As companies try to tap the vast amount of data they now have available, CFOs are increasingly looking for finance employees with business analytics skills. The demand for business analytics knowledge is part of a broader expansion in the skill set required of finance workers, with companies also more interested these days in soft skills such as leadership and communication abilities.

A recent survey of more than 2,100 CFOs conducted by Robert Half Management Resources found that 46% of respondents think business analytics skills, such as data mining and business intelligence, are mandatory for some finance and accounting positions, while 15% said they require business analytics skills for all finance and accounting employees. Another 22% of the CFOs said they appreciate such skills but don't require them.

The interest in business analytics stems from the increase in the volume of data that companies have available to them.