What does a business & data analyst do?
A business and data analyst is an individual who specializes in utilizing different data-centered strategies in providing analytical services to a company or an organization. Their duties focus on conducting extensive market research and assessments, organizing studies using various techniques and approaches, gathering and analyzing data, performing risk assessments, and spearheading activities such as interviews and surveys. They use their research findings to create plans, establish business forecasts and models, and recommend solutions to optimize business operations.
Business & data analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real business & data analyst resumes:
- Develop, implement and manage ETL documentation, conversion algorithms, and conversion subroutines.
- Accomplish at designing dashboards and data summaries for technical and non-technical audiences and facilitating implementation of business strategies and missions.
- Review existing Java code (DAO in MyBatis layer) for prepare statements to understand business and technical requirements.
- Develop CRM database to produce invoices, quotes and track client contract renewal dates for a pest control business.
- Handle administrative tasks including preparation of PowerPoint presentations.
- Gather business and system requirement for CRM implementation.
- Prepare PowerPoint presentations utilizing various types of graphs for management presentations.
- Used SharePoint for documents repository and provide access to the stakeholders appropriately.
- Review QA testing results against requirement documentation to identify actual program errors.
- Develop complex forecast models through time series econometrics and Monte Carlo simulations.
- Clarify requirements with ETL developers and provide data support to developers during development and unit testing.
- Develop and consolidate common SAS modules and SAS macros for high efficiency and better standardization and reliability.
- Communicate technology updates via team meetings, forums, email, SharePoint or other appropriate organizational events.
- Perform data verification and also perform UAT and assign problems to appropriate software development team for fixing.
- Develop robust reports and insights for internal and external stakeholders using data visualization with appropriate level of detail.
Business & data analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Business & Data Analysts are proficient in Data Analysis, Power Bi, and Visualization. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Business & Data Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Analysis, 11%
Involved in requirements gathering, source data analysis and identified business rules for data migration and for developing data warehouse/data mart.
- Power Bi, 8%
Reviewed the data model and reporting requirements for Power BI and Business Object with the Data warehouse/ETL and Reporting team.
- Visualization, 5%
Mentored Power users in creating and modifying worksheets and data visualization dashboards.
- BI, 4%
Designed and instituted an overall BI architecture and strategy.
- Data Quality, 4%
Assisted with the formal documentation of an enterprise Data Management Strategy, Data Governance structure and Data Quality Management program.
- PowerPoint, 3%
Prepared PowerPoint presentations utilizing various types of graphs for management presentations.
"data analysis," "power bi," and "visualization" are among the most common skills that business & data analysts use at work. You can find even more business & data analyst responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a business & data analyst to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." Additionally, a business & data analyst resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "developed excellent interpersonal, communication, organization skills and the ability to work under pressure. "
Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform business & data analyst duties is problem-solving skills. Business & data analysts responsibilities require that "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." Business & data analysts also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created mock-up forms in ms word for better visualization and understanding of the software solution. "
Time-management skills. This is an important skill for business & data analysts to perform their duties. For an example of how business & data analyst responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a business & data analyst: "automated it project reporting process using vba; reduced the report creation time by 85%. ".
Analytical skills. business & data analyst responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." This resume example shows what business & data analysts do with analytical skills on a typical day: "developed robust reports and insights for internal and external stakeholders using data visualization with appropriate level of detail. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for business & data analyst responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of business & data analysts all the time, as "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." An excerpt from a real business & data analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a business & data analyst does: "analyzed business processes to identify challenges and created solutions with use of db and communication software. "
The three companies that hire the most business & data analysts are:
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Compare different business & data analysts
Business & data analyst vs. Analyst
Analysts are employees or individual contributors with a vast experience in a particular field that help the organization address challenges. They help the organization improve processes, policies, and other operations protocol by studying the current processes in place and determining the effectiveness of those processes. They also research industry trends and data to make sound inferences and recommendations on what the company should do to improve their numbers. Analysts recommend business solutions and often help the organization roll out these solutions. They ensure that the proposed action plans are effective and produce the desired results.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a business & data analyst are more likely to require skills like "power bi," "visualization," "bi," and "data quality." On the other hand, a job as an analyst requires skills like "customer service," "troubleshoot," "project management," and "digital transformation." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Analysts tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $79,330. In contrast, business & data analysts make the biggest average salary, $91,008, in the finance industry.On average, analysts reach lower levels of education than business & data analysts. Analysts are 11.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Business & data analyst vs. Program analyst
The job of program analysts is to plan, manage, and evaluate a company's computer programs. They usually perform different tasks, including researching and analyzing complex data to identify trends and offer the best recommendations for improvements. Other duties for this position may include creating policies and procedures, monitoring and evaluating program performance, and resolving any issues. This role's skills and requirements include a bachelor's degree in computer science, business, or related field. Previous work experience as a program analyst and critical thinking skills are also valued.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that business & data analyst responsibilities requires skills like "power bi," "visualization," "bi," and "data quality." But a program analyst might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "veterans," "program management," "project management," and "logistics."
Program analysts may earn a lower salary than business & data analysts, but program analysts earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $79,942. On the other hand, business & data analysts receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $91,008.program analysts earn lower levels of education than business & data analysts in general. They're 6.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for business & data analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Benjamin Clark Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Oregon
Business & data analyst vs. Staff analyst
Staff Analysts are employees who oversee the activities related to the employees. They monitor the performance of the employees and assess whether particular employees suit the role they have. They also assess the current roles in the company to see if those roles are really needed. Staff Analysts ensure that the manpower allocation in the company is efficient. They analyze staff-related data to check whether there are more areas for improvement. Staff Analysts may also be assigned to come up with projects related to improving productivity.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a business & data analyst is likely to be skilled in "power bi," "visualization," "bi," and "data quality," while a typical staff analyst is skilled in "project management," "process improvement," "technical support," and "windows."
Staff analysts make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $107,444. On the other hand, business & data analysts are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $91,008.When it comes to education, staff analysts tend to earn lower degree levels compared to business & data analysts. In fact, they're 8.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Business & data analyst vs. Senior technical business analyst
Senior Technical Business Analysts are experienced employees who primarily work on business improvements. They review business processes and other operations-related procedures in relation to the current business landscape. They should be familiar with the trends in the industry and how these trends affect the company. They should also be familiar with the company processes, people's capabilities, and other context-setting information related to the business. Senior Technical Business Analysts work with different departments to get a holistic view of the company. This would help them recommend action plans and next steps to address the company's challenges and ensure that the company overcomes these challenges.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between business & data analysts and senior technical business analysts, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a business & data analyst might have more use for skills like "data quality," "powerpoint," "data models," and "sas." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior technical business analysts require skills like "project management," "business stakeholders," "process improvement," and "subject matter experts. "
In general, senior technical business analysts earn the most working in the energy industry, with an average salary of $122,449. The highest-paying industry for a business & data analyst is the finance industry.senior technical business analysts reach lower levels of education compared to business & data analysts, in general. The difference is that they're 5.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of business & data analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
