Data Analyst
Do you like to look through data and models in order find the hidden insights in them, by using mathematical modelling techniques, in order to create reports and visualisations to explain it all?
If so, then a career as a Data Analyst might be for you!
What Does a Data Analyst Do & What Jobs Does This Career Path Include?
As a data analyst, you’ll look through data (and models) using mathematical modelling techniques to generate reports (and visualizations) that provide insights into what the data is ‘hiding’, as well as to inform the organisation’s decisions and to solve problems in financial markets.
What Qualifications & Skills Are Required?
In order to pursue this career-path, you could have one of the following qualifications:
- Business Information Systems.
- Computer Science.
- Economics
- Information Management.
- Mathematics.
- Statistics.
In this career-path, you’ll require the following understanding and competencies in maths and related disciplines:
In this career-path, you’ll require the following understanding and competencies in computing and technology:
- VBA
- SQL Server
- APIs
- XML
- Business intelligence and analytics platforms, like Tableau, QlikView, Crystal Reports, D3, Alteryx
- Statistical programmes, like SPSS, SAS, RapidMiner
- Programming for data and analytics, like R, Python, MATLAB
- Hadoop open-source data analytics
Big data analysts look through data and models to provide reports and visualisations to explain what insights the data is hiding, inform decisions and use mathematical modeling techniques to solve problems in financial markets.
Their ability to pay attention to detail, communicate well and be highly organised are essential skills. They not only need to understand the data, but be able to provide insight and analysis through clear visual, written and verbal communication. Data Analysts are expected to analyse various scenarios, leveraging intelligent inferences for the company and helping it to develop strategies for doing business in the current scenario.
In addition, people suited to this career also display the following competencies:
- Knowledge of accounting procedures and financial reporting practices.
- Financial modeling.
- A knowledge of economics in order to analyse current economic conditions and make predictions for future economic indicators.
- Display an excellent command over English and strong conversational skills.
- Swiftly coordinate between different departments which may use data stored, reports generated or recommendations made by the data analysts.
- Communicate results / reports in a timely manner to key personnel within the organisation.
- Has the ability to communicate both internally within the industry and externally with customers, partners and clients.
- Employs best practice techniques to analyse large amounts of data whilst maintaining an intense attention to detail.
- Use of reports and presentations to explain complex technical ideas and methods to an audience of laymen.
- Questions established business practices and brainstorms new approaches for analysing data.
- Understands the way the industry functions and how data can be collected, analysed and utilised.
- Tolerates long hours working with computer code and data without losing concentration.
