Business Analyst 4

Sammons Financial Group • Chicago, IL

13h

About The Position

The Business Analyst investigates and identifies options for improving business systems, connecting business needs with IT. The role performs business analysis activities and serves as a liaison among stakeholders across business units to achieve objectives using different project methodologies. It is accountable for initiatives involving multiple business functions and potentially high levels of business risk and complexity.

The role leads analysis from ideation through implementation, working with business partners, product owners, project and agile teams, technical development staff, Quality Assurance, consultants, and vendors. It develops analysis approaches, lean business cases, requirements, user stories, diagrams, acceptance criteria, and related documentation; analyzes current and future-state processes and systems; and supports scope, risk, change, testing, issue management, and process improvement. The analyst also helps establish and improve business analysis standards, mentors others, and contributes to professional development and collaboration across Sammons Financial Group member companies.

Requirements

• At least 6 years of appropriate work experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong questioning and listening skills and the ability to understand impacts across the organization.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply knowledge of SFG member company systems, business, and technology processes.
• Ability to lead teams and resolve conflicts in problem solving and decision making using emotional intelligence.
• Ability to handle complex situations holistically and make decisions and solve problems confidently.
• Ability to work on large-scale strategic initiatives across business units and serve as lead business analyst on a team of analysts.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to research, formulate analytical technology approaches, or resolve problem situations.
• Ability to independently perform data mining and apply analysis techniques.
• Teamwork skills and ability to communicate and work effectively with people of varied personalities, levels, and locations.
• Self-motivated ability to work independently and effectively under deadline pressure.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Deep understanding of work simplification, workflow, process analysis, and related concepts and techniques.
• Proficient use of Microsoft products and other business analysis tools as necessary.
• Ability and willingness to change in support of the best possible organizational results.
• Ability to create diagrams using appropriate tools and present them to teams and stakeholders.
• Proven problem-solving, decision-making, and process-thinking skills.
• Ability to remain flexible and adjust to multiple tasks and circumstances.
• Ability to work with a variety of people at all organizational levels.
• Criminal background check required.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field from a four-year accredited university; consideration may be given to business analysis experience, certifications, and financial services background.
• At least 5 years of experience facilitating formal process improvement activities.
• Previous business analysis or leadership experience in the financial services industry.
• Robust knowledge of business analysis skills, techniques, and competencies; industry certifications are preferred.
• Previous experience working within an Agile framework.
• Familiarity with Agile frameworks and regression testing.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, Aha!, and Azure DevOps.

Responsibilities

• Act as a liaison among project teams, agile teams, product owners, stakeholders, business users, and IT on initiatives, enhancements, technical capabilities, and production support.
• Develop business analysis plans and approaches, create lean business cases, gather requirements, and produce user stories, diagrams, and acceptance criteria.
• Define organizational goals for assigned work and identify requirements through strategic partnerships, collaboration, and investigation.
• Analyze current-state processes and systems using data-flow diagrams, functional decomposition, interviews, metrics, and key performance indicators.
• Define future-state technical initiatives, including hardware and software upgrades and system conversions, and advocate for stakeholder needs.
• Apply techniques such as user stories, use cases, and diagrams to document requirements.
• Work with business partners and product owners to define requirements, refine backlogs, establish acceptance criteria, and assess impacts.
• Facilitate and document abstract enterprise capability maturity models and structured process improvement activities, such as Value Stream Mapping.
• Define business, stakeholder, functional, non-functional, and transition requirements.
• Confirm requirements with technical development staff and Quality Assurance, and collaborate on technical design and test planning.
• Manage initiative scope and risks by recommending and negotiating solutions and communicating with project managers, scrum masters, and product owners.
• Identify risks, drive solutions, and coordinate mitigation with teams and stakeholders.
• Participate in initiatives involving external consultants, adapting communication styles and processes as needed.
• Manage customer-facing issues and oversee escalation and assignment of issues related to business requirements delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems and recommend changes that produce results.
• Drive initiatives from ideation through implementation, follow up with stakeholders to confirm objectives, and adapt to changing tasks and circumstances.
• Keep documentation current and compliant with internal control requirements for content and approval.
• Manage change throughout initiatives by communicating with teams, evaluating impacts, updating documentation, and negotiating alternatives.
• Develop and mentor others on business analysis standards and review and edit standard operating procedures for SFG member companies.
• Foster effective partnerships and collaboration with peers and vendor resources, and cultivate relationships with business partners, team members, industry contacts, and vendors.
• Support long-term working relationships and drive career development planning and learning opportunities.
• Pursue industry, technology, and job-related education; increase knowledge of insurance and business processes; share information with peers and managers; and continually upgrade technology skills.
• Promote analysis and technology best practices and improve efficiency and quality in initiatives and the business analysis discipline.
• Demonstrate critical, quality-oriented, skeptical thinking about the product and uphold Sammons Financial Group Companies' shared values.
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality in accordance with company policy.
• Participate in other initiatives and projects as necessary.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, HSA and FSA options, and term life insurance.
• Competitive compensation with a performance-based incentive program tied to goals and individual and/or company success.
• A 100% company-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and automatic enrollment in a 401(k).
• Friday afternoons off year-round, generous paid time off, and paid holidays.
• Paid development time, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities across industry, individual, and leadership programs.
• Volunteer time off and a company nonprofit matching gift program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed