Senior Risk Business Analyst

Sun Life Financial; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Life Financial is seeking a Senior Risk Business Analyst to support Archer Risk operations and translate business needs into clear requirements. You will bridge business stakeholders, data enablement, AI, and technology teams, coordinating incidents, enhancements, and risk reporting.

The role focuses on risk controls, compliance, and data quality within an Agile delivery context, while collaborating with vendors and product owners to deliver high-value outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience as a Business Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Product Owner support role, or similar role with increasing responsibility; 7+ years of related experience is preferred for data-heavy or complex delivery environments
• Bachelor’s degree, college diploma, or equivalent practical experience
• Demonstrated experience working in Agile environments such as Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe, including familiarity with Agile ceremonies, backlog refinement, prioritization, and iterative delivery
• Hands-on ability to use JIRA or equivalent Agile delivery tools, including writing or interpreting epics, stories, acceptance criteria, and backlog status information
• Experience supporting Archer applications including workflows, records, data reporting, and end-use support

Responsibilities

• Act as a primary business-facing point of contact for Archer Risk Triage Archer Risk incidents, service requests, data issues, access-related inquiries, and enhancement requests, engaging technology teams and vendors where required
• Develop a detailed understanding of Archer Risk and Archer Shared applications, workflows, data structures, integrations, user roles, and supported business processes
• Lead and facilitate requirement discovery sessions with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring scope, objectives, assumptions, dependencies, risks, and success criteria are understood and documented
• Elicit, analyze, validate, and communicate business, functional, non-functional, data, reporting, and compliance requirements in clear language that supports quality solution delivery
• Collaborate with the Product Owner to define, refine, and prioritize Agile backlog items, including epics, user stories, acceptance criteria, dependencies, business value, and release considerations
• Support Agile ceremonies such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, retrospectives, backlog refinement, and roadmap discussions, with a focus on business readiness and value delivery
• Translate business needs into data attributes, source-to-target mapping considerations, reporting needs, data validation expectations, and data quality requirements where applicable
• Analyze business processes, systems, data flows, and operational pain points to identify opportunities for process improvement, optimization, automation, and innovation
• Develop recommendations and options to address complex business challenges while balancing risk, compliance, stakeholder impact, operational feasibility, and delivery capacity
• Partner with business users, peers, vendors, technology partners, and leadership teams to plan, implement, test, roll out, and support new or enhanced applications and processes
• Review and/or develop high-level designs, test strategies, test plans, user documentation, training material, and rollout plans to confirm alignment with business requirements and desired outcomes
• Triage business requests, gather high-level estimates or sizing input, maintain visibility into delivery priorities, and support regular huddles to track, prioritize, and allocate work effectively
• Identify gaps, risks, interdependencies, and decision points; document mitigation strategies and elevate issues or decisions in a timely and structured manner

Skills

Agile methodologies

Stakeholder management

JIRA

Data analysis

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SQL

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful. When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description

The Senior Risk Business Analyst will make a meaningful contribution to Sun Life’s Corporate Risk Operations team by combining business analysis expertise and business-facing support for the Archer Risk platform. The role will combine technical acumen, risk awareness, and diplomatic facilitation. This role will elicit, analyze, verify, and communicate business, functional, non-functional, data, and reporting requirements to support quality solutions aligned with business objectives and compliance expectations. The successful candidate will act as a bridge between business stakeholders, data enablement partners, artificial intelligence (AI) teams, technology teams, vendors, and the Product Owner. They will support day-to-day Archer Risk operations, investigate and triage Risk user issues, coordinate platform enhancements and releases, and translate Risk business needs into clear requirements. They will also work with the Agile technology team to convert business needs into clear requirements, user stories, data attributes, and delivery-ready backlog items while supporting Agile ceremonies and iterative delivery.

What will you do?

• Act as a primary business-facing point of contact for Archer Risk Triage Archer Risk incidents, service requests, data issues, access-related inquiries, and enhancement requests, engaging technology teams and vendors where required
• Develop a detailed understanding of Archer Risk and Archer Shared applications, workflows, data structures, integrations, user roles, and supported business processes
• Lead and facilitate requirement discovery sessions with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring scope, objectives, assumptions, dependencies, risks, and success criteria are understood and documented
• Elicit, analyze, validate, and communicate business, functional, non-functional, data, reporting, and compliance requirements in clear language that supports quality solution delivery
• Collaborate with the Product Owner to define, refine, and prioritize Agile backlog items, including epics, user stories, acceptance criteria, dependencies, business value, and release considerations
• Support Agile ceremonies such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, retrospectives, backlog refinement, and roadmap discussions, with a focus on business readiness and value delivery
• Apply Agile techniques such as user story mapping, personas, story point estimation, process mapping, and prioritization frameworks to improve stakeholder alignment and delivery quality
• Translate business needs into data attributes, source-to-target mapping considerations, reporting needs, data validation expectations, and data quality requirements where applicable
• Analyze business processes, systems, data flows, and operational pain points to identify opportunities for process improvement, optimization, automation, and innovation
• Develop recommendations and options to address complex business challenges while balancing risk, compliance, stakeholder impact, operational feasibility, and delivery capacity
• Partner with business users, peers, vendors, technology partners, and leadership teams to plan, implement, test, roll out, and support new or enhanced applications and processes
• Review and/or develop high-level designs, test strategies, test plans, user documentation, training material, and rollout plans to confirm alignment with business requirements and desired outcomes
• Triage business requests, gather high-level estimates or sizing input, maintain visibility into delivery priorities, and support regular huddles to track, prioritize, and allocate work effectively
• Identify gaps, risks, interdependencies, and decision points; document mitigation strategies and elevate issues or decisions in a timely and structured manner

Product Owner Support Responsibilities

• Maintain and organize the delivery backlog in JIRA or equivalent tooling, ensuring items are business-ready, appropriately sequenced, and aligned to objectives
• Write, review, and interpret epics, user stories, acceptance criteria, business rules, data requirements, and implementation notes for clarity and completeness
• Support roadmap planning and status updates by preparing concise summaries of progress, risks, blockers, decision needs, and upcoming priorities
• Help ensure backlog items reflect measurable business outcomes, customer impacts, compliance expectations, operational readiness needs, and delivery dependencies
• Facilitate alignment between the Product Owner, business stakeholders, and delivery teams by clarifying expectations, challenging assumptions, and recommending practical alternatives
• Create and update JIRA automation rules and AI agents to increase productivity with business stakeholders, delivery teams, and other key stakeholders
• Understand and monitor budget/expense performance and reporting for variance tracking and explanations.

Risk, Data, and Technology Focus

• Use deep knowledge of risk management, regulatory expectations, and operational controls to partner with business stakeholders in defining, enhancing and implementing effective risk management processes
• Support application risk assessments, risk-based testing, control-related documentation, and operational readiness activities as required
• Work with data enablement and technology partners to understand data lineage, database concepts, source-to-target mapping, data validation, and data quality challenges
• Apply strong analytical judgment to draw conclusions from data, process evidence, stakeholder feedback, and system behavior, then communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences
• Contribute to data transformation, reporting, dashboarding, analytics, and digital solution initiatives where they support risk operations outcomes
• Bring sufficient technical fluency to collaborate effectively with IT partners while keeping role accountability grounded in business analysis, risk operations, and Product Owner support.

What do you need to succeed?

5+ years of progressive experience as a Business Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Product Owner support role, or similar role with increasing responsibility; 7+ years of related experience is preferred for data-heavy or complex delivery environments

Bachelor’s degree, college diploma, or equivalent practical experience

Demonstrated experience working in Agile environments such as Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe, including familiarity with Agile ceremonies, backlog refinement, prioritization, and iterative delivery

Hands‑on ability to use JIRA or equivalent Agile delivery tools, including writing or interpreting epics, stories, acceptance criteria, and backlog status information

Experience working with cross‑functional teams including business users, vendors, development, QA, project managers, data enablement, and technology partners

Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and relationship‑building skills with the ability to communicate clearly across technical and business audiences

Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to assess root causes, identify gaps, develop recommendations, and communicate practical options

Ability to adapt quickly to changing requirements, priorities, and delivery constraints while maintaining clarity, transparency, and momentum

Working knowledge of risk management, compliance expectations, operational controls, data quality, reporting, or financial services / insurance business processes is an asset

Hands‑on experience providing business or application support for Archer applications including workflows, records, data reporting, and end‑use support

Third‑party Risk Management, Technology and Cyber Risk Management, ServiceNow, risk operations, operational risk, control management, or related enterprise risk experience

Data visualization, analytics, reporting, dashboard development, data lake, data warehouse, source‑to‑target mapping, SQL, or data validation experience

BA, BSA, BSC, CBAP, PMI‑PBA, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe training or certification, or demonstrated practical experience with these concepts

Experience supporting AI, automation, workflow, digital transformation, or process optimization initiatives

Experience with customer communication, stakeholder management, matrix organizations, vendors, and multi‑site virtual teams.

What’s in it for you?

We’re proud to be recognized as a company with a 2026 Most Trusted Executive team by Great Place to Work® Canada

Access to short-term assignments or ‘Gigs’ across the organization, to help you develop new skills and connections.

A collaborative and interactive team environment

Charitable giving through our You Give, We Give program lets you give back to your community – and in many cases, we’ll match your contributions.

Care Days available for self‑care or care of others (i.e., family or others you may support) and Sick Days to support your well‑being.

*LI-MS The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors.

In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance.

Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues.

We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e‑mail a request to [e-mail].

We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you.

We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.

Salary Range: 85,000/85 000 - 128,000/128 000

Job Category: Risk Management

Posting End Date: 14/10/2026

Shine together At Sun Life, you can be your most brilliant self. Our supportive, flexible, and inclusive work environment is one where you – and your career – can thrive. Whatever your aspirations, collaborative leaders and colleagues are ready to help you learn, grow, and succeed. Make life brighter We’re a global company with a passion for people. Our purpose is to help Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. As a team of 30,000 across 26 countries, our impact is far-reaching, and locally relevant There’s power in numbers. As part of Sun Life’s growing team, you have an impact on people in your community and around the world. Shape the future With an optimistic eye on a brighter future, we drive to innovate. Be part of leading change, push boundaries and try new ways of working. Use data to drive bold actions. Be agile and pivot as we test and learn. At Sun Life, we’re driving transformation, sustainability and innovation for our Clients, employees, partners, and communities.