what is a functional analyst?

A functional analyst is a crucial professional in any company. You play a vital role in maximising software to meet organisational goals and project objectives. This involves specialisation in specific business areas and closely studying the company's technology systems and procedures. Your analysis provides valuable insights for enhancing company processes.

Unlike programmers who mediate between the technical team and customers, you have diverse responsibilities as a functional analyst. You design computer systems, conduct seminars, gather and analyse data, and create detailed reports. You oversee system implementation, training and user guideline development.

Educational requirements typically include a computer science degree, although economics or information technology (IT) degrees may be suitable. Employers also seek candidates with relevant work experience, strategic skills and exceptional communication skills. The ability to work under pressure is also necessary.

Functional analysis involves assessing risks, feasibility and the impact of required functionalities on solutions. It also includes evaluating project timelines. Throughout these phases, you use tools like data flow diagrams and programming languages to describe system behaviour and structure accurately. You collaborate with technicians and update project managers on progress, ensuring clear communication. You support developers through product delivery and implementation.

A key role of a functional analyst is to coordinate between technicians, programmers and customers, facilitating clear communication and project realisation. You update clients on project status, report progress, and communicate changes or user requests to the development team.

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average functional analyst salary

The typical remuneration package for a functional analyst in Australia is $130,000 per year. The salary range depends on experience and other factors, such as the size of the company or geographical location. When you work in an entry-level position, you start with earnings of $120,000 annually. However, the remuneration package increases with experience. Senior functional analysts may take home over $140,000 yearly.

what factors affect the salary of a functional analyst?

As a functional analyst, your earnings mainly depend on your expertise and competency. When first joining the role, you have minimal experience and qualifications. With minimal experience, you cannot handle complex company tasks. As you improve your experience and expertise, you'll take home a higher salary.

The industry you work in and the size of the organisation also influence your earnings. When you work for a small company, you earn less due to the limited resources. In a large company, you take home a higher remuneration package due to the complexity of your duties and the unlimited resources available. High-revenue industries like technology, mining and manufacturing have better remuneration prospects.

Want to know what you will earn as a functional analyst? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

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types of functional analysts

Functional analysts come in different types, depending on the sector they operate in. You could work in transportation, food production, logistics, product manufacturing or mining. Essentially, you can find a job in any organisation that relies on computer systems for productivity.

Functional analysts primarily work in software development companies and in IT consultancy firms. However, your expertise is not limited to these environments. You can also work in the IT departments of large corporations, banks and insurance companies, or even within the federal or local government.

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working as a functional analyst

The role of a functional analyst is rewarding. To secure a position, you need a good understanding of the tasks, responsibilities, work environment, growth opportunities and collaborative nature of the position.

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education and skills

If you want to join a career as a functional analyst, you need a background in technology. Start with a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology after completing the 12th year. If you have a bachelor's degree in business administration, you can join the role if you can showcase technical knowledge and skills. For instance, technology certifications like CompTIA IT Fundamentals boost your career prospects. Some employers also expect a master of business administration with a specialisation in information systems.

You require work experience in data analysis or business analysis. While knowledge of programming languages is not compulsory, consider learning statistical analysis languages.

functional analyst skills and competencies

Functional analysts rely on hard- and soft skills to perform their duties. Some of the qualities valuable in the role include:

  • technical skills: as a functional analyst, you evaluate technologies and business applications. Having technical skills enhances your productivity and work performance. Consider improving your knowledge in data modelling, coding languages and data validation techniques to excel in the role.
  • analytical skills: as a functional analyst, you gather information and analyse software applications to check for gaps and identify areas of improvement. Analytical skills help you perform gap analysis and assess the best technology configuration to improve company processes.
  • organisational skills: as a functional analyst, you collect large volumes of data during analysis, and it is important to organise the data for easy evaluation. With your experience in using structured query language (SQL) databases, you can access and manipulate a wealth of data. Having advanced experience in spreadsheet software also improves your competitiveness.
     
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FAQs about working as a functional analyst

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a functional analyst.

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