Sales Analyst Job Description

Any business relies on sales. No matter if you are in the B2C or B2B segment, offer products or services, operate on a local or international level — you will need sales to keep moving forward your ROI and company. And, while each separate purchase may depend on your sales representatives, large-scale companies need a person who would see a bigger picture of sales and be responsible for it. That is why a sales analyst is a valuable asset to any business, no matter how large or small. While different companies have different requirements (after all, a lot depends on the business specifics), this sales analyst job description should give you a general idea of the skills and qualities to look up to when hiring the best experts.

Sales Analyst Duties

A sales analyst may not go door-to-door selling your product; this person is responsible for seeing a larger picture of how sales happen. More importantly, it is up to the sales analyst to find ways to boost those sales. This job relies on analysis and calls for a creative touch. Understanding the key values of the product is also among the sales analyst’s duties. Besides, a top-notch professional must understand the product’s main target audience and its needs. Finally, sales analysts have to communicate with the sales representatives daily. This implies giving them instructions and listening to their feedback while searching for the best ways to increase sales.

Sales Analyst Responsibilities

In a nutshell, sales analysts have to control the entire sales funnel. Of course, it does not mean that one person will be responsible for handling all of the tasks within this cycle. However, a sales analyst will need to have a general understanding of all processes to ensure smooth communication within the whole team. One can say that sales analyst responsibilities are monitoring every little detail of how sales happen and coming up with actionable suggestions on how this process can be improved. The key responsibilities are as follows:

• Analyze sales trends and provide forecasts for future sales
• Regularly communicate with sales reps and top management
• Analyze previous and existing sales data to come up with a sales forecast
• Compile sales reports
• Analyze competitors and third-party sales data to forecast best practices for company success
• Offer actionable insight on boosting sales to reps and top management
• Analyze any existing problems and offer ways to address them
• Collaborate with sales reps, marketers, and other divisions

Sales Analyst Requirements

• At least a bachelor’s degree in marketing or finance
• Experience in sales analysis
• Experience in sales (preferably a former sales rep)
• Advanced MS Office and spreadsheet skills
• Deep understanding of presentation software
• Experience with CRM software
• Experience with a particular product specifics (depends on the company)
• Basic marketing experience, including defining (redefining) target audience

Sales Analyst Key Skills

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work remotely and as part of the team
• Excellent written communication skills
• Ability to address challenges promptly
• Advanced analytical skills
• Strong time-management skills
• Ability to set priorities
• Creative thinking
• Multitasking
• Excellent sales skills
• Stress-resilience (this job is associated not only with success but also with failure)
• Ability to acknowledge one’s mistakes and learn from them
• Ability to work long hours (not as part of regular routines, but whenever emergencies occur)
• Flexibility
• Ability to see larger sales picture
• Conflict-resolving skills and ability to compromise whenever disagreements occur