Business Analyst
A business analyst is a dynamic, crucial position within a company which requires riding the distance between the business and its IT services in order to analyze complicated processes. As well as analyzing the processes of the company itself, business analysts will need to figure out which requirements are needed for the business, as well as deliver recommendations and reports to executive-level employees and stakeholders. Business analysts must use data analytics in their work, and as such, must be flexible employees with strong problem-solving abilities.
In the following page, Links Recruitment will be taking you through what it means to be a business analyst, including the job requirements, what kind of salary you can expect as a business analyst in different locations, and looking into the likely paths your career might take after spending a period working as a business analyst. If you’re interested in hiring a business analyst, this page will help you figure out what to look for, while if you’re keen on becoming a business analyst yourself, you’ll learn what to expect in the job.
What Is Working as a Business Analyst Like?
Working as a business analyst requires collaborating closely with the IT teams within your organization, as you’ll need to incorporate advanced data analytics into the reports you deliver to upper management. You’ll also work closely with other teams in order to get a well-rounded overview of the processes you find yourself analyzing. A business analyst will need to be able to work with stakeholders to deliver reports and sets of requirements that are ultimately beneficial to both the company and the stakeholders themselves.
Here are the typical tasks you’ll be taking responsibility for throughout your work as a business analyst:
- Planning and monitoring various business processes
- Creating comprehensive, well-thought-out lists of requirements to present to the executives in the corporation
- Organizing plans and strategies for the company moving forward
- Creating data-driven reports in order to reflect the current state of the business’s operations accurately
- Translating and simplifying existing lists of requirements into straightforward, actionable language
Working as a business analyst is a challenging role, and requires a candidate to be versatile, dynamic, and well-versed in working with data analytics in order to succeed.
- A bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or a related field will be required, while an MBA will also suffice
- A minimum of five years’ experience in business analysis or a similar field
- The ability to collaborate closely with stakeholders in order to determine solutions that will benefit the business itself
- Excellent conceptual, analytical, and lateral thinking skills, as well as a propensity for problem-solving
- Good organizational and time management skills
- High levels of competency in programs such as Word, Outlook, and Excel
The career paths of business analysts can take many different directions, on account of the challenging and multi-faceted nature of the work. After graduating with a degree in business or a related field and spending 3 to 5 years in a sales or similar role, you’ll find yourself working as a business analyst with minimal responsibility at first. By proving yourself and building up a track record of successful past projects, you’ll be granted more and more responsibility as an analyst, and may well advance to a managerial role in the field, managing teams of other business analysts in order to ensure the success of the unit as a whole.
Experienced business analysts can transition to more analytical roles, such as becoming business systems analysts and enterprise architects, as well as leadership positions such as project management and program management. It’s not unheard of for business analysts to climb the ladder right there, way up through being a program management office (PMO) director to becoming vice president, senior vice president, and eventually even chief information officer (CIO).
Business analysts often have many years of experience under their belts. Salaries increase in accordance with extensive track records, good history of working with stakeholders, and overall efficiency in the position. Below you’ll find a table detailing what business analysts salaries may look like in different places:
| Position | No. of Year Experience | Hong Kong Monthly Salary (HKD) | Singapore Monthly Salary (SGD) | China Monthly Salary (RMB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experienced Business Analyst | 10-19 | 42k-60k | 9k-11k | 22k-48k |
| Mid-Career Business Analyst | 5-9 | 28k-40k | 3k-7k | 11k-21k |
More information about business analyst salaries, including current salaries and salary trends in 2020, can be found in Links International’s salary guide.
On Links International’s job search page, you’ll be able to discover a list of business analyst positions: perfect for if you’re looking to begin work as a business analyst. If you’re trying to hire a business analyst but don’t know where to start, check out the recruitment page — Links International would be glad to help you find the ideal employee.
Looking for a Business Analyst Job?
As an award-winning recruitment agency with 20 years of recruitment experience across Asia regions, our specialist can offer professional career advice and consultation for you.