BI analyst job description.

What does a business intelligence analyst do?

 

A business intelligence (BI) analyst translates complex data into reports and dashboards that help businesses track performance and uncover opportunities. Their work supports daily operations, decision-making, and long-term strategy.

 

Key responsibilities include gathering business requirements, building dashboards, analysing KPIs, and producing insight reports. Tools often include Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and Excel. They work closely with stakeholders across finance, marketing, and operations.

 

In smaller businesses, BI analysts are generalists who handle everything from database queries to visualisation. In larger companies, they’re aligned with specific departments or reporting frameworks, supporting more advanced decision intelligence.

 

Key responsibilities of a business intelligence analyst.

 

BI analysts convert data into insights that guide business decisions. Common responsibilities include:

• Creating dashboards and reports to track KPIs and operational metrics

• Writing SQL queries and managing datasets from BI platforms

• Collaborating with stakeholders to understand reporting needs

• Building data visualisations in Power BI, Tableau, or Looker

• Performing trend analysis, forecasting, and variance reporting

• Maintaining data accuracy and reconciling discrepancies

• Supporting ad hoc and regular reporting workflows

• Ensuring BI outputs are aligned with business goals

• Working with engineers to define data sources and schema

• Documenting BI reports, logic, and assumptions

This role blends reporting, stakeholder communication, and data accuracy.

 

Skills and requirements for a business intelligence analyst.

 

BI analysts help teams track performance and make commercial decisions. Employers typically look for:

• 2–5 years of experience in data or reporting roles

• Proficiency in SQL and data visualisation platforms

• Experience working with KPIs and business metrics

• Skilled in creating dashboards and automated reports

• Strong analytical and critical thinking ability

• Confidence presenting findings to business stakeholders

• Familiarity with data modelling and warehousing concepts

• Attention to data quality and accuracy

• Ability to respond to ad-hoc requests effectively

Most BI analysts bridge raw data with business actions.

 

Average salary for a business intelligence analyst.

 

In the UK, the average salary for a business intelligence (BI) analyst typically ranges from £24,000 to £48,000, depending on dashboarding, reporting tools, and stakeholder collaboration.

• Mid-level BI analysts typically earn between £24,000 and £36,000

• Senior analysts with SQL, Power BI, or Tableau experience may earn between £37,000 and £48,000

• Analysts working in marketing or product analytics often receive higher packages

Best-paid roles are in SaaS, ecommerce, and B2B SaaS firms in London and regional tech hubs.

 

Career progression for a business intelligence analyst.

 

A business intelligence (BI) analyst turns complex data into accessible dashboards and reporting tools. It’s a hybrid technical-commercial role that offers routes into engineering, strategy, or analytics leadership. A typical path includes:

 

Reporting analyst / Junior BI analyst

 

Supports data collection, dashboarding, and internal reporting using BI tools like Power BI or Tableau.

 

BI analyst

 

Builds and maintains dashboards, models data, and works with stakeholders to deliver insights.

 

Senior BI analyst

 

Leads on cross-departmental reporting, governance, and performance benchmarking.

 

BI manager

 

Manages teams, improves data structures, and ensures accessibility across the organisation.

 

Head of BI / Director of analytics

 

Owns data strategy and delivery. Aligns BI outputs with growth and efficiency objectives.