Principal Analyst I

Western Alliance Bank•Block, IL

About The Position

As a Principal Analyst I, you'll be supporting the Lending segment specifically the Regional Banking organization and play a key leadership role in advancing major business and technology initiatives that strengthen operational effectiveness and improve performance outcomes. You’ll leverage deep process and data expertise to evaluate current operating models, identify constraints, determine root causes, and uncover opportunities that accelerate strategic goals. In this role, you’ll lead the development, review, and maintenance of key artifacts that accurately represent current state processes, practices, and operational metrics, while shaping future state capabilities grounded in business value. You’ll guide cross functional stakeholders through complex problem solving, provide data driven recommendations, and drive the implementation of solutions that deliver measurable results. Additionally, you’ll assess alternative process options, evaluate their impact on KRIs, KPIs, and operational metrics, and ensure enhancements are monitored and communicated using quantitative measures. As a strategic partner to business and technology teams, you’ll engage with subject matter experts across the enterprise to clarify problem statements, align on opportunities, and secure approvals for ongoing stewardship of key performance and risk indicators that support the continued growth of the Lending segment and its Regional Banking organization. Define and execute a value‑driven development strategy grounded in business vision and human‑centric design. Maintain strong business domain knowledge to translate requirements into clear, actionable solutions. Drive quality through consistent tracking, product evaluation, and adherence to SDLC expectations. Create and manage key artifacts such as business cases, capability maps, data dictionaries, wireframes, ADO backlogs, KPI dashboards, and test strategies. Oversee end‑to‑end testing and validation to ensure solution readiness and alignment with business goals. Lead on programs and expected to lead activities to ensure that both the business outcomes of the project are achieved as well as the outcomes are aligned to our business strategy. This position will also define the work breakdown structure for all involved teams, by setting and meeting deadlines for that work, lead discussions to gather requirements and review artifacts, while working to resolve issues that impede progress. Develop list of critical documentation and artifacts to meet project objectives, complete of high-quality deliverables, and effectively communicate learnings, findings, impacts, and next steps with subject matter experts or project stakeholders. Use deep understanding of Microsoft Office tools, Diagramming Software (e.g. Lucid, Visio, etc.), and/or other appropriate technical tools in review of Banking processes, functions, or organizational models within a specific domain or functional area utilizing critical thinking skills and strong communication skills to develop clear and concise narratives or communications. Leverage Risk Management experience from a large financial institution subject to heightened standards, specifically in risk, compliance, or corporate governance.

Requirements

8+ years of related experience.
Bachelor's degree in related field required; Masters or MBA in related field preferred.
Very good understanding of ADIm Lucid, Confluence, Power BI, Excel with macros.
Advanced to expert knowledge of general Financial Services or Banking is preferred.
Advanced to expert knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
Advanced to expert in process and data analysis within one or two domains or functional areas with deep critical thinking skills.
Experience working as a SME across one or two domains or functional areas.
Advanced to expert experience in leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously with an established expertise in one or more key domains of the bank (Deposits, Loans, Operations or Reporting)with the ability to walk through top level process design.
Capable of working with regulatory partners like the CFPB, OCC and FRB through audits and collaboration efforts as situations arise.
Advanced to expert familiarity with the capability model across IT and the applications and infrastructures available for engagement in solutioning across the bank to develop results that leverage existing capabilities in addition to implementing new solutions when required.
Experience in the design, enhancement and compliance to all governance frameworks across the IT organization to ensure proper compliance to published procedures and standards.
Advanced speaking and writing communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Previous leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, review, and maintenance of key artifacts that accurately represent current state processes, practices, and operational metrics, while shaping future state capabilities grounded in business value.
Guide cross functional stakeholders through complex problem solving, provide data driven recommendations, and drive the implementation of solutions that deliver measurable results.
Assess alternative process options, evaluate their impact on KRIs, KPIs, and operational metrics, and ensure enhancements are monitored and communicated using quantitative measures.
Define and execute a value‑driven development strategy grounded in business vision and human‑centric design.
Maintain strong business domain knowledge to translate requirements into clear, actionable solutions.
Drive quality through consistent tracking, product evaluation, and adherence to SDLC expectations.
Create and manage key artifacts such as business cases, capability maps, data dictionaries, wireframes, ADO backlogs, KPI dashboards, and test strategies.
Oversee end‑to-end testing and validation to ensure solution readiness and alignment with business goals.
Lead on programs and expected to lead activities to ensure that both the business outcomes of the project are achieved as well as the outcomes are aligned to our business strategy.
Define the work breakdown structure for all involved teams, by setting and meeting deadlines for that work, lead discussions to gather requirements and review artifacts, while working to resolve issues that impede progress.
Develop list of critical documentation and artifacts to meet project objectives, complete of high-quality deliverables, and effectively communicate learnings, findings, impacts, and next steps with subject matter experts or project stakeholders.
Use deep understanding of Microsoft Office tools, Diagramming Software (e.g. Lucid, Visio, etc.), and/or other appropriate technical tools in review of Banking processes, functions, or organizational models within a specific domain or functional area utilizing critical thinking skills and strong communication skills to develop clear and concise narratives or communications.
Leverage Risk Management experience from a large financial institution subject to heightened standards, specifically in risk, compliance, or corporate governance.