Business Intelligence Analyst
Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.
Annual openings
611
BLS median wage
$117,400
Typical education
Associate's or Bachelor's degree
10-year growth
+22%
Career requirements
What does this career require?
The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.
Typical education
Associate's or Bachelor's degree
Credential requirement
A data analysis-related certification is often viewed positively by Employers. However, it is important to understand which certifications are valued by Employers by looking at current job posting information.
Credential detail
Certifications that are valued by some employers include: • Business Analyst Professional • All of the Enterprise based BI tools offer certification, i.e., Cognos, MiroSTrategy, Business Objects, Tableau, etc. • Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) • The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
Work experience
No previous work experience is necessary in some instances and sometimes this is a transition role from an entry-level position (such as Software Quality Assurance Tester). An internship in a similar role is preferred, but often not required. Full or part-time work experience of any kind developing the listed knowledge and abilities is also preferred. A portfolio demonstrating your business intelligence experience or training (in a class or own your own) is also valued.
Training
Training in the appropriate or similar business intelligence environment or toolset is often required. For some jobs, a bachelor's degree or graduation from a respected software developer program or bootcamp will be required
Work-based learning
There is a strong need for more Business Intelligence Analysts than are currently graduating from formal programs. It's an opportunity for someone who has the appropriate knowledge and abilities to work to develop business intelligence skills on their own through online training and data analysis opportunities.
Remote work
Some companies (information technology companies for example) and jobs (such as call center support) offer the opportunity for staff to work remotely, including from rural locations. To see if a job offers this opportunity, please review job postings from job banks such as ZipRecruiter, Indeed or ConnectingColorado, and look for key words such as "location independent", "remote", "virtual", "telecommute", "flex" or for companies posting the same job in many locations.
Employer competency information
- Communication — Giving attention, understanding key points, and asking questions as appropriate; able to comprehend, not just listen (understand, not transcribe); able to rephrase and explain what others have said; understanding the relevant context (business situation, customer context); builds relationships and connects; identifies what’s important and not; seeks out new and unexpected information. Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience; consider your audience (technical versus functional) and write accordingly; tailor writing to use case (e.g., status update versus a business case and proposed solution); concise, focused, and readable.
- Problem Solving & Decision Making — Understanding complex problems, gathering related information, and proposing options; establish perspective for major participants; create and help evaluate options; act as a bridge between technical, functional, and business groups and help build consensus on an option; understand the implications of different choices for the business; challenge one’s own thinking.
- Critical & Analytical Thinking — Analyzing data to identify patterns and evaluate for validity; meeting customer needs given the constraints; able to act as a bridge between the technical team and the business – ideally, able to help balance business needs with key constraints (budget, data, time); ideally, offering ideas proactively and coming up with new solutions given customer needs.
Is this work a fit?
What the work actually feels like
How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.
Work style
- With kids/peopleOccasionally
- On a computerOccasionally
- Outdoors / on-siteOccasionally
- With your handsOccasionally
Interests it draws on
- Technology
- Data Science
Automation exposure
Low exposure
Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.
A typical day
- Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.
- Maintain or update business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards, systems, or methods.
- Manage timely flow of business intelligence information to users.
- Identify and analyze industry or geographic trends with business strategy implications.
- Document specifications for business intelligence or information technology reports, dashboards, or other outputs.
- Collect business intelligence data from available industry reports, public information, field reports, or purchased sources.