Where a business analyst can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a business analyst already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Business analysts research and understand the strategic position of businesses and companies in relation to their markets and their stakeholders. They analyse and present their views on how the company, from many perspectives, can improve its strategic position and internal corporate structure. They assess needs for change, communication methods, technology, IT tools, new standards and certifications.
Also known as management consultant, standardisation manager, business strategy analyst, organisational developer, standardisation expert, business strategy consultant, standardization expert, business development analyst.
Professionals 53 skills on file 12 career moves 1 above 60% overlap Closest: business consultant, 73%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · Within reach
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
- venture capitalist 32% covered · difficulty 66.7
- business intelligence manager 26% covered · difficulty 78.4
- financial risk manager 25% covered · difficulty 79.9
- financial analyst 25% covered · difficulty 78.2
- investor relations manager 24% covered · difficulty 76.6
- chief operating officer 23% covered · difficulty 76.4
- occupational analyst 22% covered · difficulty 76.3
- audit supervisor 22% covered · difficulty 74.4
- corporate risk manager 22% covered · difficulty 81.4
- chief executive officer 21% covered · difficulty 82.8
- strategic planning manager 20% covered · difficulty 81.8
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A business analyst needs 26 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- management systems standards business, administration and law
- use business simulation tools working with computers
- identify undetected organisational needs management skills
- business analytics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- data visualisation software information and communication technologies (icts)
- management consulting business, administration and law
- perform business analysis information skills
- business communication generic programmes and qualifications
- digital data processing working with computers
- advise on efficiency improvements communication, collaboration and creativity
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a business analyst does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
Look up another occupation
Business analyst is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a business analyst’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.