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What does a senior business data analyst do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Rebecca Sarver

A senior business data analyst is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the company's information database for business operations. Senior business data analysts conduct data and statistical analysis to generate business solutions that would support the efficiency and productivity of the staff in providing the highest customer satisfaction. They also evaluate market trends to identify opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability. A senior business data analyst must have excellent communication and technical skills in developing processes to achieve the company's goals and objectives.

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Senior business data analyst responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior business data analyst resumes:

  • Educate users with ERP concepts and benefits to manage organizational change.
  • Work with CDC TouchPoint CRM team to implement enhancements and manage ad hoc data loads to and from the system.
  • Accomplish at designing dashboards and data summaries for technical and non-technical audiences and facilitating implementation of business strategies and missions.
  • Used CRM on demand for accessing information on the business policies and procedures.
  • Research about data issues in the report and report them to the team to correct them in ETL.
  • Implement visualization of worksheets using styles bar, pie, tree, dual axis, line and scatter plot.
  • Assist QA team in all the testing activities, review test script and clarify the doubts of test data creation team.
  • Create developing dashboards and reporting visualization.
  • Advise development of standard business architecture context diagrams.
  • Analyze and document differences/Gaps between current ETL processes and potential enhancements.
  • Involve in requirements gathering, preparing the requirement specification document, defining the system architecture.
  • Gather requirements, create functional and technical documentation used by developers and QA personnel for application development and testing.
  • Validate critical and non-critical data quality requirements by looking at log tables and metadata between source flat files and staging/destination tables.
  • Provide gap analysis skills to determine system enhancements or process updates to accommodate Medicare and Medicaid growth initiatives for new business.
  • Assist in testing reports that are developed using COGNOS.

Senior business data analyst skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Senior Business Data Analysts are proficient in Tableau, Data Analysis, 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 Senior Business Data Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Tableau, 11%

    Designed and Developed Complex Active reports and Dashboards with different data visualizations using Tableau desktop on customer data.

  • Data Analysis, 9%

    Performed hands-on detailed & high-level data analysis; Produced well-articulated project requirement, specification, test & design artifacts.

  • Visualization, 8%

    Created developing dashboards and reporting visualization.

  • Power Bi, 6%

    Build the strategic dashboard using Power BI to build the forecasting target and the sales strategy to achieve the goals.

  • BI, 5%

    Assist in building strategic BI dashboards to facilitate identifying customer engagement targeting opportunities.

  • Data Quality, 4%

    Coordinated UAT activities and developed business scenarios for statement rendition, performance reporting, data quality check.

Common skills that a senior business data analyst uses to do their job include "tableau," "data analysis," and "visualization." You can find details on the most important senior business data analyst responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. For certain senior business data analyst responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "analytical skills." The day-to-day duties of a senior business data analyst rely on this skill, as "analysts must interpret complex information from various sources and decide the best way to move forward on a project." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior business data analysts do: "worked with business owners across various aig businesses, units and corporate functions on kpi dashboard projects incorporating data visualization methods/tools. "

Communication skills. Another common skill required for senior business data analyst responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of senior business data analysts all the time, as "analysts work as a go-between with management and the it department and must explain complex issues in a way that both will understand." An excerpt from a real senior business data analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a senior business data analyst does: "provided daily communications including scrum notes, sprint review reports and project retrospective to product owner. "

Creativity. Lastly, "creativity" is an important element of what a senior business data analyst does. Senior business data analyst responsibilities require this skill because "because analysts are tasked with finding innovative solutions to computer problems, an ability to “think outside the box” is important." This resume example highlights how senior business data analyst duties rely on this skill: "use sharepoint, saleslogix to maintain customer inventory. "

Most common senior business data analyst skills

Choose from 10+ customizable senior business data analyst resume templates

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Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume
Senior Business Data Analyst Resume

Compare different senior business data analysts

Senior business data analyst vs. Analyst lead

The duties of an analyst lead depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather leads and data, reviewing findings, and producing reports and presentations for the stakeholders and other higher-ranking officials. Through the results, an analyst lead can provide advice, devise strategies for business optimization, spearhead the development of processes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer recommendations on areas in need of improvement. All of this is done while in adherence to the company's vision and mission.

The annual salary of analyst leads is $3,355 lower than the average salary of senior business data analysts.Even though senior business data analysts and analyst leads are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require data analysis, visualization, and power bi in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior business data analyst responsibilities require skills like "tableau," "data quality," "scrum," and "data models." Meanwhile a typical analyst lead has skills in areas such as "analytics," "project management," "customer service," and "excellent interpersonal." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Analyst leads tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $110,488. In contrast, senior business data analysts make the biggest average salary, $104,323, in the technology industry.analyst leads tend to reach lower levels of education than senior business data analysts. In fact, analyst leads are 9.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Senior business data analyst vs. Business analyst/project manager

A business analyst/project manager is responsible for developing project management procedures, analyzing processes, and ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of project deliverables, following clients' specifications and requirements to meet their highest satisfaction. Business analysts/project managers manage project resources, delegate tasks to project staff, setting deadlines, and coordinating with the clients for regular updates and suggest strategic adjustments as needed. They also mitigate potential risks and manage changes during the project execution, maintaining the quality of the outputs, and balancing costs to meet the clients' budget goals.

On average, business analyst/project managers earn a $1,263 higher salary than senior business data analysts a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both senior business data analysts and business analyst/project managers have skills such as "data analysis," "bi," and "etl. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior business data analyst responsibilities requires skills like "tableau," "visualization," "power bi," and "data quality." But a business analyst/project manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "project management," "business stakeholders," "business analysis," and "visio."

Business analyst/project managers may earn a higher salary than senior business data analysts, but business analyst/project managers earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $120,172. On the other hand, senior business data analysts receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $104,323.In general, business analyst/project managers achieve lower levels of education than senior business data analysts. They're 5.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

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

Rebecca SarverRebecca Sarver LinkedIn profile

Lecturer in Human Services Studies, Elmira College

The use of remote and virtual meetings will continue, even after COVID-19. Face-to-face meetings may still be the preferred method of contact, but the reality is that many clients who need to access services do not have reliable and consistent transportation to get to the services. Phones and computers enable more convenient meetings that are less costly in terms of time and travel. Some clients may prefer not to leave their homes.

Senior business data analyst vs. Business analyst-consultant

A business analyst-consultant is responsible for overseeing the project management and ensuring that the operations meet the agreed-upon project deliverables. Business analyst-consultants closely coordinate with the clients for their specifications and requirements, monitoring the resources and processes for the project completion, and aligning those to the clients' budget goals. A business analyst-consultant helps the development team on strategizing techniques for brand promotions with minimal costs with maximum quality and productivity. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on identifying business opportunities to drive revenues and increase profitability.

An average business analyst-consultant eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of senior business data analysts. The difference in salaries amounts to business analyst-consultants earning a $8,492 lower average salary than senior business data analysts.By looking over several senior business data analysts and business analyst-consultants resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "data analysis," "etl," and "business process." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior business data analyst is likely to be skilled in "tableau," "visualization," "power bi," and "bi," while a typical business analyst-consultant is skilled in "project management," "process improvement," "hr," and "business analysis."

Business analyst-consultants make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $105,940. On the other hand, senior business data analysts are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $104,323.When it comes to education, business analyst-consultants tend to earn lower degree levels compared to senior business data analysts. In fact, they're 6.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior business data analyst vs. Senior programmer analyst

A senior programmer/analyst is responsible for developing and sustaining databases and software applications to achieve business requirements. The professional performs development duties such as coding and testing these applications. The core skills that the job requires include familiarity with applicable data privacy practices and laws, a keen eye for details, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Also, the job requires a college diploma or university degree in the field of computer science, information systems, or software engineering.

Senior programmer analysts typically earn lower pay than senior business data analysts. On average, senior programmer analysts earn a $3,445 lower salary per year.According to resumes from senior business data analysts and senior programmer analysts, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "etl," "sas," and "sql server. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A senior business data analyst uses "tableau," "data analysis," "visualization," and "power bi." Senior programmer analysts are more likely to have duties that require skills in "c++," "javascript," "web services," and "advanced programming. "senior programmer analysts enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $103,581. For comparison, senior business data analysts earn the highest salary in the technology industry.In general, senior programmer analysts hold lower degree levels compared to senior business data analysts. Senior programmer analysts are 12.8% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior business data analyst

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.

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