Are you uncertain about what, exactly, a business analytics analyst does? While this job title is confusingly similar to some others in the existing job marketplace, the occupation has some distinguishing characteristics that make it different from the others. Read on for a clearer understanding of what differentiates business analytics analysts from other types of businesspeople.
What’s a Typical Business Analytics Analyst’s Job Description?
The single most important characteristic that separates a business analytics analyst from other types of analysts: This role requires the use of analytics tools, methods and computer programs to interpret data, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another key characteristic is the ability of the analyst to use statistical modeling methods to predict what will happen in the future.
Business analytics analysts spend their workdays involved in the following activities:
- Interpreting business problems that require data solutions
- Developing predictive models that will solve these problems using data
- Designing and implementing accurate reporting tools and data management systems
- Using conventional statistical methods to analyze data
- Building complex statistical models and developing new statistical methods to analyze data
- Manipulating large datasets using a variety of methods including analytics programs and other tools
- Preparing reports that enable their colleagues to understand the significance and meaningful interpretation of the data
- Collaborating with colleagues in both technical and business roles within their hiring organizations to understand data and reporting requirements based on the organization’s business needs and customer expectations
- Identifying errors or inconsistencies in collected data and resolving the issues
Alternative Job Titles Used to Describe the Same Work
The job description of a “data scientist” has quite a bit of overlap with that of a business analytics analyst. In many cases, the job descriptions for both of these titles are close to identical. Some operations research managers perform the same types of work that business analytics analysts do.
What Academic and Other Credentials Are Ideal for Getting a Job in Business Analytics?
After perusing a variety of job descriptions at the US Department of Labor and career websites such as Indeed, we feel confident in recommending a graduate-level education to anyone who wants to seek work as a business analytics analyst. A bachelor’s degree is an absolute necessity for an analytics career, and many analysts find that they need a master’s degree to be competitive for the jobs they want most. Top-paying government jobs in this specialization often require a master’s degree.
Some of the best major courses of study for this career specialization are as follows:
- Information systems
- Data science
- Mathematics
- Applied mathematics
- Statistics
- Operations research
- Computer programming
Some employers seeking business analytics analysts prefer to hire candidates who hold MBA degrees. Others prefer to hire master’s degree graduates in more technical specializations such as operations research or information systems.
Related Resource: What Macroeconomics Jobs are in the Finance Industry?
We hope this information has inspired a better understanding of the role that business analytics analysts play in the contemporary workforce. Perhaps you’d even be interested in pursuing a career in business analytics. If you have a desire to harness the power of big data to solve the world’s problems, the career path of business analytics analyst could be a worthwhile goal for your future.
