Techdee

Africa’s 6 Industries to Work in as a Data Analyst

Man creating statistics in modern office. He working on digital devices while sitting at table and turning back to camera (Man creating statistics in modern office. He working on digital devices while sitting at table and turning back to camera, ASCII

A business analyst’s career is an exciting one. This path can take you into several different industries, from finance and marketing to media and IT. This individual guides businesses in boosting processes, services, and products through data analysis. If you are considering enrolling in an online business analytics master’s program, then it is helpful to know the employment options after graduation. Here are six industries you can enter with a master’s degree.

1. Finance

A data analyst working in the finance industry is responsible for creating analytical reports relating to financial trends. With these reports, CEOs can make informed decisions about their companies to boost profits, change investment strategies, implement cost-saving strategies, and more. 

Suppose you are asking yourself how to study to be a financial business analyst in the UK. In that case, a great first step is applying to an online master’s degree program that includes descriptive analytics and prediction courses. According to PayScale, with the proper qualifications, you can enjoy an average annual salary of R288,043 in South Africa, plus a bonus, commission, and profit-sharing.

2. Marketing Analyst

If you decide to become a marketing business analyst, you will design marketing strategies for companies based on market trend analysis. The information you gather will drive the direction of marketing giants, as well as small businesses. 

Among the factors to consider when putting together marketing plans as an analyst is current customer preferences and lucrative markets. The data analyst also often makes suggestions about ways to improve profit.

3. Insurance

To be successful as an insurance data analyst, you must have a strong mathematical and technical skillset. The knowledge and ease of doing analyses that will help you succeed in this role will come during university as you complete a business analytics master’s program.

As you learn how to become a business analyst UK, you will be preparing yourself for a future career in the insurance industry or any of the other five sectors listed here. In the insurance field, you will determine policyholder risks and verify record accuracy, analyze quotes, and more.

4. Sales Analyst

A sales analyst is a great career for an individual who likes the idea of working in sales but wants to go beyond a traditional sales representative. Rather than focusing on selling goods or services, you will sell solutions to executives.

Your goals are to boost sales and revenue for the employer, and your work is key to a successful organization. You might work with the in-house sales team or team up with the marketing department to make changes successfully. With a master’s degree, you can anticipate higher pay and be more likely to get a promotion in the South African company.

5. Media Analyst

Does a media analyst career interest you? This career choice typically involves working with media buyers and teams to analyze the media mentions of a certain brand, product, or service. 

Assessing whether the mentions are overwhelmingly positive or negative, and the details will help you formulate suggestions for companies to help improve their public reputation. A person who exceeds in this role typically enjoys learning about advertising and keeping up with news headlines, both in South Africa and globally.

6. IT Technology Too

An IT technical analyst is another area you can specialize in once you graduate from a business analytics master’s program. When you pursue how to become a business analyst at a UK university online, you will become proficient at performing data analysis, from grouping and sorting to predicting.

You will also learn how to communicate the results of the analysis effectively to others. During your work for companies, you will suggest ways for executives to improve IT systems based on fact-based evidence. While you will not be coding, you will have experience in data management systems, and data visualization software learned during university, helping you to obtain highly accurate results.

Final Thoughts on Data Analyst Jobs

There are many specialties that a data analyst can take, as per the list above. Having a variety of options available to you with the appropriate master’s degree means that you will enjoy a career that never gets boring.

You will also enjoy the rewarding feeling that comes from providing solutions for organizations to better their future. This career path is one that has many opportunities available, given the many industries you can work in moving forward. With strong data analytics skills, you can advance to higher positions and enjoy the extra pay that typically comes with more responsibility.