What does a purchasing analyst do?

A purchasing analyst reviews buying habits to identify ways a company or organization can save money. Job duties include working with buyers to collect information about vendors, goods, and services, evaluating the quality and value of existing contracts, preparing reports on purchasing metrics to share with a purchasing manager, and maintaining a current database of vendors. Qualifications for this career include a bachelor's degree in economics or finance and relevant work experience. Strong analytical skills and an understanding of business finance are also important to have to be an effective purchasing analyst.