What business analysis careers exist?

Before outlining what sort of different positions exist in the world of systems analysis, it’s important that we define what business and business systems analysis is. We should also look at the general salary expectations one can have when entering business analysis.

What is business analysis?

Business analysis is the process of analysing and evaluating the systems within a business, and ensuring that they are performing as well as they can.

The business analyst in a company should have a focus on improving systems to reach their maximum efficiency, as well as looking to automate processes whenever possible. Because business systems are linked to software and computing devices, business analysts often either have expertise in information technology (IT) or work closely with IT specialists in the company.

Business analyst job description

A business analyst is the person in a company responsible for the evaluation and improvement of the business systems. This includes all processes involved, such as researching, planning, testing, and implementation of new systems in a company.

The business analyst also looks for solutions to problems within the operations of the company and considers whether the protocols in a business have room for growth. Any systems in place should be aligned with the company and the client’s vision, and it is the responsibility of the business analyst to understand the requirements of all parties involved in order to achieve the best results.

The different types of business analyst jobs

There are different roles which branch off from the career path of business analysis. One can become a general business analyst or specialise in related fields, such as marketing or IT.

General business analyst

The primary focus of the business analyst is to consider any systems in a company and identify any issues that might hinder work progress. The business analyst should also look for ways to optimise the infrastructure of the company with a closer focus on the business systems rather than the technology and software side of things.

Marketing researcher and specialist

This position has a strong focus on business research; thus making it a position of analysis. A marketing specialist is responsible for researching and reviewing competitor products and services with the intention of finding out which systems work well and which need improvement. Using information from research, the analyst can implement the best systems in place in order to allow the most profitable and productive workflow.

Systems analyst

Much in the way that a business analyst focuses on the business side of things, the systems analyst looks at the technology of the systems in a company. This is closely related to the IT and software that a company uses to operate. The systems analyst should consider which technology is best for a company to offer high efficiency rates. The systems analyst usually works with engineers or software developers or, in smaller companies, works on the systems themselves in order to build new ones and improve on existing ones.

What is a business analyst’s salary?

Looking at the average wages that Payscale finds, the average salary for a business systems analyst in South Africa is R353,303.

Breaking this down into the different occupation levels, a business systems analyst can expect to earn the following:

How to become a business analyst

If business analysis is something that takes your fancy as a career, it is important to take every step available to you to land your dream job. There are two best steps to achieve this.

The first is to take a short course in business systems analysis. This gives you an upper hand in both the practical and theoretical knowledge.

The second step is to gain relevant industry experience. Doing an internship or taking a junior level position for a company is a great way to learn on-the-job while proving to your employer – and to yourself – that you have what it takes to be a great business analyst.