ISC Paris ISC Paris

Business intelligence manager Career Guide

Business intelligence managers transform data into insights that support strategic and operational decision-making. They oversee data analysis, reporting tools, and dashboards to help organizations understand performance and trends. Here’s what the role involves and how to prepare for it.

More informations about the Bachelor Contact-Us

The key points

  • Entry requirements Post-bac-to-graduate training in management, investment and business development
  • Average salary Average annual starting salary (between 35,000 and 45,000 euros gross per year)
  • Miniature horloge Duties Identify the company’s BI needs - Centralize internal and external data - Implement ETL processes
  • Miniature discussion Skills Proficiency in IT tools - Analytical skills - Good knowledge of the market - Excellent interpersonal skills - Responsiveness and rigor
  • Miniature sacoche Career progression Decision-making project manager - Information systems architect - Independent consultant
  • Pictogramme campus ISC Paris courses Business Data Analyst - Master Project Consulting and Management - MSc Finance and Risk Management

What does a Business Intelligence Manager do?

Every day, a company’s management team makes strategic decisions to steer its business. To make the right choices, it relies on the available data. But this data must be readable.

And that’s where the business intelligence manager, also known as the BI manager, comes in.

Their role is to exploit the company’s data to extract concrete insights that will guide decision-making. To fulfil this mission, they work in three main areas:

  • Identifying the BI needs of the company and/or a project
  • Centralising internal and external data within a single database
  • Implementing ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes to make data readable and useful

The business intelligence manager thus plays a key role in the development of companies, regardless of their size.

Depending on the organisation, they may be referred to as a BI consultant or business analyst.

commissaire aux comptes pointant du doigt des informations sur son ordinateur

What does the job of Business Intelligence Manager involve?

How to become a business intelligence manager?

To become a business intelligence manager, you must have a five-year degree in computer science, data science or data analysis.

Recruiters prefer candidates who have completed work-study programmes, and fluency in English is a sought-after skill in the market.

It is possible to enter the profession with a three-year degree, but experience in the field is generally required.

Three-year degree programmes:

After completing their secondary education, students can pursue a degree in computer science at a university or a Bachelor’s degree in Data Analysis at a business school.

The program offered by ISC Paris provides students with all the fundamentals they need to enter the profession. Taught on the Orléans campus, it is available as a work-study programme from the third year onwards, so that students can gain practical experience, which will be valuable once they graduate.

Five-year degree programmes:

It is also possible to continue your studies with a Master’s degree in Data Science or a Master’s degree in Big Data.

After completing a specialized programme, some future BI managers choose to further their professional development by strengthening their managerial skills with a Master’s in Consulting and Project Management. They can also specialize in marketing with a Master’s in Marketing and Digital Communication.

To advance in the finance sector, it is also possible to complete your studies with a Master’s in Finance.

Trainings to become a Business intelligence manager proposed by ISC Paris

STUDY AT ISC PARIS…
with a Bachelor’s program
STUDY AT ISC PARIS…
with a Master in Project consulting and Management
STUDY AT ISC PARIS…
with MSc in Finance and Risk Management

The main skills of a BI Manager

1) Expertise in programming languages: computer languages hold no secrets for this professional, particularly SQL. The latter allows them to quickly and easily manipulate databases.

2) Proficiency in Business Intelligence tools: on a daily basis, the BI manager uses database management tools (MySQL, SAP HANA, Firebase, etc.) as well as data visualisation solutions (Excel, Power BI, Qlik Sense, etc.).

3) Knowledge of the company: in order to identify BI issues within the company, detect problems and propose solutions, they have extensive knowledge of the company. They know how to lead teams, coordinate the various stakeholders and provide the information needed to guide decisions.

What soft skills do you need to be a Business Intelligence Manager?

  • Analytical and summarising skills
  • Leadership
  • Communication skills
  • Meticulousness
  • Flexibility
  • Rigour
  • Curiosity
étudiante ISC lisant un livre dehors

What are the career opportunities for a business intelligence manager?

During their career, BI managers may choose to transition into roles such as data analyst or data scientist. They may also be eligible for supervisory or management positions.
Here are a few examples:

HOW MUCH DOES A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE MANAGER EARN?
What is the salary of a junior business intelligence manager?
Business intelligence managers earn an average of between €35,000 and €45,000 gross per year, or €2,900 to €3,750 gross per month. Their net monthly salary is therefore between €2,200 and €2,800.
Performance and target bonuses, as well as a 13th month’s salary, may also be added to this remuneration. This variable portion averages €4,000 gross per year.
The skill level of a junior BI manager influences their income. Candidates who have acquired expertise through work-study programmes can expect to be at the higher end of the pay scale.
Salaries offered in Paris are also up to 20% higher than in the rest of France.
HOW MUCH DOES A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE MANAGER EARN?
What is the salary of a senior business intelligence manager?
The remuneration of a senior business intelligence manager with more than five years’ experience varies between €50,000 and €80,000 gross per year. This equates to between €4,150 and €6,600 gross per month, or €2,900 to €4,700 net.
In addition, there is a variable component (performance bonuses, target bonuses, 13th and 14th month bonuses, etc.) averaging €7,000 per year.
The more experience they have, the higher their salary will be. Certain sectors, such as banking and insurance, also tend to offer higher salaries.