Data is at the epicentre of every good business decision today. Now that data greatly shapes decision-making, data analysts are critical for helping organisations maximise this vast resource. Proficient data analysts are in ever-increasing demand in diverse spheres – this makes it a lucrative career.
This guide uncovers the role, responsibilities, possible career paths, and requisite skills and qualifications for a data analytics career.
Kick-start your data analyst career at Warwick Business School. WBS has various undergraduate and Master’s courses, such as BSc Management and MSc Business Analytics. Our graduates have gone on to secure data analyst positions at leading global companies in diverse spheres. Find the right course for you with our course finder to take the first step towards your future career.
Data analysts handle large, complex datasets and use their analytical skills to turn raw information into practical business insights. They are referred to by other titles including business analyst, financial analyst or data scientist, and their principal goal is to interpret complex data to aid decision-making. Data analysts typically perform descriptive analysis (summarising historical data), diagnostic analysis (explaining why certain trends occurred), and predictive analysis (forecasting future outcomes) – functions that make their role relevant across many sectors and industries.
Data analysts typically perform tasks including designing research studies, cleaning datasets, using statistical tools to identify market or consumer trends, and visualising data through dashboards or reports. They also create models to predict sales performance, evaluate clinical trial results, or even assess insurance industry risks.
A data analyst collects, organises and studies data to create business insight. In this role, you will apply tools and techniques for data analysis and data visualisation (including business information tools), and also identify, collect and migrate data. Therefore, the duty of the data analyst is to equip an organisation to make informed decisions, streamline business processes and achieve measurable progress.
Related data analysis courses at Warwick Business School
Does a career in data analysis appeal to you? Warwick Business School has various courses to help you achieve your dreams, including:
These Master’s courses can further enhance skills gained during an undergraduate degree or support individuals seeking a career change. Many of our graduates go on to apply their analytical expertise in financial services and beyond.
One such graduate, May Thazin Oo, shares how her MSc Business & Finance degree helped shape her career as a Financial Analyst:
“The career prospects after graduation are amazing, enabling me to have the career of my choice. I am currently working as a Financial Analyst at one of the leading banks in Myanmar. My responsibilities require me to apply my data analytical skills to optimize the bank capital structure and oversee the strategic growth onwards. All of this is made possible due to my Master’s degree which allowed me to further pursue knowledge in the financial service sector and bolster my technical skillset.”
You may be wondering, what qualifications do I need to be a data analyst? Here are the typical routes:
● University degree: An undergraduate degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, business, computer science or finance is the commonplace route to becoming a data analyst.
● Apprenticeships: There are also advanced apprenticeships in data technician roles progressing to higher apprenticeships in data analysis or even a degree apprenticeship.
Possessing a postgraduate degree, such as a Master's degree, further distinguishes your profile and significantly boosts your chances of landing a top data analyst position.
The time it takes to become a data analyst varies, ranging from several months to several years, depending on your chosen educational path. Earning an undergraduate degree typically takes around three years of full-time study, while a Master's degree generally takes an additional one year. The timeframe also depends on your current knowledge base and existing skill set, and how intensively you engage in your learning.
If you’re wondering how to get into data analytics, here's a structured pathway to help you succeed.
Get an undergraduate degree
A solid starting point to becoming a data analyst is earning an undergraduate degree in a relevant field. Warwick Business School offers undergraduate courses with placement years. With this, students acquire practical experience that greatly boosts employability when they graduate.
Courses include:
● BSc Accounting & Finance with Placement Year
● BSc Management with Placement Year
● BSc International Management with Placement Year
Gain work experience
Relevant work experience, such as internships, summer placements or industry projects, is invaluable for aspiring data analysts. These kinds of experiences boost your employability, sharpen your technical and interpersonal skills, and offer networking opportunities that could secure future employment.
Florence Bourjade, a BSc Management student, shared her experience during a placement year as a consulting analyst at Accenture:
“Throughout my placement year so far, I have been able to utilise my knowledge of some of the business cases we covered in lectures and seminars when discussing particular industries or big companies like Amazon, Google, Tesla, Uber and Spotify, which has been really useful. I have also been able to use my marketing and project management skills that I learnt at WBS to help me with my role at Accenture, which has been really beneficial.”
Self-learning through online courses and certifications
Complement your formal education and practical experience with online courses and certifications. Although they are not the sole route to becoming a data analyst, these resources can make you more attractive to employers by helping you enhance and update your skills.
Continue to study
Further studies such as a Master's course can accelerate the advancement of your career as a data analyst. Further study hones your analytical skills and prepares you for senior and specialised positions.
MSc Mathematical Finance graduate Luke Jeeves, who is now a Quantitative Finance Analyst for Bank of America, has this to say about his Master’s degree:
“A strong understanding of financial mathematics and quantitative modelling is fundamental in the role, so the course set me up perfectly for this role, offering a broad range of mathematical and statistical theory, economic background, as well as technical skills such as coding which are massively useful.”
Numerical data manipulation and analytical skills
Strong numerical and analytical skills enable data analysts to manage large datasets effectively. Analysts must be adept at manipulating data accurately and interpreting numerical results to extract meaningful insights.
Knowledge of statistical methodologies and analysis techniques
A robust understanding of statistical methods, such as regression analysis, hypothesis testing and probability analysis, is essential. Mastery of these techniques, paired with familiarity with statistical software, significantly boosts your efficiency and effectiveness in delivering actionable business insights.
An understanding of data visualisation tools
Knowledge of tools such as Power BI and Tableau is essential. These tools allow analysts to create interactive visual representations of data, such as dashboards and charts, making it simpler for decision-makers to understand complex datasets, identify trends and make informed decisions.
Knowledge of programming languages
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R and SQL is fundamental. These skills allow data analysts to effectively manipulate datasets, carry out statistical analyses and build visual representations, streamlining processes and enhancing analytical capabilities.
Critical thinking
Analysts typically need to garner insights from bulky and complex datasets, which makes critical thinking crucial in data analytics. Analysts must treat problems with logic. They need to analyse data from different perspectives to proffer multiple, actionable solutions.
Presentation and communication skills
Data analysts must clearly and effectively communicate insights to stakeholders. Strong presentation and communication skills ensure that complex information is conveyed simply and persuasively – this makes data-driven decisions easier for businesses.
Data analysis offers a wealth of career opportunities and clear pathways for progression, such as:
● Junior Data Analyst: Entry-level, working on basic data collection, cleaning and analysis under supervision
● Data Analyst: Independently conducting analyses, developing predictive models and reporting insights
● Senior Data Analyst: Leading complex projects, managing junior analysts and making strategic recommendations
● Data Analytics Manager/Director: Overseeing entire analytics departments, aligning data strategies with broader business objectives.
Specialised career paths are also available, such as:
● Business Intelligence Analyst
● Marketing Analyst
● Financial Analyst
● Healthcare Analyst.
Kick-start your data analyst career at Warwick Business School. We offer several undergraduate and Master’s courses designed to equip you with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and industry connections to succeed as a data analyst. Graduates from these programmes have secured data analyst positions at global organisations across diverse industries.
Dr Bo Kelestyn recounts her remarkable experiences at Warwick Business School, and offers invaluable advice for those considering a similar path.
MSc Business Analytics alumni, Dipayan Das, talks us through his reasoning for choosing WBS, how the MSc helped his future career aspirations and advice for future MSc students.
Having studied at Warwick for her undergrad, Adriana, MSc Business Analytics ambassador, shares her insider tips on everything from finding activities on campus, to where to source the best cup of coffee
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