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What does a strategic business analyst do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Joel Stevenson

A strategic business analyst is responsible for developing business solutions to enhance the staff's productivity and efficiency to perform business operations. Strategic business analysts review the current project management procedures of an organization and conduct data and statistical analysis to recommend techniques that would minimize costing and downtimes. They also coordinate with the sales and marketing team to evaluate marketing efforts and campaigns that would increase sales performance and generate resources that would grow more revenues and profits.

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Strategic business analyst responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real strategic business analyst resumes:

  • Lead analysis for global data privacy implementation interacting with SME's across multiple company divisions and systems.
  • Participate in clinical admin and operational support including review, analysis and resolution of service/admin relate issues log on JIRA including.
  • Lead consulting projects focus on optimizing specific business KPIs through strategy and product recommendations.

Strategic business analyst skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Strategic Business Analysts are proficient in Data Analysis, Tableau, and SQL. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.

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

  • Data Analysis, 11%

    Utilize data analysis and statistical techniques to develop and summarize analytic insights, recommendations and hypotheses to support management decision-making.

  • Tableau, 10%

    Developed optimized interactive dashboards and story plots using Tableau Desktop with over thirty work sheets for both technical and non-technical consumption.

  • SQL, 9%

    Work with SQL, Excel, VBA, Access, Microsoft SharePoint, SalesForce.com, ESRP, and Pro Clarity.

  • Project Management, 8%

    Monitored and maintained email submissions to the Project Management mailbox for New Task Orders, Amendments, Invoices and Project Surveys.

  • Business Analysis, 5%

    Contracted to assist Wells Fargo with their loan servicing business analysis needs for system development and enhancements and process re-engineering projects.

  • SAS, 5%

    Support the SAS Critical Design Review (CDR) entry and exit criteria for the agenda in accordance with MIL-STD-1512B

Most strategic business analysts use their skills in "data analysis," "tableau," and "sql" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential strategic business analyst responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling strategic business analyst duties is analytical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." According to a strategic business analyst resume, here's how strategic business analysts can utilize analytical skills in their job responsibilities: "supported strategic alliances with business case studies and market analysis for new market penetration opportunities. "

Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of strategic business analysts is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday strategic business analyst duties, as "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "supported the team with divestment communications planning, communications development, and project management. "

Interpersonal skills. For certain strategic business analyst responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a strategic business analyst rely on this skill, as "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what strategic business analysts do: "possess excellent interpersonal, analytical and team building skills with proven ability in delivering the output on time with good quality. "

Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for strategic business analyst responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of strategic business analysts all the time, as "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." An excerpt from a real strategic business analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a strategic business analyst does: "managed the product backlog with user stories through progressive refinement applying business prioritization, solution approach, and technical delivery considerations. "

Time-management skills. Lastly, "time-management skills" is an important element of what a strategic business analyst does. Strategic business analyst responsibilities require this skill because "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." This resume example highlights how strategic business analyst duties rely on this skill: "project management development increasing productivity and profitability within tight deadlines. "

See the full list of strategic business analyst skills

Compare different strategic business analysts

Strategic business 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.

If we compare the average strategic business analyst annual salary with that of an analyst, we find that analysts typically earn a $10,063 lower salary than strategic business analysts make annually.Even though strategic business analysts and analysts are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require data analysis, project management, and sas in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, strategic business analyst responsibilities require skills like "business decisions," "tableau," "sql," and "business analysis." Meanwhile a typical analyst has skills in areas such as "customer service," "troubleshoot," "management system," and "strong analytical." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Analysts tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $79,330. In contrast, strategic business analysts make the biggest average salary, $87,578, in the finance industry.The education levels that analysts earn slightly differ from strategic business analysts. In particular, analysts are 6.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a strategic business analyst. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Strategic business 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.

Program analyst positions earn lower pay than strategic business analyst roles. They earn a $8,031 lower salary than strategic business analysts per year.A few skills overlap for strategic business analysts and program analysts. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "data analysis," "project management," and "business analysis. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that strategic business analyst responsibilities requires skills like "business decisions," "tableau," "sql," and "financial models." But a program analyst might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "veterans," "program management," "logistics," and "dod."

On average, program analysts earn a lower salary than strategic business analysts. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, program analysts earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $79,942. Whereas strategic business analysts have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $87,578.In general, program analysts achieve similar levels of education than strategic business analysts. They're 1.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

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

Joel StevensonJoel Stevenson LinkedIn profile

Founding Director USC Columbia Technology Incubator, Associate Director Faber Entrepreneurship Center, Senior Lecturer Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management, University of South Carolina

Don't know about the technology, but I know that the success of EVERY COMPANY is GOOD WELL-TRAINED PEOPLE.

Strategic business analyst vs. Senior analyst

A senior analyst's responsibilities will vary in every organization or industry. However, their primary role is to gain an understanding of a company's strengths and weaknesses. Through this, they can devise strategies and determine new opportunities that would be significant in attaining financial gains and a more substantial client base. Furthermore, it is a senior analyst's responsibility to coordinate with various departments, and even clients, to establish a rapport that will be essential in gaining the needed information to catapult a company to its finest.

On average scale, senior analysts bring in higher salaries than strategic business analysts. In fact, they earn a $1,729 higher salary per year.By looking over several strategic business analysts and senior analysts resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "data analysis," "tableau," and "project management." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, strategic business analysts are more likely to have skills like "business decisions," "sql," "business intelligence," and "business stakeholders." But a senior analyst is more likely to have skills like "analytics," "strong analytical," "power bi," and "portfolio."

Senior analysts make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $91,818. On the other hand, strategic business analysts are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $87,578.senior analysts typically earn similar educational levels compared to strategic business analysts. Specifically, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Strategic business analyst vs. Data analyst

Data analysts are responsible for interpreting the company's statistics and providing sound recommendations to the organization. They manage the organization's data sets, usually related to market performance, finance, or human resources. They are in charge of studying the available data, spotting trends, interpreting what the data and the trends mean, and recommending suggestions that will help the organization perform better. Their recommendations should also be relevant and backed up with strong analyses. Data analysts are expected to have a good grasp of the current market trends in the industry.

Data analysts average a lower salary than the annual salary of strategic business analysts. The difference is about $8,728 per year.While their salaries may vary, strategic business analysts and data analysts both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "data analysis," "sas," and "business development. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A strategic business analyst uses "business decisions," "tableau," "sql," and "project management." Data analysts are more likely to have duties that require skills in "python," "power bi," "data management," and "visualization. "data analysts enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $86,172. For comparison, strategic business analysts earn the highest salary in the finance industry.data analysts reach similar levels of education compared to strategic business analysts, in general. The difference is that they're 4.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of strategic business 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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