Business Analyst Job Description

This article will provide an overview of what the field of business analytics entails. It will also break down the job requirements and responsibilities of being a successful Business Analyst. 

What is a Business Analyst?

A Business Analyst works with data to gather insights used to offer recommendations for changes within a business. They are tasked with spotting any issues that may occur within an organization’s departments, such as staff development, IT processes, or organizational structures. This process can involve analyzing products, services, processes, and systems within an organization.

Both small and large businesses are constantly seeking new ways to improve efficiency while cutting down on costs. In addition to analyzing business data, Business Analysts assist with documenting various business-related processes by evaluating their business models and how well they integrate with technology. They also work to streamline organizational processes across multiple departments and increase employee productivity throughout the entire organization. 

The field of business analytics is growing in popularity in various industries as businesses continue to evolve and expand to better meet their customers’ and clients’ needs. Business Analysts often play an integral role in a business or organization's financial well-being and prospects. They are hired to help solve problems, establish new goals, and ensure that the desired results are achieved within a viable timeframe so that the business can establish new objectives.

Short Job Description

A Business Analyst is hired to spot areas of a business that can be improved to optimize efficiency and streamline processes. They tend to work closely with those in other departments within an organization so that their data findings can be used to implement organization-wide changes that will benefit both internal and external stakeholders. Often, this involves prioritizing the business’s technical and functional requirements, analyzing large datasets, providing data visualizations, creating financial models, and articulating various business strategies and goals. 

Business Analysts are also involved with budgeting tasks, forecasting, and financial analysis. Ultimately, those working with business analytics must be certain that their analyses and recommendations will benefit the organization and create lasting results. This requires a combination of technical and analytical skills, research, problem-solving, and clear communication to express findings.

Full Job Description

If you pursue a career as a Business Analyst, you’ll have a chance to contribute to your organization’s success by providing information and recommendations from patterns you find in data. Your role within the organization will be to improve its efficiency and productivity, ultimately leading to a greater profit. One of your primary responsibilities will be to analyze and evaluate any requirements necessary to implement changes in business processes, policies, or information systems. This often involves communicating with both internal and external stakeholders.

To be a successful Business Analyst, you must first have a working knowledge of what the organization does and how it operates. Once you have a solid understanding of the business's organizational structure, you then work to identify areas for improvement with the existing processes. This may involve designing new features, improving existing ones, or eliminating those not serving the organization’s overall needs. Any new procedures you implement will need to be evaluated to ensure they are effective. 

In addition to improving the current operations within an organization, you will also be tasked with spotting business opportunities that have the potential for expansion when working as a Business Analyst. This may require influencing stakeholders so that they support initiatives, as well as reaching out to various departmental teams so that better business outcomes can be reached across the organization. You also will likely explore any opportunities to automate tasks or procedures, which can save the organization valuable time and resources.

Job Requirements

While the requirements to be a Business Analyst may vary slightly depending on the type of business as well as its size, the following are some of the core job requirements most Business Analysts have:

• A bachelor’s degree in business or a business-related field is a common job requirement for aspiring Business Analysts. Many also have MBAs. 
• Work experience is a plus when applying for positions in business analytics. Some employers seek out candidates with five years of business-related work experience. 
• Knowledge of accounting, finance, and business concepts helps Business Analysts identify operational issues and propose viable solutions to address them.
• A solid background in data analytics is another essential requirement for a successful Business Analyst.
• Strong communication skills are a must for those working in business analytics. Communication is essential for working with different players within the organization, such as other teams, other departments, and upper management. Clearly communicating is also an asset when presenting ideas and initiatives to other stakeholders, such as clients or customers.
• Experience in making presentations and preparing detailed reports are valuable skills for Business Analysts.
• Business Analysts must be skilled in organization, time management, and planning.
• Industry experience is a plus when working as a Business Analyst. Because an organization’s needs depend primarily on the industry, industry experience is valuable for Business Analysts to help them better understand the challenges the business might face, as well as to propose appropriate solutions. 

Job Responsibilities

The following are some of the primary job responsibilities of a Business Analyst:

• Analyze an organization’s existing business processes to spot areas for improvement.
• Research various business processes and any advancements with IT systems to keep all processes current.
• Communicate findings in a straightforward manner with others in the organization.
• Develop new projects and monitor the performance of existing projects.
• Provide training for staff members.
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders.
• Interview employees to gain an understanding of processes or problems within an organization.
• Create and oversee various initiatives.
• Train employees on newly implemented procedures.

Skills

If you’re interested in becoming a Business Analyst, the following are some of the skills and qualifications you will likely need to work in this field:

• Analytic skills
• Microsoft Excel
• Organization
• Problem-solving 
• Critical thinking
• SQL
• Written and oral communication skills
• Leadership
• Management
• An understanding of the business’s structure
• Programming languages such as Python and R
• Knowledge of databases and technology
• Interpersonal skills
• Data visualization using software such as Tableau

Learn More About Business Analytics by Enrolling in Hands-on Classes

If you’re interested in studying business analytics, a variety of courses are available for beginners and more advanced students. Noble’s Business Analyst Certificate is a great learning option for any aspiring Business Analyst. Relevant tools and skills such as data analysis, Excel, Tableau, and SQL are covered in this hands-on program. Those enrolled in this intensive course can elect to study online or in-person in Manhattan. This class comes with the option of a free retake for learners who wish to revisit course material. 

In addition, if you’re looking for learning options close to home, you can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to browse through more than 250 live online and in-person business analytics courses in topics such as SQL, PowerPoint, and Excel for Business, among others.