Business Analyst Job Description

Purpose of a Job Description

A job description has a lifecycle, beginning when a position in an organisation needs to be filled. It forms part of the advertisements for the job, informs the questions that are asked during the job interview with and ultimately guides the job holder through day-to-day work and performance reviews. It usually forms a part of the contract between employer and employee, and must not be too prescriptive; a job will evolve over time and detail which is over-specific (e.g. exact tools to be used) will quickly become out of date.

A well-thought-out job description also spells out the knowledge, abilities and skills required to perform a job successfully. These are helpful for employee training and career development, performance management, rewards and recognition.

When it comes to job descriptions, flexibility is the key to making them a useful tool. A more generic job description, emphasizing expectations and accountabilities rather than specific tasks, will encourage employees and managers to focus on outcomes and results rather than activities.

Remember:

• Keep it simple. Describe expectations and accountabilities, rahter than specific tasks, to encourage a focus on outcomes and results rather than activities.
• Do not make technical elements too specific. Ask for experience in "types of" tools, rather than specific tools.
• Be clear on the certifications for which you are looking. Make sure that you understand the industry standard qualifications and the level at which these are aimed. Some are Foundation level, others are Practitioner level. Sometimes qualifications may only cover one specific aspect of the job. In the field of Business Analysis, the BCS Diploma in Business Analysis is the most common, but others, such as IIBA's Certified Business Analysis Professional, are available and

A Business Analyst Job Description

There are different types and levels of business analyst, including:

• Strategic Analysts - looking at the strategic objectives of an organisation, in relation to its mission and critical success factors
• Process Analysts – able to map the end-to-end processes of the business and analyse its value chains
• Functional Analysts – able to map the process for a particular function and facilitate the supporting of the functional area with IT
• IT Business Systems Analysts – able to present options for IT support of the business and translate business requirements into system requirements
• Whatever the level, requirements are at the heart of the business analyst’s role
• Developing solutions to business problems and opportunities begins with investigating, defining, analysing and recording requirements.

Whatever the level, requirements are at the heart of the business analyst’s role. Developing solutions to business problems and opportunities begins with investigating, defining, analysing and recording requirements.

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