A business analyst (BA) acts as a bridge between IT and business, helping organizations improve processes, products, and services to meet their goals. Key responsibilities include requirements gathering, process mapping, stakeholder management, and solution design, while essential skills encompass analytical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. The role involves various methodologies such as waterfall, agile, lean, and six sigma, utilizing tools like Excel, BPMN, and Jira for effective analysis and reporting.