Post job

What does a senior business consultant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Brian Simmons
What does a senior business consultant do

A senior business consultant specializes in performing research and analysis to optimize business processes. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, devising strategies to reduce cost, assess risks, and identify the strength and weaknesses of operations to recommend solutions. They may also train and mentor junior consultants, produce progress reports and presentations, and assist clients through calls and correspondence. Furthermore, as a consultant, it is essential to adhere to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

On this page

Senior business consultant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior business consultant resumes:

  • Develop and manage a testing strategy for client QA units to ensure compliance regarding requirements.
  • Manage enhancements to a windows system enabling medical claims processing of a new product line.
  • Achieve significant improvements in business alignment, application innovation, world-class infrastructure technology, customer service and stakeholder value.
  • Develop PMO policies and artifacts, including change management best practices.
  • Provide leadership for multiple workstreams within a PMO as well as lead individual projects.
  • Support projects relate to operational analytics and operational support inventory.
  • Define and develop data visualization and user interface elements using Qlikview script expressions and operators.
  • Work with SRS operations resources to validate usability of application preventing costly revisions post-implementation (UAT).
  • Develop new technology portfolio management model/framework.
  • Work on HTML, XML, CSS.
  • Work with the processing and interpreting the backend XML files, and familiar with the BAI format and NACHA format files.
  • Design and develop a database to house data from various data sources for all reporting needs with T-SQL proficiency.
  • Used multivariate statistical techniques such as regression analysis, k-means cluster analysis, factor analysis, and discriminate analysis.
  • Determine appropriate metrics base on regression analysis of customer satisfaction surveys and set performance targets on all operating metrics.
  • Develop new technology portfolio management model/framework.

Senior business consultant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Senior Business Consultants are proficient in Data Analysis, Healthcare, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Senior Business Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Data Analysis, 12%

    Performed recruitment analysis, data analysis, and solutions/alternative analysis, communication, and implementation; plus project management support.

  • Healthcare, 7%

    Planned and executed new software implementations and consulting projects for clients engaged in healthcare claims and customer service operations.

  • Project Management, 7%

    Instituted project management philosophy and individual accountability.

  • SR, 6%

    Served as the lead Sr. Business Consultant for clients in need of sales team development and increased sales effectiveness.

  • Analytics, 6%

    Partner with senior executives and c-level officers to develop customized digital marketing and analytics solutions utilizing the Adobe Digital Marketing Suite.

  • Strong Analytical, 5%

    Project required extensive detailed work and strong analytical skills.

Most senior business consultants use their skills in "data analysis," "healthcare," and "project management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior business consultant responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior business consultant to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Additionally, a senior business consultant resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "defined and developed data visualization and user interface elements using qlikview script expressions and operators. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior business consultant duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." According to a senior business consultant resume, here's how senior business consultants can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "key contributor in developing internal and external communication and training materials. "

Interpersonal skills. senior business consultants are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior business consultant responsibilities, because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." A senior business consultant resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "achieved exceptional customer service recognition through applying professional interpersonal communicative skills successfully exceeded company objectives through applied sales-driven personality"

Problem-solving skills. For certain senior business consultant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a senior business consultant rely on this skill, as "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior business consultants do: "work on prototyping existing company requirements from the existing legacy system and researching alternative erp solutions; particularly sap. "

Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for a senior business consultant to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what senior business consultants relies on this skill, since "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." How this skill relates to senior business consultant duties can be seen in an example from a senior business consultant resume snippet: "assisted in uat testing, while keeping project target date on time. "

Most common senior business consultant skills

Choose from 10+ customizable senior business consultant resume templates

Build a professional senior business consultant resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior business consultant resume.
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume
Senior Business Consultant Resume

Compare different senior business consultants

Senior business consultant vs. Consultant/team lead

Consultant team leads analyze background documentation, project documents, financial reports, etc., to prepare an initial report about the projects they are working on. They gather data through interviews, research, and surveys to design proposals meant to create an inclusive environment for everyone. These leaders work with clients to improve their organization's performance by coordinating their teams and identifying their needs. They also lead a team of consultants and discuss the techniques that help their clients improve their quality of living.

We looked at the average senior business consultant salary and compared it with the wages of a consultant/team lead. Generally speaking, consultants/team lead are paid $8,133 lower than senior business consultants per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both senior business consultant and consultant/team lead positions are skilled in project management, process improvement, and business process.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior business consultant are more likely to require skills like "data analysis," "healthcare," "sr," and "analytics." On the other hand, a job as a consultant/team lead requires skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," "liaising," and "bi." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Consultants/team lead earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $112,433. On the other hand, senior business consultants are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $111,128.consultants/team lead tend to reach similar levels of education than senior business consultants. In fact, consultants/team lead are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Senior business consultant vs. Program management consultant

A program management consultant is responsible for analyzing project requirements based on clients' specifications, developing quality improvement techniques, and reviewing project deliverables. Program management consultants work closely with the project team to identify project initiatives and resolve complexities that may arise. They also inspect the resources and materials to be utilized during the project and determine cost-reduction processes without compromising quality and efficiency. A program management consultant coordinates with the clients for progress updates and informs them of any plan adjustments as needed.

A career as a program management consultant brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior business consultant. In fact, program management consultants salary is $4,027 lower than the salary of senior business consultants per year.A few skills overlap for senior business consultants and program management consultants. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "healthcare," "project management," and "strong analytical. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior business consultant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "data analysis," "sr," "analytics," and "business analysis." Meanwhile, a program management consultant has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "management program," "scrum," and "cloud." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Program management consultants earn a lower average salary than senior business consultants. But program management consultants earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $107,612. Additionally, senior business consultants earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $111,128 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Program management consultants tend to reach similar levels of education than senior business consultants. In fact, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior business consultants in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Brian SimmonsDr. Brian Simmons LinkedIn profile

Associate Provost, Columbia International University

COVID 19 has necessitated a rapid academic response to the educational needs of students. Teaching and learning that was conducted in a F2F mode of content delivery were thrust online last spring. Today, much teaching and education continue to be offered, either online or in a blended format. When we get beyond the pandemic, we will engage in reflective practice to glean from our experiences. My hunch is that there will be a new standard and more willingness to engage students online via learning management systems.

Senior business consultant vs. Business advisor

Business Advisors are consultants responsible for implementing business strategies to improve financial and operational efficiency. They are involved in preparing financial budgets, recommending a change in the operational process, identifying new business opportunities, evaluating a marketing strategy, and reviewing supplier and labor contracts. Business advisors also help to manage risk by performing risk analysis and consumer behavioral analysis. They are involved in report preparation and work to maintain open communication with different departments to implement change.

On average, business advisors earn lower salaries than senior business consultants, with a $8,715 difference per year.By looking over several senior business consultants and business advisors resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "healthcare," "project management," and "strong analytical." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior business consultant resumes include skills like "data analysis," "sr," "analytics," and "business analysis," whereas a business advisor is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "business operations," "human resources," and "real estate. "

Business advisors make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $92,206. On the other hand, senior business consultants are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $111,128.When it comes to education, business advisors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to senior business consultants. In fact, they're 5.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior business consultant vs. Business leader

Business Leaders are considered trailblazers in their field. They are innovative thinkers who often introduce solutions to their industry's challenges. They inspire people pursuing careers in their field and even those outside the industry to strive harder and create their paths to success. Employees often look up to Business Leaders, which is why they must be motivating. They also oversee their business operations and often set long-term targets and strategies to achieve these targets. They think outside the box to set their business apart from their competitors.

Business leaders typically earn lower pay than senior business consultants. On average, business leaders earn a $14,754 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, senior business consultants and business leaders both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "data analysis," "project management," and "analytics. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A senior business consultant uses "healthcare," "sr," "strong analytical," and "medicaid." Business leaders are more likely to have duties that require skills in "digital transformation," "customer service," "continuous improvement," and "business plan. "The pharmaceutical industry tends to pay the highest salaries for business leaders, with average annual pay of $128,816. Comparatively, the highest senior business consultant annual salary comes from the professional industry.In general, business leaders hold similar degree levels compared to senior business consultants. Business leaders are 2.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior business consultant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse business and financial jobs