What Does a Systems Analyst Do?
In today’s world of tech-heavy business, it’s vital to have employees capable of managing enterprise IT and information systems. A business can only grow as fast as its infrastructure, and having people who can install, test, and upgrade that infrastructure is key.
Systems analysts implement and maintain complex computer systems for businesses. They assist in creating the requirements that developers and programmers follow, and create testing and analysis methods for the improvement and optimization of business systems.
Successful systems analysts have strong technical backgrounds and expertise in systems analysis, and excellent analytical, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills. They should also be able to translate business requirements into technical solutions by understanding business processes.
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National Average Salary
Systems analyst salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Systems Analyst is:
$78,820
Systems Analyst Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a systems analyst. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
We are looking for a detail-oriented systems analyst to optimize our procedures. You will be contributing to planning, preparing reports, and implementing best practices. [Your Company Name] needs someone who is a self-starter that can identify, analyze, and solve technical issues quickly, communicate effectively, and collaborate well with team members. As an ideal candidate, you have an in-depth knowledge of IT systems and solutions, an analytical mind, and are an exceptional problem solver. Your communication skills are impressive, and you possess the ability to explain technical solutions to a non-technical audience.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Implement, monitor, maintain, and upgrade internal and external systems
- Troubleshoot application, hardware, endpoint, and database issues
- Provide end-user support
- Provide project management for designing new products, programming, and testing
- Develop, analyze, prioritize, and organize requirement specifications, data mapping, diagrams, and flowcharts for developers and testers to follow
- Translate highly technical specifications into clear, non-technical requirements
- Configure systems
- Test systems for overall quality assurance and validate results
- Document processes and training procedures
- Develop and implement maintenance procedures, monitor system health, gather system statistics, and troubleshoot reported errors and alarms
- Perform system upgrades to meet the business and user needs
- Implement best practices for scalability, supportability, ease of maintenance, and system performance
Education and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or computer information systems, or equivalent experience
- 4-6 years experience working with information technologies and systems analysis
Required skills and qualifications
- Strong computer hardware, software, and analytical skills
- Proven ability to assess business needs and translate them into relevant solutions
- High level of understanding and knowledge of the principles and practices associated with database maintenance and administration
- Experience installing, configuring, documenting, testing, training, and implementing new applications and systems
- Working knowledge of a wide variety of programming languages
- Excellent analytical skills
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with advanced computer installation, configuration, and/or networking principles and techniques
- Working knowledge of various operating systems
- Experience managing and utilizing databases
- Strong project management skills
- Ability to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience
- Experience in software design, documentation, testing, and troubleshooting
Example 2
Responsibilities
- Technical responsibilities include maintaining a working knowledge of customers daily operations to ensure superior technical support
- Identifying process improvements based on customer’s needs and troubleshooting and providing client support for systems and applications
- The Systems Analyst may participate in Project Management from inception to completion and performs other duties as assigned
Certifications and education
- Computer Tech Related Related Field
- High School or Equivalent
- Bachelor’s Computer Related
Experience
- 2 years of Systems Implementation
- 2 years of Systems Design
- 3 years of Systems Support
Specific skills
- Organizational skills
- Computer skills appropriate to position
- Critical thinking skills
- Work with a team
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge of regulatory standards appropriate to position
- Multi-tasking skills
Example 3
As a Systems Analyst, you will support our production systems and work on valuable data analytics.
Responsibilities
- Support WMS, WES, WCS, and other order processing systems within the fulfillment network
- Troubleshoot technical issues in WMS, WES, WCS, and other systems across all operations as they occur
- Understand all available reporting tools, create reports that enable improved operation visibility and performance
- Develop deep knowledge of site level operations in order to drive and support continuous improvement efforts
- Continuously review operations setup and drive improvement via enhancements and functionality deployments
- Act as point of contact for production for all system requests (including order research, ad hoc reporting, etc.)
- Responsible for all level 1 Support
- Document support issues and resolutions
- Create Work Instruction and SOP documents
- Develop training materials for WMS, WES, WCS
Skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks
- Attention to details
- Flexibility and reliability to cover scheduled shifts that support 24/7 production operations
Minimum qualifications
- BS degree required. Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or Engineering Degree desired
- 1+ years of experience in multi-site industrial distribution, manufacturing, or processing environments
- Efficient Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point), Google app (Gmail, drive, sheets, etc.) knowledge
- SQL experience
- Experience gathering data and creating custom reports
- Some travel
Example 4
Responsibilities
- Translate requirements, ideas and concepts into wireframes, process flows, mockups and prototypes that lead to value added solutions, and intuitive user experiences
- Design and deliver wireframes, user stories, and mock-ups optimized for a wide range of systems and devices including off the shelf solutions.
- Regularly set up feedback sessions whereby the proposed design is presented clearly to all stakeholders so that they all understand the proposed solution
- Create technical and/or functional specifications and processes using structured analysis and data modelling techniques (e.g. Wire frames, ER Modelling)
- Carry out impact assessment work on system design and system changes
- Understand system interdependencies and collaborate with project teams accordingly to reduce the risk of unknown impacts when carrying out design
- Ensure the design is approved before implementation
- Work with the QA teams to ensure the design is adhered to
- Verify that the proposed solution meets the design
Qualifications
- Computer Science or related bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of 1 year experience in the following:
- Functional analyst, or related role
- Working with clients to understand detailed requirements and design complete user experiences, solutions and systems that meet client needs and vision
- Designing secure solutions that are well thought through and include both an intuitive user experience and design of integrated systems
- Communicating functional and technical information and ideas clearly and concisely to non-technical staff
- Using UX design best practices to design solutions
- Working effectively in a team setting ensuring consistency of solutions and experience across the organization
- Delivering value added solutions and providing some cost benefit analysis to the proposed solutions
- Documenting the proposed design
- Working with new solutions and commercial off the shelf solutions
- Tools used in development, testing, and installation of new software
- Tools used to mock UI screens and software flow
- Agile and Waterfall methodologies, and the software development life-cycle
Preferred experience and education
- Minimum of 1 year in Software Development
- Healthcare regulations pertaining to software development
- ERP and/or Supply Chain applications
- General security precautions incorporated into all user requirements
- UX design
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- CompTIA Linux+ Certification. The CompTIA Linux+ credential shows knowledge of Linux in managing servers, cloud services, cybersecurity, mobile, and web administration applications. Candidates must pass one exam for certification. The exam covers tasks associated with all major distributions of Linux, including the Linux command line, basic maintenance, installing and configuring workstations, and networking. The certification is good for three years.
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC). The CRISC focuses on enterprise IT risk management based on the latest work practices and knowledge to help certification holders stay ahead of the game in tackling real-world threats in today’s business world. The CRISC confirms a candidate’s experience in creating a well-defined, agile risk-management program utilizing best practices to identify, analyze, prioritize, and resolve risks. Certification is good for twelve months.
- CompTIA A+ Certification. The CompTIA A+ certification is designed to help professionals land entry-level positions in IT by ensuring that they know the basics of working with hardware, networks, and computer systems. The CompTIA A+ is composed of two exams that test a candidate’s knowledge of operating systems, data, security, networking, hardware, and help desk services.
Sample Interview Questions
- How do you analyze and recommend solutions for improving efficiency and effectiveness in complex technical and business systems?
- How do you prioritize projects?
- Have you conducted gap analyses to identify areas for improvement, and gathered requirements from clients and stakeholders?
- What experience do you have with the development of process flows and system designs, including using modeling and simulation software?
- Can you describe your experience undertaking feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses?
- How would you handle frequent changes to user and system requirements?
- How do you assess internal and external IT system needs?
- How do you perform a software audit?
- How do you maintain system and software records?
- How do you perform software registration?
- How do you analyze and evaluate existing systems?
- How would you communicate user scenarios in a technical document?
- Can you describe your experience communicating technical information to non-technical stakeholders clearly and concisely?
- What experiences have you had developing and maintaining technical documentation, such as system specifications and user guides?
- Describe the different modules in the SAP application.
- What is a DHCP server?
- What is the difference between SSH and SSL?
- How do you ensure the cost efficiency of IT systems?
- What steps do you take when initiating new projects?
- What is the approach for top-down analysis and design?
- What aspects of system analysis require documentation?
- How would you handle a system or production outage?
- How would you implement a new software tool?
- How to you remain up-to-date with the latest technology and advancements in systems analysis?