What is a senior functional analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Erastus Ndinguri

Senior functional analysts oversee and coordinate the work of a team of analysts working in a company while performing complex tasks themselves. They work on analyzing computer systems' functioning to identify problems and oversee the implementation of solutions they recommend.

Working as a senior functional analyst, you will study company procedures and collect information about processes from managers and employees performing the tasks. You will be responsible for adjusting or designing computer systems that successfully fulfill every need of the company using up-to-date technologies.

You will be expected to create reports on problems, solutions, benefits, and the economic aspects of these to present to management. Installing and configuring new systems will also be your duty, as well as running tests to make sure the systems meet the desired requirements.

What general advice would you give to a Senior Functional Analyst?

E

Erastus NdinguriErastus Ndinguri LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, Framingham State University

A couple of ways to maximize your salary potential are;

Through first salary negotiation - By understanding the job market of your field, knowing what you can offer and preparing well for your salary negotiation you can positively maximize your first salary potential. This can affect your future earnings especially if you rise up the corporate ladder in the same organization.

Not settling, but continuing to learn- Learn a new skill that will help in building your resume. Network with colleagues in your organization and learn from them. Continuous learning and self-improvement create opportunities for higher earnings.

Embrace mentorships- Having a good seasoned colleague/mentor can open opportunities for higher earning. A mentor can help you prepare for a salary negotiation and also steer you to the right projects that lead to career advancements hence a higher salary.
ScoreSenior Functional AnalystUS Average
Salary
7.9

Avg. Salary $110,131

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.3

Growth Rate 9%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 14.43%

Black or African American 10.61%

Hispanic or Latino 11.32%

Unknown 5.03%

White 58.42%

Gender

female 37.76%

male 62.24%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress Level
5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.8

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Senior Functional Analyst career paths

Key steps to become a senior functional analyst

  1. Explore senior functional analyst education requirements

    Most common senior functional analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.2 %

    Master's

    21.6 %

    Associate

    11.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior functional analyst skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Business Process7.69%
    Architecture4.97%
    Functional Specifications4.04%
    ERP3.89%
    Sap Functional3.87%
  3. Complete relevant senior functional analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior functional analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior functional analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior functional analyst resumes.
  4. Research senior functional analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Schedule, lead and manage UAT sessions with customers to finalize software acceptance.
    • Manage vendors and supervise campus project initiatives to provide infrastructure upgrades.
    • Provide production support to ECC 6.0 and CRM 4.0 systems.
    • Provide program control support for multimillion dollar DOD depot maintenance contract.
  5. Get senior functional analyst experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior functional analyst. The most common roles before becoming a senior functional analyst include functional analyst, business analyst team lead and consultant.
  6. Prepare your senior functional analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior functional analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior functional analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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  7. Apply for senior functional analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior functional analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Senior Functional Analyst Job

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Average senior functional analyst salary

The average Senior Functional Analyst salary in the United States is $110,131 per year or $53 per hour. Senior functional analyst salaries range between $77,000 and $157,000 per year.

Average Senior Functional Analyst Salary
$110,131 Yearly
$52.95 hourly

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How do senior functional analysts rate their job?

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Senior Functional Analyst reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Challenges, problem-solving,communicating with differnet individuals

Cons

some daily monotonous aspects of job.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

Distance from technology

Pros

Sitting in between business and data. Helped leadership to build strategy.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

With the company that I work for, being an implementations analyst is sort of a hybrid role between account management and a more technical role.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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