CAREER PROFILE
Business Analyst
Business analysts (also known as BAs) assist in defining business challenges by in-depth examination and gathering technical and non-technical information. They create comprehensive solution requirements and ensure the supplied solution fits those business needs once the issue is recognised correctly. They are typically hired to work on IT and business transformation initiatives, although they can also be assigned to projects in other areas.
BAs are typically hired from the start of a project and serve as advisors to senior management and executive teams. BAs help bridge the gap between IT and the rest of the organisation, and many Business Analysts work as contractors on specialised projects.
Business Analysts can be categorized as Technical Business Analysts, Business Systems Analysts, or Process Business Analysts, depending on the extent of their duties and responsibilities.
Here, we’ll look at what the work entails, as well as the skills and qualifications required. We will also look at the salary structure as well as the best colleges and courses to pursue a career as a Business Analyst.
BAs are in charge of developing and implementing new models to support business decisions by collaborating closely with financial reporting, and IT teams to frame initiatives and strategies to improve importing and reduce costs. However, there are some commonalities across roles:
- Identifying, validating, and documenting business requirements
- Commercial data analysis, such as budgets, sales performance, and forecasts
- Modelling business processes and identifying process improvement opportunities
- Identifying difficulties, risks, and benefits of current and proposed solutions, as well as detailing business implications
- Estimating expenditures and discovering opportunities for company savings
- Simplifying material and interpreting technical jargon so that everyone on the team can quickly grasp it.
- Solution implementation and testing
- Assisting with business transition and change implementation.
Technical Skills
Soft Skills
Education
Specializations
Here’s how to prepare yourself for a career as a business analyst:
Learn Core Business Analysis Skills
As a rookie business analyst, you’ll need to have these vital abilities under your belt. There are training classes for each of these talents that you may take to improve your knowledge:
- Documentation abilities: It is vital to be able to create clear, concise documentation. Business analysts are in charge of documenting functional requirements, wireframes, business cases, and other details. You will need strong documentation and writing abilities to get started.
- Analysis skills: Business analysts spend a significant amount of time analysing problems and identifying solutions. Understanding business, software, and information workflows will help you succeed in your career.
- Business analysis tools: As a business analyst, you’ll need to be familiar with fundamental office programmes such as Excel and PowerPoint, as well as specific visual modelling tools such as Microsoft Visio. Having experience with project management software is a plus.
- Visual modelling approaches: Business analysts are expected to assess, improve, and automate business processes using flowchart methodologies such as BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation).
- Elicitation skills: Elicitation abilities: Business analysts conduct elicitation sessions to communicate project needs to stakeholders. Understanding how to draught successful requirements and lead productive meetings is a crucial business analyst job function.
Apply For Business Analyst Courses
Taking business analysis training classes will help you obtain the advanced skills you need to achieve forward, whether you are new to the subject or want to earn a professional certification.
Investing in business analyst education should include a broad range of key job functions, such as:
- Creating persuasive business cases and requirements documents
- Sound budgeting is used to back up strategic business suggestions.
- Process mapping best practises utilising the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
- How to Use Business Process Diagrams to Solve Practical Business Problems (BPDs)
Obtain Your Business Analyst Certification
Consider obtaining a professional qualification if you want to work as a senior business analyst.
Certifications in business analysis expand your professional development opportunities under your present employer and can enhance your pay by an average of 11%.
The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) certifies business analysts at three levels.
ECBA (Entry Certificate in Business Analysis): This certificate is intended for recent college graduates and professionals changing careers. Earning the ECBA validates your entry into the field of business analysis.
Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA): You are eligible for this certification after two to three years of business analysis experience.
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP): This credential demonstrates your ability to manage and lead in a business analysis capacity. It is necessary to have at least five years of BA experience.
Professional development hours are required for all three IIBA certificates. These hours can be obtained through approved classes (online or in-person), webinars, workshops, and self-directed learning.
The average salary of a Professional business analyst in India is Rs. 45,000/- per month.
Salary based upon your experience
0 – 2 years, 4 to 5 lacs per annum
2 – 5 years, 5 to 7 lacs per annum
5+ years, 8 to 15 lacs per annum
In addition,
Annual Bonus (25% of respondents receive): Rs. 70,000/year
Sign-on Bonus ( 5% of respondents receive): Rs. 1,00,000
Factors that can affect your salary:
Your total experience
Content writing skills you possess
Job location
Type of company
Job responsibilities
Top business analyst certifications
The Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) validates your ability to extract meaningful insights from complicated data sets to influence critical business decisions.
If you have a master’s degree and three years of related experience in data or analytics, you can also sit for the associate level CAP test.
The exam fee is $495 for INFORMS members and $695 for non-members.
ECBA, the first certification offered by the IIBA. The certificate is intended for less experienced and entry-level business analysts. Before you may take the exam, you must have completed at least 21 hours of professional training credits within the last four years.
- Application fees: $60
- Exam fees: $110 for members; $235 for non-members
The CCBA test consists of 130 scenario-based multiple-choice questions that demand some thinking. It covers the principles, underlying competencies, important concepts, procedures, and all six BABOK knowledge domains.
- Application fees: $125
- Exam fees: $325 for members; $450 for non-members
- Retake fees: $250 for members; $375 for non-members
- Renewal fees: $85 for members; $120 for non-members
The IIIBA’s third level of certification is intended for “individuals with substantial business analysis experience.” To be eligible for this certification, you must have a minimum of 7,500 hours of business analyst job experience in the last ten years, as well as 900 hours of work experience in four of the six BABOK knowledge areas.
- Application fees: $125
- Exam fees: $325 for members; $450 for non-members
- Retake fees: $250 for members; $375 for non-members
- Renewal fees: $85 for members; $120 for non-members
The AAC exam was formulated to meet this skill set and certify business analyst professionals who operate in agile environments requiring quick adaptation and change. It is a separate certification from the other IIBA business analyst certificates, which stack on top of each other.
- Exam fees: $250 for members; $375 for non-members
- Retake fees: $200 for members; $325 for non-members
- Renewal fees: $30 for members; $50 for non-members
An entry-level certification exam that will allow you to advance to higher levels of certification. It is a worldwide recognized certification with exam and training sites located all over the world. It is intended for “individuals involved in studying business processes within a company, modelling businesses, and process improvement.”
- Exam fee: $250
The PBA certification is meant for business analysts who work on projects or programmes and project and programme managers who work with analytics. The certification focuses on hands-on business analysis instruction and assessment on business analysis principles, tools, and essentials.
- Application fees: $405 for PMI members; $555 for non-members
- Exam fees: None.
- Retake fees: $275 for PMI members; $375 for non-members
- Renewal fees: $60 for PMI members; $150 for non-members
If you’re new to the industry and desire to become a business analyst, SimpliLearn provides an IIBA-accredited Business Analyst Masters Program.
The course teaches you Excel, CBAP, Tableau, Agile ScrumMaster, SQL, CCBA, and Agile Scrum Foundation.
