After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the project analyst\u2019s role in project management and decide if this might be a job you want to pursue in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Project](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Project-analyst-cover.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nProject analyst definition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A project analyst is an important role in project management. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are the project manager’s closest associate and the person they rely on to make sure everything is under control and functioning as it should. The project analyst analyzes data, makes reports, keeps track of the project\u2019s progress, and supports the team in their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This allows the project manager to focus on the bigger picture, while the analyst gets into details \u2014 the nitty-gritty of the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hierarchically, it is a mid-level position, between the project manager and the rest of the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project analyst vs project manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before we compare a project analyst with a project manager, let us take a look at what PMBOK \u2014 6th edition<\/a> says about project managers: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe project manager is not expected to perform every role on the project, but should possess project management knowledge, technical knowledge, understanding, and experience. The project manager provides the project team<\/a> with leadership, planning, and coordination through communications.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, a project manager oversees the project as a whole, but since a project has many parts, they cannot manage every single aspect of it. They make the most important decisions and rely on project analysts to provide them with the information they need to make those decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People working as project analysts are often later promoted to the position of project manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, a person can perform the roles of both the project manager and the project analyst. For example, in the case of a project with a small scope and a small team working on it, one person can handle both positions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, larger and more complex projects usually require two separate professionals for the roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to learn more about project managers\u2019 responsibilities, check out the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand the difference between these two roles, we should first see what a business analyst does. According to Forbes<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA business analyst commonly reviews and analyzes key business metrics to devise plans for improvement, then communicates these findings and plans to key stakeholders in the business.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the project and business analyst are in charge of analyzing data that helps people in the company make informed decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the difference is that a business analyst focuses on the entire business, whereas a project analyst\u2019s job is centered around a project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A company will usually employ both the project analyst and the business analyst, and they often collaborate with each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Streamline your business \u2014 improve planning, align teams, and finish all your tasks with Plaky.<\/p>\n\n Project analysts have a diverse range of tasks and responsibilities. The main duties of a project analyst include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the name suggests, the most important duty of a project analyst is connected to analyzing data relevant to the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They collect diverse data through various processes such as getting feedback from the team members, monitoring project\u2019s key performance indicators (KPIs)<\/a>, following market trends, keeping track of legislations, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This data is then analyzed, documented, and presented to the stakeholders \u2014 primarily to the project manager to help them make decisions and manage the project efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the project analyst\u2019s tasks is to create an elaborate strategy for the project to help the project stay on schedule and achieve its goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They must ensure that it is in agreement with the company\u2019s overall business strategy and goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A project analyst\u2019s day-to-day job includes writing documents without which the project could not function properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They can make or help make project schedules and budget plans. They might also create detailed reports on the project’s progress to show whether the project is on track and even document the meeting minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project analysts are involved in the project from the beginning to the end and support the project manager and the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The need for support may vary from one project to another, but one of their most common tasks is to keep track of the project’s progress and inform the project manager if any anomalies occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, if team members face a problem, they can come to the project analyst for assistance and advice. This takes the load off the project manager\u2019s shoulders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are interested in learning more about project roles in a team, click on the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project analyst communicates with stakeholders<\/a> to make sure that the project plans and goals are aligned with stakeholders\u2019 expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As they are involved in all spheres of the project, they can report relevant information to clients, investors, or upper management and collect their feedback to help steer the further development of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To be fit for a position of a project analyst, there are several requirements you should fulfill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, to become a project analyst, you should possess the right:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step in becoming a project analyst is getting the right education. Although having a degree is not a requirement for the position, employers often look for a project analyst with a degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Zippia<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to their field of study, 31% percent of project analysts hold a business degree. Other popular majors among these professionals are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n A degree in one of these fields can be of great use to a project analyst since they are all focused on handling data and numbers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To become a project analyst, you usually need to have relevant experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s best to apply for the job in the industry you\u2019ve already worked in. This experience will ensure you\u2019re familiar with the ins and outs of the industry and you\u2019ll be better equipped to help on projects you\u2019re familiar with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most often, people work in different roles on a project before they become a project analyst. According to Zippia, the top positions before becoming a project analyst are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While working in one of these positions you have the opportunity to observe how the project is run, how the team functions, and how the project analyst communicates with team members and their higher-ups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this will give you much-needed knowledge on how to handle any situation when you start working as a project analyst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some may wonder why such a significant percentage of people working as project managers decide to become project analysts since it is essentially a lower-level position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the reasons can be that they worked as contractors or project managers on small projects and now they want to enter \u201cthe big league\u201d and work on more elaborate projects.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The project manager is also the most popular future role for project analysts \u2014 25.9% of project analysts eventually move on to the position of a project manager, according to Zippia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a professional in project management<\/a>, you should always strive to improve yourself and broaden your knowledge. Investing in a course that would help you become a better project analyst means investing in your future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no ideal certificate to obtain that will make you a perfect project analyst. However, there are many different certifications in the field of project management that can be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the most popular certificates for project analysts are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can choose which certification to apply for based on your experience and plans for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To find out more about project management certifications, click on the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the job of project analysts involves many different tasks, they should be armed with an assortment of skills to be able to handle anything a project throws at them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important skills that all project analysts need are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the name of the role suggests, being able to conduct detailed analyses is a vital part of a project analyst\u2019s job. They gather and analyze data related to all aspects of a project. Then they process that data into various reports and present it to stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project analyst should be able to sift through a vast amount of data and prepare different kinds of reports for different project needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, a project manager would probably get a detailed report of the project\u2019s progress with all the necessary data to help them manage a project, while a client may just want to be kept in the loop with the most important information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Communication skills are some of the most important soft skills a project analyst should possess. More precisely, those skills include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since supporting the team and interacting with stakeholders is part of the daily responsibilities of project analysts, they need outstanding verbal and written communication skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, when a project analyst develops a strategy for the project, they must be able to present it to the stakeholders and communicate their ideas clearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, they are in charge of writing reports, so their written communication skills have to be superb as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to learn more about why communication matters while working on a project, check out this resource:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nowadays, projects are often coordinated using project management software. This is why it is essential that a PA has adequate software skills. Through project management software<\/a>, a project analyst can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These management tools are usually not very complicated, but a certain degree of technical knowledge is necessary in order to master them effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Take control of your team's workload and achieve better project results with Plaky.<\/p>\n\n As the project progresses, many problems might occur and need to be dealt with. Project analysts must be able to think quickly and be creative in order to solve all bottlenecks and prevent delays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since they are monitoring the project’s progress, they have to react when they notice that the project is not advancing as it should and identify the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, they need to be capable of solving problems quickly and efficiently either by themselves or by reporting them to the person who can solve them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a rise in the demand for management analysts according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is projected that the number of job positions will increase by 11% between 2021 and 2031. Although the statistics cover all analyst positions in management \u2014 not just project analysts \u2014 it is still safe to say that project analysts have a promising future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At present, the average salary of a project analyst in the USA is $71,174 a year, or $34.22 an hour according to Zippia<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this also varies from state to state. Project analysts earn the most in New Jersey. However, the highest demand for project analysts is in Texas and California, while Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska have the smallest number of job offers a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcd6 The job of a project analyst is an important one. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about different roles in a project team and the responsibilities they have, head on over to our Project Management Glossary of Terms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specialized project management tools are a much better way to get insight into your projects and maintain a comprehensive overview from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Namely, an app such as Plaky allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most importantly, Plaky ensures transparency, data accuracy, minimizes the risk of error, and it\u2019s highly user-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you think Plaky is the app to help you take your project management to the next level? Create a free account and test it out for yourself \u2014 you get access to all of the advanced features for the first 14 days, after which you can choose the plan that suits you best.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Project analyst vs business analyst<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Free project management software<\/h2>\n
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\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat does a project analyst do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Gathering and analyzing data relevant to the project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Developing project strategies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Writing documentation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Supporting the team members and the project manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Communicating with stakeholders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Project analyst qualifications <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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#1 Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#2 Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#3 Certification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#4 Project analyst skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#1 Data analysis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
#2 Communication skills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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#3 Software skills<\/h4>\n\n\n
![\"Plaky](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/A-single-project-in-Plaky.png\")
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Free project management software<\/h2>\n
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\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n#4 Problem-solving skills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Project analyst salary and job opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Have a better overview of your projects and facilitate analysis with Plaky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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