Analyst Job Description

A female recruiter sitting at her desk looking at her computer with a cup of coffee and cell phone in her hands.

An analyst gathers, interprets, and uses complex data to develop actionable steps that will improve processes and optimize results. Day-to-day, it’s an analyst’s job to assess company and client needs, review robust information, and analyze it, looking for trends or areas for improvement. They must then deliver that information to stakeholders, and use it to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of a service, product, or system. Many industries hire analysts to monitor the results of their business functions or help develop new ones.

To find the most qualified candidate for this role, start with a good job description. You can use the template below and tailor it to your organization.

Because analysts are essential to business growth, you’ll need an excellent job description to find the best candidates. Remember that a job seeker typically views many posts at the same time, so this is your chance to stand out. Keep the analyst job description brief, but include enough details to paint a full picture of the role and the work environment.

Include a summary of your company’s vision and culture, and touch on the impact the analyst will have on business success. Wherever possible, use bulleted lists and conversational language.

Sample analyst job description

[Company X] is on a mission to create simple solutions to the world’s most complex problems. We’re seeking a highly experienced analyst to help guide us in that quest. As a member of the IT team, the analyst will focus on solving organizational problems by analyzing processes, workflows, and systems to identify opportunities for either improvement or automation. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with all levels of management to gain an in-depth understanding of our strategy and services. From Day 1, the analyst will have an impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of our daily operations and a lasting influence on our growth.

Objectives of this role

Improve, execute, and effectively communicate significant analyses that identify meaningful trends and opportunities across the business
Participate in meetings regularly with managers to assess issues and to identify and implement improvements for more-efficient operations
Provide strong, timely financial and business analytics for decisions by partners and organizational stakeholders
Develop actionable roadmaps for improving workflows and processes, and establish and organize KPIs in line with global directives
Comply with all national and local regulations

Responsibilities

Interpret data using analytics, research methodologies, and statistical techniques
Develop and implement data analyses, leveraging collection systems and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality
Serve as liaison between staff and management by analyzing and interpreting data for company procedures, policies, and workflows
Prepare, analyze, and summarize operational results for use by various key stakeholders, creating reports, specifications, instructions, and flowcharts
Conduct full lifecycle of analytics projects (including pulling, manipulating, and exporting data) from project requirements documentation to design and execution
Evaluate key performance indicators, provide ongoing reports, and recommend business plan updates

Required skills and qualifications

Advanced analytical skills, with experience collecting, organizing, and disseminating abundant information accurately
Ability to write reports
Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills

Preferred skills and qualifications

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in computer science, mathematics, business management, or economics
Deep experience in managing budgets
Ability to present findings in a polished way
Proficiency with statistics and dataset analytics (using SPSS, SAS, Excel)
Entrepreneurial mindset, with an innovative approach to business planning

What does an analyst do?

How to write an analyst job description