Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst in the Projects Team within IT, you will provide business analysis across a number of projects in the firm, leading and undertaking formal analysis and validation of requirements for new systems and enhancements to existing systems. In the role, you will be required to undertake aspects of project management where required in order to deliver change, so you will ideally have an awareness of the principles of project management and hands-on experience. This role reports to the Head of Project Delivery.

The Business Analyst will elicit and understand business requirements and processes; translate ideas and requirements into clearly articulated definitions for projects; ensure clarity on scope and that approved projects remain on track to meet requirements and deliver the anticipated value.

In addition, the role will work with the Head of Project Delivery and the wider team to establish a structured and best practice approach to business analysis.

You will be responsible for business analysis within multiple projects to enable successful business change; driving adoption of technology solutions within the firm. The main duties of the role consist of:

• Elicit and manage business analysis activities across a variety of significant business-led technology programmes and projects, working with key stakeholders to elicit requirements for new and existing systems;



• Initial feasibility assessments of project requests to determine high level requirements and solution design options;



• Liaise with stakeholders at all levels as well as technical experts to define and develop solutions that meet the business' needs within the overall context of the firm's strategy. Ensure that all stakeholders are clear on the project vision and maintain focus on project scope;



• Design, prepare and facilitate stakeholder workshops, reviewing requirements and processes and identifying improvements in efficiencies;



• Ensuring requirements are succinctly documented assisting all stakeholders involved in each project to ensure that they are clear on their deliverables and responsibilities;



• Assist with the production of feasibility assessments and business cases for new project requests, determining costs, impacts, risks and viability of the proposed changes;



• Acting as the conduit between developers and business stakeholders. Creating specifications for the developers (whether internal or supplier/ external), planning and managing requirements backlog, testing, bug fixes and software/ system releases'



• Although the role will predominantly be business analysis focused, you may be required to project manage workstreams or small projects, planning and scheduling, documenting and running project meetings and autonomously driving projects from inception through to completion;



• Identifying and managing the broader change management aspects of projects, e.g. changes in the business environment; necessary adjustments for the firm's needs; training plans for impacted staff on the planned changes;



• Supporting the IT Director and Head of Project Delivery to agree and communicate the status of projects;



• Regularly communicate status updates on assigned projects to various stakeholders at all levels of the business;



• Collaboration with external resources - where appropriate, keep track of external resources within your projects, ensuring that the needs and requirements of the firm are met; efficiently, on time and on budget to suitable quality standards;



• Assist the wider Projects Team with improvement of project documentation and governance of IT projects;



• Information Security - ensure that the project teams consider and prioritise the information security requirements of every project you run.
  
  Proven experience in a role of this nature working in a legal or comparable professional services environment;



• In-depth knowledge of business analysis tools and techniques, including document analysis, process mapping, structured questioning, gap analysis and mind mapping;



• Excellent engagement skills, including facilitation, mediating and presenting, are essential.



• Excellent stakeholder management and analysis skills are essential.



• Proven track record of system implementation projects from inception to closure;



• Willingness to be flexible in the delivery approach depending on the requirements and timescale;



• Excellent facilitation skills to be able to hold successful workshops and elicit requirements;



• Ability to turn complex concepts into concise and comprehensive language tailored to meet the needs of your audience;



• Excellent practical understanding of project management techniques, methods and tools;



• Desirable: Experience of IT project management from inception and sign off to a successful service transition;



• Experience of documenting business processes and translating them into technical solutions, utilising the experience of others to develop appropriate solutions and improve your experience;



• Ability to quickly identify projects that may be at risk, with the ability to develop and suggest plans for mitigation;



• Ability to quickly gain visibility within the firm to help build relationships, manage expectations within all stakeholder groups;



• Experience of using requirements management tools and systems is beneficial;



• Experience of legal processes and systems in a similar environment is desirable.