What Is a Management Analyst? And How to Become One

Key takeaways

A management analyst can help a company become more efficient, save money, boost performance, and increase profits.

• The median annual total pay for a management analyst is $105,000 [1].

• As a management analyst, you’ll collect and analyze organizational data to identify challenges, provide recommendations, and implement solutions.

• You can prepare for a career as a management analyst by earning a bachelor’s degree, developing your workplace skills, and earning a certification.

Learn more about what management analysts do, key skills you'll need to qualify for this role, and how to become one. If you’re ready to build essential job skills right away, consider enrolling in the University of Illinois’ Business Analytics Specialization. You’ll have the chance to learn about business analysis, data collection, and data governance in as little as two months. 

What does a management analyst do?

Management analysts collect data involving an organization's structure and processes. As the name implies, they analyze problems and offer recommendations and strategies for improvement. 

Common tasks of a management analyst include:

• Collecting, organizing, and analyzing information regarding an organization's challenges

• Communicating recommendations to organization stakeholders in written or verbal form

• Conducting site inspections and personnel interviews to gather necessary information

• Creating solutions for problems as needed

• Developing new policies and procedures as needed

• Overseeing the implementation of agreed-upon changes

• Reviewing changes over time and making adjustments as needed

• Reviewing financial data like income and expenditures

Management analyst skills

To ensure success in the role of a management analyst, it helps to have certain skills. These skills include workplace skills (those that help you work with others) and technical skills (those that help you do your specific job).

Workplace skills

Management analysts typically work with many different clients, so they need effective workplace skills. Some workplace skills that are important for management analysts include the following:

• Ability to work with a team

• Good written and verbal communication

• Organizational skills

• Problem-solving abilities

• Time management skills

Technical skills

Management analysts also benefit from certain skills specific to their jobs. Some technical skills you may need include these:

• Analytical skills

• Data organization software

• Financial modeling software

• Research skills

• Strong understanding of business concepts like human resource modeling, resource allocation, production methods, and strategic planning

Where do management analysts work?

Organizations usually hire management analysts on a contractual basis, so you can work for yourself or a business consulting firm. You'll spend your time between your home or company office and the work sites of the organizations that hire you. These types of companies commonly hire management analysts: 

• Finance companies

• Government agencies

• Health care organizations

• Insurance companies

• Manufacturing companies

• Transportation companies 

• Tech companies

Management analyst salary and career outlook

According to Glassdoor, the median annual total pay for management analysts in the US is $105,000 [1]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation. 

The career outlook for a management analyst appears steady. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts management analyst jobs should grow by about 9 percent in the decade between 2024 and 2034 [2]. This amounts to roughly 98,100 job openings in this field per year, reflecting faster-than-average growth compared to occupations overall [2]. 

How to become a management analyst

Several steps can help you in your pursuit of a management analyst career. Consider these options:

1. Earn a degree.

Most management analysts earn a bachelor's degree, and some, looking for quick career advancement, enter the workforce with a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Good fields to pursue when getting a bachelor's include the following:

• Accounting

• Business administration

• Finance

• Engineering

• Information management

• Management

• Statistics

2. Broaden your skills.

You can gain valuable skills needed for a management analyst job in several ways. First, you can take a course specific to the skill you want to develop. To build workplace skills, consider a course in decision-making, public speaking, or team building. To build technical skills, consider an online course in accounting, computer science, data analytics, finance, research methods, or statistics. 

You can also increase your skills by reading about pertinent topics. To improve your critical-thinking skills, take time to reflect before you form an opinion about anything or before you act in any situation. 

3. Get work experience through an internship.

To gain valuable job experience before you begin applying for management analyst positions, consider getting an internship. Check with your college career center or local job service for information about internship opportunities, or call various consulting firms in your area to see if they have available openings for a management analyst intern. In addition to providing valuable work skills, an internship can help you expand your list of professional contacts for future job possibilities. 

Read more: Externship vs. Internship: What’s the Difference?

4. Get a certification. 

Getting a certification can also help you gain employment as a management analyst. A certification boosts your appeal to a company because it tells them you are competent to perform the duties of the job. 

Certifications helpful for a position as a management analyst might include:

• Certified Business Management Analyst (CBMA) offered by the American Institute for Business Management and Communication (AIBMC)

• Accredited Management Consultant (AMC) offered by the Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM)

• Strategy Management Professional (SMP) offered by the International Association for Strategy Professionals

5. Career advancement options

If you pursue a career as a management analyst, there are different ways to advance. Consider three examples that go in various directions:

Option 1:

• Finance analyst

• Senior finance analyst

• Finance director

Option 2:

• Project manager

• Program manager

• Director of operations

Option 3:

• Program manager

• Director of information technology

How many years does it take to become a management analyst?

Since a bachelor’s degree is an entry-level requirement for becoming a management analyst, it takes at least four years to develop foundational knowledge. However, some employers prefer candidates with an MBA, which can take another one to two years to complete. Additionally, some positions require some professional experience, which you can gain through an internship during your studies or in an entry-level role.

Explore resources to stay informed on management industry trends

Subscribe to Career Chat, our LinkedIn newsletter, to stay up-to-date with the management industry and other career fields. Then, access these resources for more helpful tips:

• Bookmark this page: Project Management Terms and Definitions 

• Learn from a pro: 8 Questions with an Expert: Google Financial Data Analyst

• Watch on YouTube: Career Spotlight: Business Analyst

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