What does an Operations Analyst do?
An Operations Analyst is responsible for drawing recommendations for operational and systems improvements. They do this primarily through the use of statistical modelling based on a company’s collected data, including profit, sales and turnover figures, customer demographics, industry trends and more. An Operations Analyst can be employed across a wide range of industries, including finance, IT, engineering and retail. A Senior Operations Manager is employed to develop a team of Analysts within a wider statistical or data analysis department.
Operations Analyst skills and qualifications
Operations Analysts should have a keen understanding of business processes and systems alongside expert knowledge of the industry they work in. Operations Analysts also need analytical, statistical and mathematical skills to fulfil their job responsibilities. A successful Operations Analyst candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Knowledge of operational policies within the company and industry
- Understanding of company workflows, company structures, supply chains, trading and manufacturing processes
- Experience with statistical and mathematical models
- Excellent knowledge of databases and programs such as Excel or Google spreadsheets
- Communication skills to detail complex information in an easy-to-understand format
- Ability to turn complex data and trends into visual graphs for presentation
- Ability to source raw data through interviews with employees, customers and clients
Operations Analyst experience requirements
A successful Operations Analyst needs a minimum of two years of experience working in a statistics or analytics role. Candidates with a further two years of experience working in an operational or administrative role within a company, demonstrate an understanding of business practices and policies within their industry. Senior Operations Analysts require five years of experience working in a statistics or analytics role alongside experience leading a team and implementing company-wide operational changes.
Operations Analyst education and training requirements
Operations Analysts require a strong academic background in maths and statistics. They need basic GCSEs and A-level,s in which employers can look for strong results in maths, statistics and English. Strong results in business studies or economics are desirable too. Candidates need at least a 2:1 in an appropriate subject at degree level. Employers can look for candidates with degrees in subjects such as maths or economics. Employers can also look for candidates with a postgraduate degree, such as a master’s degree in statistics or microeconomics. Professional qualifications from the Royal Statistical Society or the Operational Research Society can also be beneficial.
Operations Analyst salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an Operations Analyst in the UK is £31,902 per year. Salary may be dependent on experience, location and company.
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