A Business Analyst (also sometimes called Systems Analyst or Financial Analyst) takes the needs of a client and analyzes them to find business problems and then come up with solutions. The Business Analyst is often the connecting function between the business side and the service provider side.

Business Analysts find out the needs of the business, what needs to be achieved, the derivation of a goal and how to reach the final goal. They usually focus on outcomes rather than small details. For example, they may come into a business to help improve a certain area of operations. In examining problems and coming up with solutions a Business Analyst may conduct interviews with department heads and employees. They may analyze numbers and documents. Business Analysts are able to take numbers, statistics, facts, and figures and turn them into useable information.

They may conduct surveys. They will take into consideration business practices that may or may not be working for the company. Business Analysts are able to differentiate the difference of an employee’s wants and their needs. They will complete their business analysis and determine the best strategies to reach goals.

Business Analysts should have good communication skills as they may need to be able to speak to people inside and outside of the company. They may be required to motivate employees to reach their goals. They may need to convey information between departments or to customers, and they need to be able to utilize vocabulary that could be applicable in any situation.

Business Analysts need to be able to work independently as well as in a group. They need to have strong management, interpersonal and business related skills. They need to have excellent verbal and written communication skills. They need to be able to interact professionally.

Who are the people in Business Analyst jobs?

People who work as Business Analysts are thinkers and doers. They are able to step into a situation, use the necessary tools to determine what’s going on in the situation and take action to complete the set goals and tasks.

A whole world of opportunities opens up for Business Analysts because the job can be a starting point to other high profile positions in a company.

What Education and Skills are needed to get a Business Analyst job?

A formal education is recommended to become a Business Analyst. Getting a Bachelors Degree in Information Systems Technology or a related field is the route to take. Some schools offer Business Analyst Certificate Programs as well. Just remember that the more education earned makes for more opportunities in the future. With that in mind, Master’s Degree Programs are also available for those seeking the right education to enter the Business Analyst field.

• The top Business Schools of 2008 are:
• Harvard Business School (Boston, MA)
• Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
• University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
• Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
• University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)
• University of California – Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
• Columbia University (New York, NY)
• New York University (New York, NY)
• University of California—Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
• University of Michigan—Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Yale University (New Haven, CT)
• Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
• Duke University (Durham, NC)
• University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
• Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
• University of Texas—Austin (Austin, TX)
• University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Indiana University—Bloomington (Bloomington, IN)
  

There are many chances for placement for graduate Business Analysts ranging from entry level to senior positions that are narrowly defined in the industry.

What is the Potential Pay for Business Analyst jobs?

A Business Analyst has the potential to make $52,000 - $75,000 a year, depending on location, experience, education and such. In 2004, the median salary for financial analysts was $71,280 (reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

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