Business systems professionals play a key role in the IT function of major companies and public sector organisations, as they handle the implementation and administration of vital systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and business intelligence software.
As all jobs in this field require highly-skilled staff, most people who work in the sector are educated to at least degree level in computer science, physics, mathematics or computer systems engineering. They usually begin their careers as graduate trainees in development or database administration, before specialising in an area of business systems.
ERP solutions, such as SAP, Oracle E-Business Suite, Baan and BPCS, can be used to plan and manage many crucial business functions, including accounting, human resources, manufacturing and procurement. As such, there is high demand for the technical skills and jobs are usually filled by specialist IT recruitment agencies.
Developers, support staff and analysts working either in-house or for IT outsourcing firms can expect to earn between £35,000 and £50,000 a year, while project managers can be paid in excess of £70,000. Staff with skills in Oracle, SAP, Siebel or Peoplesoft CRM systems, or related business intelligence tools, are equally as sought after and permanent jobs attract similar salaries to those earned by ERP specialists.
Some experienced staff prefer to seek employment on a short-term contract basis, as this type of temporary work is often better paid than a permanent job. The daily rates for developers range from £200 to £450, while project managers handling implementations can earn £600 a day.
37 Recruitment Agencies who recruit for "Business Systems (ERP CRM)" listed