5Q with Oscar Umana: Intern at the New York State Comptroller’s Office

By Sophie Coker, Class of ’26 

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 15, 2026) — Oscar Umana crunches data everywhere he goes. From working at a restaurant to managing portfolios with the University at Albany School of Business Investment Group (UASBIG), his journey in the field of financial analytics dates to his childhood, starting long before the numbers became his major.

Umana, a junior honors business administration student with a concentration in financial analytics, works with the New York State Comptroller’s Budget and Policy Analysis division, where they produce reports on current developments in New York to give policymakers insights they can use to drive change.

We ran the numbers with Umana, learning about his experience as a first-generation student at the University at Albany and as an intern with the New York State Comptroller’s Office.

What drew you to financial analysis?

Growing up, I knew that I wanted to pursue business. I've always been fascinated by the way numbers can be used to tell real-world stories. When I found out that there was a program that was focused on analyzing and interpreting numbers, I knew this was something that I wanted to pursue. I'm especially interested in working with data, assessing performance, making projections, and really understanding how organizations, businesses and governments make financial decisions.

I'm always learning something new, whether it be in my classes or through my internship. Whether I’m working on projects like analyzing tuition rates or I'm in school learning about the financial markets, it's always different and changing. No one day ever feels the same. Studying financial analysis forces me to continue learning, which is really exciting about this field.

Why did you choose to intern with the New York State Comptroller’s Office? 

I chose to intern with the Comptroller's office because I wanted to use the skills that I was developing in my classes and connect them to real-world projects that directly focus on public service. I see data as a very powerful tool that can be used to understand what's going on in our communities and give policymakers insights on how to drive change. Between analyzing data behind aging prison populations and funding non-profit organizations, we can more easily assess the disparities that are going on in our communities.

What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far?

My favorite project so far was definitely the first one that I worked on during my internship. I was working on a financial wellness snapshot where we were looking at large data sets in terms of home ownership rate, household income, household debt, and credit scores. We created a demographic breakdown to compare New York State to the rest of the nation to assess how the state ranked financially.

This also gave me insights into how to look at data and critically visualize the inequalities in the state’s wealth gap. I also got to work really closely with my team, which was really exciting because I got to see the project in its beginning stages, to eventually being published, and it's something that I'm incredibly proud of.

How has UAlbany helped you pursue your career interests?

When I was in high school, I did not think that pursuing higher education was going to be an option for me. But thanks to organizations here on campus like the Educational Opportunity Program, I'm able to be where I am today. The combination of rigorous coursework, case studies and class discussions have prepared me to develop the necessary skills to pursue a career in business.

Beyond the classroom, I'm also part of the University at Albany School of Business Investment Group (UASBIG), where I'm developing both the technical and soft skills needed in business, from financial modeling and financial analysis to teamwork and presentation skills.

If you could sum up your experience in one lesson, what would it be?

When I was young, I had to adapt to new situations and learn how to navigate unfamiliar environments. Deciding to pursue education as a first-generation student wasn’t easy at first, but looking back now, I realize that being uncomfortable pushed me to grow. 

When I first started my internship last summer, I didn’t know what to expect. But with all other uncertainties in my life, I decided to face it head-on. I kept working hard, even when I wasn’t sure my dreams would come true. Through perseverance, I’ve reached a place I’m truly grateful for today. I have learned that real growth happens when we embrace uncertainty, a lesson that I will continue to carry with me through future professional opportunities.