Junior Business Analyst

• On the job training is a big part of your learning. We can support you through our certifications and membership to help you quickly gain and develop your knowledge in the workplace.
• Work with colleagues and other stakeholders to investigate operational issues, problems and new opportunities, contributing to business process and IT system improvements;
• Be able to understand the purpose and benefits of modelling techniques to represent a range of business areas and systems of interest within the context of business analysis activity;
• Take part in meetings with stakeholders and assist in presenting issues and solutions both verbally and in writing;
• Produce business analysis deliverables using relevant documentation styles in line with organisational standards and using appropriate tools;
• Assist in defining and justifying (in business terms) holistic solutions that address organisational, people, process, information and technology aspects;
• Assist colleagues and other stakeholders to define user acceptance tests for new or improved business processes and IT systems.

Technical skills you need to be a junior business analyst

You’ll be familiar with applying techniques which help when investigating, analysing, modelling and recording a business area or system of interest. Examples include: business environment analysis and process modelling.

Information modelling tools

As a competent Junior BA, you’ll use tools (manual or automated) to record the structure, relationships and use of information within an organisation. Examples include: class diagram and relational data model.

Corporate, industry and professional standards

You'll be aware of applying standards, practices, codes, and assessment and certification programmes relevant to the IT industry and the specific organisation or business domain.

Development approach

You'll have a good foundational understanding and application of different development approaches e.g. iterative/ incremental methodologies (Agile, XP, TDD, SCRUM) or traditional sequential methodologies (Waterfall or V-Model) and collaborative development, including DevOps.

Proof of concept and prototyping

You'll be aware of how to perform a proof of concept or prototyping exercise to demonstrate or evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of applying a particular technological business change in order to meet a business need.

Information elicitation techniques

You’ll gain a good understanding of the selection and application of information elicitation methods, tools and techniques which are appropriate to the information required and the sources available. Examples could include: focus groups and surveys/questionnaires.

Business characteristics

You'll be familiar with organisational structures; their mission, objectives, strategies and tactics adopted by organisations; measures of performance such as critical success factors and key performance indicators; organisational cultures and cultural dimensions.

Soft skills are a key component of your continued professional development and success as a business analyst. BCS offers a comprehensive suite of materials to members to support professionals in the development of their soft skills.

Analytical thinking

A core component of a junior BA’s role is analytical thinking. In the early stages, you’ll gain understanding of a problem or situation by breaking it down systematically into its component parts and identifying the relationships between these parts; selecting the appropriate method/tool to resolve the problem and reflecting critically on the result, so that what is learnt is identified and assimilated.

Written expression and emails

As part of the assisting in report writing and email/or similar communication with stakeholders, you will need to be able to effectively communicate in writing. You will be familiar with methods and techniques for writing clear, accessible and persuasive business and technical reports.

Attention to detail

An eye for detail is important for a junior BA, as you will be tasked with applying specific quality standards to tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete.

Verbal expression

You will be a competent communicator, happy to engage stakeholders and clearly express objectives of a project or activity. This would extend to understanding methods and techniques for delivering effective and accessible presentation in various mediums including online, and face-to-face.

Stakeholder engagement/ analysis

You'll be aware of establishing relationships, analysing perspectives and managing stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines; adapting stakeholder engagement style to meet the needs of different audiences. You'll be able to identify key business stakeholders and assess their levels of power and interest, and their perspectives to inform the way(s) in which they should be considered and managed.

Tell me more about membership

Foundational learning

BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis
This certificate is designed for people who want to understand business analysis, support change and improve business processes.

Find out more and book

RITTech
Demonstrate to employers your professional competence by joining the UK register of IT Technicians.

Find out how to register

BCS Membership MBCS
As a Professional member of BCS, you’ll become part of a large professional community in the UK and beyond. You’ll get access to career support tools, latest BA industry news and exclusive BCS research.

Become a member