Replace spreadsheet reporting
Multiple files and manual copying delay monthly reporting. Preparation, modelling and reporting are connected into an agreed refresh workflow.
External expertise for companies
Power BI developers for reports that work in day-to-day operations
Your dashboard is slow, DAX metrics disagree or reports still circulate as files? A Power BI developer builds and improves models, reports and refresh processes around your users and data sources.
VB Analyst adds capacity to your BI team for modelling, report development or focused improvements to existing Power BI solutions.
Your starting point
When a reporting idea needs to become a usable BI product.
Correct DAX results
Totals disagree with detail views. Relationships, filter context and measures are checked against business control cases.
Improve slow reports
Visuals are sluggish or models have grown unnecessarily large. Model structure, queries and measures are examined for bottlenecks before changes are made.
Distribute reports securely
Teams should see only the data intended for them. Roles, workspaces and RLS are aligned with the access design and tested from a user perspective.
Take over existing reports
The original developer has left and changes are risky. Dependencies, refresh and calculations are documented so your team can maintain the solution.
Tasks & responsibilities
Connect the data model, report and operation.
Prepare data with Power Query
Connect sources, correct data types and structure transformation steps for reliable refresh.
Develop the semantic model
Model facts, dimensions, relationships and date logic around reporting needs.
Implement DAX measures
Calculate metrics and time comparisons, checking them across filter contexts.
Design for report users
Align navigation, drillthrough and visuals with typical questions and workflows.
Configure access and refresh
Coordinate permissions, source credentials and any gateway requirements with your administrators.
Check performance and changes
Isolate slow queries and validate report changes against defined control cases.
Specialist expertise
Power Query, DAX and permissions through to publication.
| Competency | What the specialist should be able to do |
|---|---|
| Power Query / M | Understand data types, transformations, parameters and query-folding limitations; account for source refresh behaviour. |
| Semantic model | Align facts, dimensions, date logic, cardinalities and filter directions with reporting needs. |
| DAX | Understand filter and row context, time comparisons and non-additive metrics; explain totals in business terms. |
| Report navigation | Derive filters, drillthrough, navigation and visuals from user questions, with readable and clear labels. |
| Access control | Validate RLS against user mappings and workspace roles, including tests with restricted user accounts. |
| Refresh and operation | Understand source credentials, gateway dependencies and refresh failures; assess Import and DirectQuery appropriately. |
| Performance and releases | Investigate model, DAX and visual bottlenecks separately; validate changes with control cases before production publication. |
Development
The developer builds the agreed model and reports. Metric definitions, tenant policies and data approval need named owners.
Post-publication support
Managed operation needs refresh monitoring, incident handling, change scope and gateway/source ownership. Licensing and capacity need separate clarification.
Specialist detail when you need it
Explore the relevant tools
Possible deliverables
A report package that can be refreshed and verified.
Examples of outputs that can be agreed. Your project scope determines which are included.
Power BI report package
Semantic model, DAX measures and report pages aligned with user questions, including documented data sources.
DAX and model correction
Revised measures or relationships, with before-and-after checks of defined filter cases, detail values and totals.
Performance improvement package
Measure representative report interactions, prioritise changes and remeasure under comparable conditions.
Publication and handover
Validated refresh, tested user roles and guidance on dependencies and changes for your administrators.
The right specialist profile
New builds, DAX corrections or performance: choose the right depth.
New build or repair?
A new build needs modelling and requirements experience. Repairing a slow or incorrect model places greater weight on DAX and performance analysis.
Developer or platform owner?
A report package may need a developer familiar with its sources. Tenant governance and enterprise-wide BI architecture require additional ownership.
Remote with access to the right environment
Development can often be remote. It needs appropriate development access, a business contact and an agreed publishing process.
Your next step
Build your assignment brief.
Select only what you already know. You can clarify everything else in conversation.
VB Analyst
Commission reports against real user questions.
- Measurable scope
- Reports, data sources, user groups and business control cases form the basis of scoping.
- Check figures and access
- Together we define how KPI values, refresh and intended user roles should be checked.
- Enable future development
- Model ownership, documentation and the route for future changes are agreed before handover.