What does a business analyst do?

/ Published in Industry insights, Learning and Development
Business man looking at the wall with symbols

Business analysts are highly sought after across a variety of sectors, but what does a business analyst actually do and what does it take to break into the industry and forge a business analyst career path? Here we explore the role of a business analyst and consider why a career as a BA can be so fulfilling.

The job of a business analyst (BA) is multi-faceted, but at its core the role is one of ‘solutions provider’.

When a business has a problem to solve, it’s the BA’s job to investigate and define the business needs and capture the requirements for delivering results. They do this by collaborating with stakeholders, gathering the business’ required conditions and capabilities, and then documenting them in a clear, consistent way that everyone understands.

Whether the solution is a new product, system or service, the BA then works with decision makers and development teams to ensure the solution developed aligns with both current and future goals.

What does a business analyst do day-to-day?

What a business analyst actually does varies depending on the industry, business type, stakeholders involved and the project at hand. That said, all business analysts help facilitate successful change in an organisational context; they play a vital role in ensuring customer needs are met and the final product delivers value.

Typical tasks of a business analyst

Given a business analyst’s remit, no two days are the same. Tasks, activities and responsibilities are always changing and could include some or all of the following:

  • Analysing business needs
  • Eliciting information from stakeholders
  • Gathering and analysing data and trends
  • Modelling requirements/epics and user stories
  • Identifying additional/missing details
  • Assessing and improving business processes
  • Outlining opportunities for improvement
  • Offering guidance and advice on potential solutions
  • Interpreting tech jargon to business stakeholders
  • Translating business stakeholders’ needs for tech teams
  • Considering impacts and challenges to the solution
  • Performing quality testing.

Core requirements of the BA job

Here is a glimpse at some of the key requirements of a traditional BA role, pulled from a job description on employment site Indeed.  

  • Prepare and document functional and technical specifications for reporting and data warehouse work. 
  • Assist with business warehouse/intelligence support and enhancements. Develops RFPs. 
  • Assist in deployment and management of end-user reporting tools and platforms. Work with IT and business project teams to understand reporting and data warehousing requirements and propose solutions.  
  • Document and provide knowledge transfer to the rest of the Enterprise Reporting Team for all solutions. 
  • Reviews, analyses, and evaluates business systems and user needs. Formulates systems to parallel overall business strategies. 

Challenges faced by business analysts

Just like any position responsible for the success or failure of an initiative, the business analyst role comes with its fair share of challenges. There are a few in particular that are worth pointing out:

Managing stakeholders – from managers to developers and end-users, business analysts have to work with a wide and varied range of stakeholders. Ensuring that everyone is on the same page and aligned to project goals and objectives takes skill and perseverance.

Adapting to change – projects are increasingly complex and dynamic, and requirements can change throughout the lifecycle. As a business analyst you will need to be able to adapt and make sure the rest of the team is across any changes.

Balancing priorities – BAs are typically dealing with competing priorities such as budget constraints, deadlines, and different stakeholder expectations. To keep things on track BAs need to balance these priorities and make decisions that are in the best interest of the project/initiative.

It’s well worth keeping these and other key challenges in mind to deliver the best results.

How to become a business analyst

Becoming a business analyst is an exciting prospect for individuals interested in bridging the gap between business needs and technology solutions. So what does it take to embark on a business analyst career and get ahead in the profession? Here we look at the traits, qualifications and certifications that you’ll need. 

Essential traits of a business analyst

To perform effectively and step up to the challenges of the job, business analysts need a good mix of both hard and soft skills. One of their most important roles is acting as a liaison between stakeholders, ensuring that projects align with strategic goals and deliver value. Given the cross section of people you need to work with, excellent communication and interpersonal skills non-negotatiable. 

Other core competencies, such as being detail orientated, an analytical thinker and problem solver, and proficiency in data analysis tools and methodologies, will also help you get your foot in the door.

As you climb the BA career ladder, specific attributes that will all serve you well include:

  • Active listening skills.
  • Ability to ask the right questions of the right people.
  • Effective facilitation skills.
  • The art of negotiation and influence.
  • Understanding context and ability to translate that to your team.
  • Consultative expertise.
  • Organisational skills.
  • Robust understanding of business structure.
  • Ability to build relationships with stakeholders.
  • Conflict management.

With the continuing uptake of agile and hybrid methodologies, today’s BA also needs to expand their knowledge and skillset so they can traverse and adapt to the different environments they’re operating in.

Business analyst qualifications

A mix of formal education and on-the-job experience is typically required to work as a business analyst. Most employers want to see a tertiary-level qualification, with degrees in business, analytics, IT, finance, or similar fields all steppingstones to a BA career.

Building on your qualifications with an entry-level position that provides you with good exposure to data and analytics should provide you with a solid foundation.

Recognised business analysis training and certifications

It’s also important to have relevant industry certifications and accreditations, to enhance your skills and understanding and prove your domain knowledge to potential employers.

When starting your career as a BA professional, the Business Analysis Fundamentals (Level 1 – ECBA™ Certification Preparation Course) will provide you with the necessary toolkit to help deliver solutions that satisfy stakeholder requirements and deliver expected benefits to the organisation.

For those with some experience, the Business Analysis in Practice (Level 2 – CCBA® Certification Preparation Course) offers an in-depth opportunity to develop and evaluate solution requirements that encompass organisational and environment factors, such as business processes, systems and organisational culture.

These courses are aligned with A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), the globally recognised standard for the practice of business analysis. And if you’re interested in completing both, the Business Analysis Professional Development course combines the key learnings and outcomes from the Level 1 and Level 2 courses into one 6-day program.

If you’re looking to improve your understanding of agile methods as a BA and learn how to move between different ways of working, courses like PM-Partners’ Agile Business Analysis (AgileBA®) certification are a good choice. This course not only equips you with the skills, tools and techniques to function effectively in both agile and hybrid environments but will enhance your professional credibility.

Business analyst career path 

The business analyst (BA) career path is a dynamic and rewarding journey that can open up opportunities across sectors and industries. Here we look at the outlook for the profession, what you can expect to earn, and how your career might take shape. 

Career prospects for business analysts

Business analysts are required across almost every industry you can think of and are becoming particularly vital for organisations keen to transform. Demand is on the rise in sectors including finance, healthcare, IT, government, and education, and is predicted to continue. According to Seek, projected job growth stands at 23.2 per cent over the next five years.

It’s important to note when looking for a job that business analysts may be referred to by other titles like systems analyst, business intelligence analyst and change analyst, often depending on the industry sector. There’s also crossover with professions like data analyst and it’s fairly common for people to transition from one to the other.

Business analyst salary

Like all professions, the salary of a business analyst can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and industry. According to Glassdoor, entry-level business analysts in Australia can expect to earn around $75,000 annually. As they gain experience and move into senior roles, salaries can increase to $90,000 – $140,000 or more. 

Specialised roles, such as data analysts or product owners, can command higher salaries, particularly in high-demand industries like technology and finance.

Business analyst career roadmap 

There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ business analyst career path. How your career as a BA progresses will depend on a lot of factors, including your own interests, geography, industry specialties, etc. One of the great things about becoming a business analyst is the versatility of the career path; there is plenty of room to move between roles, companies, and industries, according to your talents and personal needs.  

Here is a typical business analyst career path. This follows a traditional trajectory for many in the field: 

  1. Entry-Level positions – Start as a junior business analyst or in related roles such as project coordinator, where foundational skills in data analysis and stakeholder communication are developed. In this role, you might collect data from various sources, assist in documenting project requirements, or create process flow diagrams to visualise current business operations.  
  2. Mid-level analyst – After gaining experience, move into mid-level positions. Focus on specific industries or domains to deepen expertise and take on more complex projects. At this point in your career, you can expect to lead requirements-gathering sessions, conduct feasibility studies, and participate in both solution design and user acceptance testing.  
  3. Senior business analyst – In this role, you will lead projects, mentor junior analysts, and collaborate with senior management to shape strategy and project direction. Specifically, you can expect to start taking on some leadership responsibilities, such as leading a cross-functional team, participating in company strategic planning, and developing change management plans around large initiatives.  
  4. Specialisation – Once you have some experience under your belt, you might consider specialising in areas such as data analysis, user experience (UX) design, or agile methodologies. This can enhance career prospects and salary potential. At this stage, you could take on specific roles like a Product Owner, responsible for defining and prioritising product projects and focusing on delivering value to customers.  
  5. Leadership roles – With sufficient experience and expertise, aspiring professionals can transition into leadership roles such as Business Analysis Manager or Chief Data Officer (CDO), where they can influence organisational strategy at a higher level. As an example, a Chief Data Officer is responsible for developing and implementing data strategies that align with organisational goals. It is very difficult to navigate the complexity of these roles without several years of prior experience, though it can be done in some cases.   

As you can see, this roadmap illustrates a clear trajectory for career advancement within the business analyst sphere. Placing an emphasis on continuous learning and adapting to rapidly evolving business landscapes will help you move through the stages of a BA career, where you can continuously increase your experience and impact (and the salary to go with it).  

Where a business analyst career can take you

There’s no doubt that embarking on a BA career opens the door to an interesting and varied work life. Given the breadth of demand for business analysts, there’s ample opportunity to sample working in a variety of sectors. You can also use your skills to branch out and transition into, for example, the world of agile, or the project management or change management space.

PM-Partners’ Senior Consultant, Facilitator and Business Analysis Practice Lead, Stephen Howard, is living proof of just how diverse this field can be. To date, his 30-year, award-winning career has taken him from the military to Microsoft, and from there, to the likes of Bovis Lendlease, NSW Health and BOC Gas, not to mention a stint in Riyadh as Advisor to the Saudi Arabian and Qatari governments. He’s also volunteered in Laos and Cambodia providing project management coaching to students and teachers rolling out new education programmes.

“My story is similar to many of the people I work with at PM-Partners. We may appear to specialise in business analysis, agile, project and programme management, however the experience and important core skills we’ve acquired along the way are highly transferable to any sector, and any industry, in almost any country around the world,” he says.

Handy resources for becoming a business analyst

Blogs

Podcasts

Books

Associations

The BA role in the real world

We’ve covered a lot of what can be expected in a BA role. As mentioned, though, the business analyst career path is a highly versatile one, so the responsibilities are going to vary. You can browse sites like Indeed to get a feel for potential BA tasks and contributions. Here are some of the core requirements pulled from a live business analyst job opening on the site.  

Required qualifications:  

  • A degree with at least 4 years subsequent relevant experience; or 
  • Extensive experience and management expertise in technical or administrative fields; or 
  • An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training 
  • Experience working within a large scale and complex organisation 
  • Experience as a business analyst working in an IT development environment 
  • Experience gathering, documenting and managing user requirements 
  • Knowledge of systems, process and business improvement capabilities 
  • Experience designing effective solutions to complex business and technical problems. 

Duties of the business analyst: 

  • Act as a coach and work with team members to facilitate growth and development by giving balanced, constructive feedback
  • Identify and lead business analysis techniques to identify business needs and change opportunities; gather, document and analyse requirements and implement solutions; evaluate effectiveness and adjust actions as required
  • Consult a diverse range of stakeholders to clarify who requires information, the purpose for which it is required, criteria for success and where and when advice and recommendations are required
  • Deliver effective and efficient communications, using examples and the most appropriate influencing technique for a given situation to increase understanding, support and adoption
  • Engage in process improvement activities and adopt new ideas to embed and increase adoption of change. 

Becoming a business analyst takes a good combination of hard and soft skills as well as the relevant qualifications and ongoing professional development. However, what you put into your career can pay big dividends by providing you with role flexibility, the potential to work across multiple sectors, and in-demand skills for the foreseeable future.

If a career as a BA sounds like a path you’re interested in pursuing, one thing’s certain: you can expect an interesting ride. Stephen Howard sums it up eloquently when he says, “Business analysis is definitely not a destination. It’s an exciting journey of learning, evolving and building valuable experience both personally and professionally.”

To find out more about a career as a business analyst or the best training course to get ahead in your profession, speak with one of our professional development consultants. You can contact them online or by calling 1300 70 13 14, or take our Learning Pathways guided tour.

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