Business Continuity Analyst
Business continuity planners assess risks to the ongoing operation of businesses and make plans to mitigate, transfer or accept those risks. For example, businesses that handle personal financial transactions online may be susceptible to computer hackers. Business continuity planners recommend ways to reduce company risks and provide step-by-step instructions that assist employees to recover operations back to normal as efficiently as possible should the risk become a reality.
Larger organizations may need business continuity plans for several types of risks, (for example, computer system failure, leaked client information, epidemic, natural disaster).
In general, business continuity planners:
In times of crisis, business continuity planners:
Business continuity planners work in offices. When co-ordinating responses to business disruptions they may work a considerable amount of overtime including evenings and weekends in locations that are offsite or related to the disruption.
Business continuity planners need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy analyzing organizational methods and conducting research, taking charge of situations, and providing critical assessments and constructive advice. This includes presenting findings and recommendations to decision makers, and responding to criticism.
Most emerging occupations develop from more than one occupation so business continuity planners may come from a variety of education and training backgrounds. Prior to enrolling in an education program, prospective students should contact associations and employers in this field to investigate education options and employment possibilities.
Employers generally prefer to hire applicants who have several years of related experience in addition to a bachelor's degree in business administration, finance or information technology and certification in business continuity planning. Project management skills are a definite asset.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
DRI Canada offers four levels of certification for Business Continuity Professionals. Certification as an Associate Business Continuity Professional requires successful completion of an exam.The following three certifications require applications be reviewed by DRI's Certification Commission, two or more years of experience, references and experience in professional practice subject areas:
Emerging occupations typically are the result of:
Often there are too few people working in an emerging occupation to gather survey information. Therefore, it can be difficult to define advancement opportunities or employment outlook. Some Albertans already are working in this emerging occupation but future demand for business continuity planners is unknown.
Business continuity planners may be self-employed or employed by:
Business continuity planners are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 1122: Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management. In Alberta, 75% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Often there are too few people working in an emerging occupation to gather survey information. Therefore, no current salary data is available for this occupation.
Salary data is available for the larger National Occupational Classification 1122: Professional occupations in business management consulting as part of the 2015 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $29.33 | $67.07 | $47.08 | $51.06 |
| Overall | $37.02 | $72.60 | $53.20 | $55.77 |
| Top | $45.86 | $89.42 | $64.67 | $68.00 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Business Continuity Institute (BCI) Canada: www.bcicanada.org
DRI Canada website: www.dri.ca
For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.
Updated Feb 01, 2012. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.