What does a decision analyst do?
A decision analyst helps companies make decisions using different research strategies and mathematical equations based on relevant data. Although their duties vary upon their industry or company of employment, it usually includes understanding the company's vision and mission, conducting market research and analyses, gathering and interpreting data, analyzing consumer feedback, developing sales forecasts, performing risk assessments, and studying the competition. Through their research findings, a decision analyst comes to a conclusion and develops recommendations that will not just help make decisions but also be vital in optimizing procedures and solving existing issues.
Decision analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real decision analyst resumes:
- Lead the project life cycle from business requirements through implementation to convert the PeopleSoft AP reporting platform to Cognos.
- Lead an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system selection, including gathering requirements, vendor evaluation and business case development.
- Manage vendors and supervise campus project initiatives to provide infrastructure upgrades.
- Provide reporting to senior management; manage invoice payment, collections and reconciliations.
- Manage all logistics and supply chain operations that facilitate sales delivery with minimal disruption to distribution, following all compliance standards.
- Work for simulation in python and java.
- Clean and perform descriptive and multivariate analysis of credit data for predictive modeling using SAS enterprise guide and enterprise miner.
- Conduct ROI and campaign analysis.
- Identify ORSA study data requirements and data sources.
- Perform DBMS and ad-hoc reporting using SQL, Cognos and GE/IDX.
- Used excel, PowerPoint, and SQL, and guide asp.net development.
- Generate and analyze the payroll FTE and OT reports on a biweekly basis.
- Construct Matlab scripts to output request charts and data for client specific basis.
- Observe a need for additional resources to expedite the co-op / new-hire onboarding process.
- Create advance complex tables, queries, SQL statements, forms, reports and macros.
Decision analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Decision Analysts are proficient in Data Analysis, SQL, and SAS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Writing skills, Math skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Decision Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Analysis, 26%
Introduced regression analysis to the team as an additional tool for data analysis.
- SQL, 18%
Trained analysts on SQL topics such as correlated sub queries and Oracle's DECODE function.
- SAS, 17%
Develop predictive models using SAS Enterprise Miner.
- PowerPoint, 9%
Generated Executive PowerPoint reports aimed at summarizing the annual findings of periodic benchmark and trend analysis, and identifying discrepancies.
- Data Collection, 8%
Participated in development of written analysis, executive summary and talking points; developed recommendations for improved data collection and analysis.
- Credit Card, 4%
Managed software development projects and functional specifications for credit card related systems.
Common skills that a decision analyst uses to do their job include "data analysis," "sql," and "sas." You can find details on the most important decision analyst responsibilities below.
Math skills. Many decision analyst duties rely on math skills. "the models and methods used by operations research analysts are rooted in statistics, calculus, linear algebra, and other mathematics disciplines.," so a decision analyst will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways decision analyst responsibilities rely on math skills: "provided support for account executives in the areas of project management and data analysis for both quantitative and qualitative research"
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for decision analysts to perform their duties. For an example of how decision analyst responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "operations research analysts typically work on teams." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a decision analyst: "applied interpersonal, analytical and computer skills to troubleshoot incoming problems and disbursed cases to the appropriate information systems team members. ".
Problem-solving skills. For certain decision analyst responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a decision analyst rely on this skill, as "operations research analysts need to be able to diagnose problems and study relevant information to solve them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what decision analysts do: "recommend solutions, industry standards and framework on all aspects of the business rules life cycle. "
Analytical skills. Another crucial skill for a decision analyst to carry out their responsibilities is "analytical skills." A big part of what decision analysts relies on this skill, since "operations research analysts use a range of methods, including forecasting and data mining, to examine and interpret data." How this skill relates to decision analyst duties can be seen in an example from a decision analyst resume snippet: "rule statements pertaining to data quality and credit score. "
Communication skills. Another skill commonly found on decision analyst job descriptions is "communication skills." It can come up quite often in decision analyst duties, since "operations research analysts write memos, reports, and other documents and often present their data and conclusions to managers and other executives." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day decision analyst responsibilities: "promoted from role as telecommunications product support, analyzing data using sas, business objects, sql, access and excel. "
The three companies that hire the most decision analysts are:
- Huntington National Bank57 decision analysts jobs
- USAA11 decision analysts jobs
- Dollar General5 decision analysts jobs
Compare different decision analysts
Decision analyst vs. Graduate research associate
A graduate research associate is tasked with many responsibilities. Firstly, you may be required to monitor the progress of research projects and coordinate information between departmental sections. Secondly, depending on where you find a placement, you may be the one in charge of the laboratory. If so, you will perform a wide range of assays, tests, and studies. Your job may also involve the performance of advanced laboratory experiments. You may also collect, prepare, and analyze slides for tissue cultures.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a decision analyst are more likely to require skills like "credit card," "bi," "sas enterprise," and "analytical support." On the other hand, a job as a graduate research associate requires skills like "technical reports," "cell culture," "research projects," and "chemistry." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, graduate research associates reach similar levels of education than decision analysts. Graduate research associates are 2.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 3.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Decision analyst vs. Method consultant
Co-operations interns perform various tasks for an organization. These include troubleshooting computer issues for employees, updating the documentation on internal troubleshooting, and designing and performing clerical tasks such as data entry and making telephone calls. Co-operations interns must learn management techniques to lead and supervise others, assist in the management and implementation of production plans, and participate in meetings with the manager. They are also expected to perform tasks such as researching and preparing logistics reports.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that decision analyst responsibilities requires skills like "data analysis," "sql," "sas," and "powerpoint." But a method consultant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "java," "mws," "interface design," and "sftp."
Method consultants may earn a higher salary than decision analysts, but method consultants earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $98,944. On the other hand, decision analysts receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $95,888.method consultants earn similar levels of education than decision analysts in general. They're 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for decision analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Christopher Ball Ph.D.
Director Central European Institute & Istvan Szechenyi Chair Associate Professor of Economics, Quinnipiac University
Decision analyst vs. Material liaison
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, decision analysts are more likely to have skills like "data analysis," "sql," "sas," and "powerpoint." But a material liaison is more likely to have skills like "logistics," "lean manufacturing," "inventory control," and "quality issues."
When it comes to education, material liaisons tend to earn lower degree levels compared to decision analysts. In fact, they're 20.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 4.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Decision analyst vs. Co-operations internship
Types of decision analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
