Business Systems Analyst

Q&A with an ALTA Contractor*

ALTA IT: What drew you to this career? 

Contractor: I like to understand all aspects of a business – what they are trying to accomplish and why, and how to help the consumer.  I like that I get to solve problems and help build/develop something to grow a company.

ALTA IT: How did you find your way to where you are today? Share a little about your professional journey.

Contractor: I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration. Someone then recommended that I apply to what became my first job as an Analyst. I found I was frustrated and not happy in that job, and it was not where I wanted to be.

In my second job, I was able to put my knowledge from school into practice. I found that this was what I really wanted to do and I learned a lot more by doing the job hands-on.

After three years of working and learning as an Analyst, I became more confident and realized that “I can do it”. 

Over the years, I learned how the corporate world works and how interesting it can be; I’ve had the opportunity to work on many different projects.

ALTA IT: What are some challenges you face in your industry?

Contractor: I have to stay up-to-date with all processes and technologies because they can quickly become obsolete. It can be challenging to understand both the business and technical language, but it comes with time and experience – hands-on is the best way to learn.

In the healthcare industry specifically, the pandemic created very quickly changing dynamics in healthcare compliance (for example the “Surprise Billing Act” recently).

ALTA IT: What do you love about your career?

Contractor: I love that I am in a customer-facing role; I am a people-person and like to understand things from others’ perspectives. I enjoy getting to come up with solutions, and coordinate with other teams (developers, testers, stakeholders, PMs).

ALTA IT: What additional education or certification is required/recommended?

Contractor: Business Analysis Certification and Agile Certification are really helpful and recommended.

ALTA IT: Any advice for people looking to get into this field?

Contractor: This is a great career path that is mentally and financially satisfying.  You need basic computer skills and a hardworking mindset.

The typical career path is looks like this:

Business Analyst > Senior Business Analyst > Business Systems Analyst > Senior Business Systems Analyst > Lead Business Systems Analyst > Product Owner > Project / Product Manager

*This contractor has been an ALTA employee for just under two years, and currently supports a large health insurance provider in Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia.

Job Outlook

Employment of business systems analysts is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Pay Outlook

The average salary for a Business Systems Analyst is $87,093 per year. The estimated additional pay is $14,493 per year, which could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. Salaries can range from $35,895 – $287,604 (Glassdoor).