Business Intelligence Analysts

Business Operations & Enablement

Level 4423 of 1200 points

Job description

Business Intelligence Analysts

Job purpose

To produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories, building and maintaining business intelligence tools and reports, and devising methods for identifying patterns and trends in available information sources, so that executives, managers and clients have timely and accurate intelligence on which to base commercial decisions.

Skills

Command of business intelligence tooling and of the databases, dashboards, spreadsheets and outputs behind it, together with applied mathematics and statistics for pattern and trend detection, economic and accounting principles for interpreting financial and market data, business and management principles sufficient to see the strategic implications of a trend, and the written English for specifications and design documentation. Bachelor's degree is the norm, with a substantial minority holding a master's, together with several years of related experience and on-the-job training.
Explaining what information means and how it can be used is central to the role: findings are set out for executives, managers, clients and other stakeholders, few of whom are specialists in the underlying data. Disseminates information on tools, reports and metadata enhancements, supports dashboard and report users, and maintains contact with customers, suppliers, competitors and professional bodies to stay abreast of industry trends.
Devises the methods by which patterns and trends are identified rather than applying a set procedure; analyses competitive market strategies through product, market and share trends; identifies industry and geographic developments bearing on business strategy; and synthesises current intelligence into recommendations for action. Judging whether a reporting solution will answer the question actually asked calls for systems analysis and evaluation. Problems are open-ended, with the method a matter of the postholder's judgement.
Manages the timely flow of business intelligence to users, sequencing periodic reporting against ad hoc requests, documenting specifications, and coordinating tests to confirm the intelligence is consistent with the defined need. Priorities are largely self-determined within the reporting calendar and the deadlines attached to requests.
Work is carried out seated at a desk using business intelligence and analytical software. No manual handling demands.

Responsibilities

No line management. Coordinates and leads others in accomplishing work activities and carries a share of responsibility for their outcomes through the reports and tools they depend on; advises management on technical and process matters.
Holds no budget and commits no spend. Produces the financial, market and competitor intelligence — share movement, competitive strategy, technology and customer trends — on which decisions about product development and sales are taken elsewhere, and draws on purchased data sources procured by others.
Creates and maintains the business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards and reporting systems in use, and keeps a library of model documents, templates and other reusable knowledge assets. Ordinary care of a workstation.
Owns the organisation's business intelligence layer: the standard and custom reports summarising business, financial and economic data, the dashboards, and the databases and spreadsheets beneath them, with their metadata and design documentation. Assembles the content from industry reports, public information, field reports and purchased sources and sets its structure; what it must answer is set by the executives, managers and clients commissioning it. Reviews design documentation and tests outputs for accuracy, since errors carry through to decisions taken by others.

Effort required

Sustained analytical concentration on detailed data work where exactness governs whether a conclusion holds, alongside a steady volume of contact by e-mail, telephone and face-to-face discussion and regular decisions on method, data source and interpretation taken under time pressure.
Accountable for intelligence that shapes decisions affecting colleagues and company results, in a competitive commercial setting where market position is at issue. No exposure to distress, hostility or conflict is evidenced.
Predominantly seated indoor work at a screen. No lifting or exertion.

Working conditions

Indoor, environmentally controlled office work without hazard, noise or protective equipment. Contact is with colleagues in work groups and teams and, externally, with customers, suppliers and professional bodies. Psychosocial demand comes from time pressure in a competitive commercial environment rather than from any physical or emotional exposure.
Works a regular established schedule, most commonly a standard working week, with a substantial minority working longer. Determines own tasks, priorities and goals with considerable freedom to make decisions inside the reporting framework and the requests received, and is accountable for the accuracy and timeliness of the intelligence supplied.

Skills

40% · 250 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 4 of 8
72 of 144 points
Factual and theoretical knowledge in broad contexts within a field of work. The job requires a range of thinking and practical knowledge to find solutions to specific problems in the job or study area.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Effective communication and interpersonal relationships. The job holder is required to adapt communication to different audiences and foster trust, cooperation and positive working relationships.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Non-standard problems. The job involves solving complex, non-standard problems involving multiple factors to consider. Solutions often require careful analysis and the adaptation of current methods.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate organisational skills required. The job requires the organising and prioritising of multiple tasks, with some level of adjustment to plans on the basis of changing circumstances or deadlines.
Physical skillsLevel 0 of 5
0 of 72 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any particular physical skills (although there is likely to be some physical activity).

Responsibility

35% · 84 points▾

PeopleLevel 1 of 5
29 of 144 points
Very limited. Not required to supervise or perform a caregiving role. The job may involve providing basic guidance to or orientation for others, such as helping new colleagues settle in.
Goods and equipmentLevel 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Limited responsibility for goods or equipment. The job involves the care and proper use of low-value tools or materials, with minimal responsibility for their maintenance or security.
InformationLevel 2 of 5
38 of 96 points
Limited responsibility for information. The job requires the individual to gather, process or share information in a controlled way, following guidelines or predefined procedures.
Financial resourcesLevel 0 of 5
0 of 96 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any responsibility for financial resources.

Effort

15% · 65 points▾

Mental effortLevel 3 of 5
36 of 60 points
High level of mental effort. The job involves frequent concentration on complex tasks that require considerable mental effort, such as interpreting complex data.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 2 of 5
29 of 72 points
Occasional psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires occasional involvement in emotionally demanding situations, such as handling minor conflicts or dealing with upset individuals.
Physical effortLevel 0 of 5
0 of 48 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any physical effort.

Working Conditions

10% · 24 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Minimal exposure to hazards or stress. The job involves little or no exposure to physical hazards (e.g. chemicals, moving equipment, noise) and minimal emotional or psychological risks (e.g. occasional routine tasks with no emotional burden). There is minor exposure to dust, dirt, fumes, noise, waste, poor lighting, etc.
Organisational environmentLevel 1 of 5
7 of 36 points
Minimal organisational demands. The job requires standard working hours with no night shifts or irregular schedules. There is little or no need for travel or digital connectivity beyond typical working hours.