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What does a Junior Business Analyst do?
A junior business analyst typically has duties that revolve around improving a company's interpretation of its customers' needs and how it can meet them. These analysts may work on their own or as assistants to senior business analysts by gathering, documenting, organizing and preparing reports. Many times, the junior analyst acts as the liaison between the employer and third-party vendors contracted with the company. As companies change to better meet their clients' needs, this employee will assess and analyze any business problems.
Specific job duties may vary between employers, and some may even have specific positions within business analysis with different duties. Laws governing the junior business analyst role may also differ from region to region. People who are interested in the position should fully understand job expectations from the employer and laws of the local government. For this reason, business law is not an uncommon subject for an aspiring business analyst to study.
Generally, employers look for applicants with a bachelor's degree from an accredited school or equivalent experience. There is not a set path to becoming a junior business analyst, and some individuals come from technology, business and marketing backgrounds. The background, skills and experience required for the position may vary between employers and their specific needs. Usually, a firm understanding of business strategy, technology applications and some marketing is a minimum requirement for the position.
Successful business analysts typically are able to stay current with movements or trends in the business world. To do this, they may study these trends throughout their career and perhaps network with other analysts to take advantage of seminars and conferences. Certain job functions in different areas may require this business professional to obtain proper licensing. Some of these licenses require renewal fees and periodic retesting to stay current.
With some larger firms, a junior business analyst works under the supervision and training of a senior analyst. These situations may allow the junior analyst to be promoted once certain criteria are met. Other employers that do not have senior analysts may simply hire an employee on a temporary basis or remove the "junior" from the title once the analyst has finished the training and evaluation period. These titles are typically considered high positions within a company, and many times, they provide the analysts with private offices.
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![Junior business analysts research, document, organize, and prepare reports for a company in order to help it improve customer needs and satisfaction.]()
By: WavebreakMediaMicroJunior business analysts research, document, organize, and prepare reports for a company in order to help it improve customer needs and satisfaction. -
![Junior business analysts often act as the liaison between their employer and third-party vendors.]()
By: michaeljungJunior business analysts often act as the liaison between their employer and third-party vendors. -
![In order to stay current with movements or trends in the business world, junior business analysts should attend seminars or conferences in their field.]()
By: pressmasterIn order to stay current with movements or trends in the business world, junior business analysts should attend seminars or conferences in their field.
Discussion Comments
@hamj32 - Their roles are very similar actually. But in a nutshell, the business analyst represents the end users, while the project manager represents the development team. That’s an oversimplification, perhaps, because both act as liaisons in one way or another.
However, the business analyst spends a lot of time trying to nail down requirements, and even takes a proactive role in making sure the finished product is of high quality. Business analysts generate a lot of reports like feasibility studies and cost/benefits analysis before the project manager is ever consulted.
Project managers are more concerned with process; they want it done, on time and under budget. Sure, they have to relay information to other parties (what are called stakeholders) but they don’t spend most of their time there.
In our company we’ve had a few project managers become business process analysts after demonstrated success in project management, and some additional training.
@Charred - Just from what I’ve read, it seems that the business analyst description seems very similar to that of a project manager. What would you say is the difference?
The business systems analyst in the company I work for knows Information Technology and also has a firm grounding in business principles.
She is not a a hardcore programmer, but she has some programming experience under her belt and also understands database concepts. She is also conversant with at least one major database platform. In our company it happens to be Oracle.
The reason she needs these skills is that, as a business analyst, she functions as a liaison between the programmers and the rest of the company. If the engineering group needs changes made to its internal website, then they go through the business analyst.
She sits down with the engineers, gets their requirements and then goes back to the programmers and explains what is needed. She also coordinates agreed upon timetables for the deliverables, as well as expected milestones along the way.
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