, board materials, and quarterly business review packages.

To be competitive for the Financial Analyst position at Viasat, you must present a strong combination of technical proficiency, analytical capability, and interpersonal skills.

Technical Skills

• Financial Modeling & Excel – Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is mandatory. You must be comfortable building dynamic models, utilizing advanced formulas, and structuring data cleanly.
• ERP and Financial Systems – Experience with enterprise-level financial planning software (such as Oracle, Hyperion, Essbase, or SAP) is highly preferred.
• Data Visualization – Familiarity with data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI is a strong differentiator.

Experience & Education

• Education – A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a highly quantitative field is required.
• Professional Experience – Typically requires 2–5 years of corporate finance, investment banking, or public accounting experience. For entry-level or university grad roles, strong internship experience in corporate finance is expected.
• Industry Knowledge – While not strictly required, prior experience in technology, aerospace, defense, or telecommunications is a significant plus.

Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have Skills

• Must-have skills – Strong understanding of GAAP accounting, exceptional financial modeling capabilities, and a proven track record of cross-functional collaboration.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience with SQL or Python for data manipulation, familiarity with government contracting accounting standards (such as FAR/CAS), and an MBA or progress toward a CFA/CPA.

Q: How technical is the Financial Analyst interview at Viasat? A: The technical evaluation focuses heavily on core corporate finance and accounting fundamentals, such as financial statement analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. While you will not face highly complex quantitative testing, you must be able to explain financial concepts clearly and walk through your modeling logic step-by-step.

Q: What is Viasat looking for in terms of cultural fit? A: Viasat values collaboration, humility, curiosity, and a strong sense of ownership. They look for professionals who are energized by solving complex problems, communicate respectfully, and are comfortable working in a dynamic, cross-functional team environment.

Q: How long does the entire interview process typically take? A: The process can range from 3 weeks to several months, depending on the role's urgency and the team's scheduling availability. It often involves multiple rounds of phone and video interviews prior to a final panel loop.

Q: What is the work environment and location strategy for Viasat? A: Viasat has major offices in Carlsbad, CA, San Diego, CA, and other regional hubs. Depending on the team and specific role, they offer hybrid work arrangements that balance remote flexibility with in-office collaboration.

Prepare structured behavioral stories: Use the STAR method to structure your answers for behavioral questions. Focus on clearly defining the Situation, the Task you needed to accomplish, the specific Action you took, and the quantifiable Result of your efforts.

Understand Viasat's business model: Take the time to research Viasat's major business segments, including satellite services, commercial aviation, and government systems. Showing that you understand their capital-intensive model and their unique business drivers will make a strong impression on your interviewers.

Demonstrate continuous learning: Viasat operates in a rapidly evolving, highly technical industry. Highlight times when you have proactively learned new tools, systems, or industry concepts to improve your analytical capabilities.

Securing a Financial Analyst position at Viasat is an exciting opportunity to drive financial strategy at a premier global communications company. The role offers a unique combination of high-impact corporate finance, complex operational modeling, and deep cross-functional collaboration. By preparing thoroughly across key technical concepts, structuring your behavioral stories, and demonstrating a collaborative mindset, you can position yourself as an exceptional candidate.

As you finalize your preparation, focus on mastering the connections between operational activities and financial statements, and practice articulating your problem-solving process clearly. Remember that the hiring team is looking not just for a strong analyst, but for a trusted business partner who can navigate ambiguity and contribute to a supportive, high-performing team. For more detailed interview insights, company profiles, and preparation strategies, you can explore additional resources on Dataford.

The salary range shown above represents the base compensation for the Financial Analyst position at Viasat in Carlsbad, CA. Your specific offer will depend on your depth of experience, technical capabilities, and performance throughout the interview process. In addition to base salary, Viasat typically offers a comprehensive benefits package, including performance bonuses and retirement matching.