Business Analyst

Armstrong Watson; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Annual leave entitlement

Smart working policy

Health insurance

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Armstrong Watson LLP in Carlisle is seeking a Business Analyst to work across Service Lines within the Technology team, focusing on identifying and implementing process improvements and AI-enabled solutions. You will map end-to-end processes, define requirements, and support delivery with the Technology team.

The role involves stakeholder engagement, workshops, and collaboration to achieve measurable efficiency gains and improved client service.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Business Analyst / Process Analyst / Business Systems Analyst.
• Strong facilitation skills with workshops and stakeholder interviews.
• Ability to document processes clearly and translate into requirements.

Responsibilities

• Stakeholder engagement & discovery across Service Lines and support functions.
• Map end-to-end processes and produce As-Is/To-Be diagrams.
• Identify automation opportunities and support AI-enabled workflows.
• Define requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, and benefits cases.
• Coordinate testing, training, and rollout; track benefits and outcomes.
• Maintain process documentation and enable knowledge sharing.

Skills

Business Analysis

Facilitation

Process mapping

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Clear communication

Education

Desirable: BCS/IIBA Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Business Analyst

Department: Technology

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Carlisle

Reporting To: helen atkinson

Description

About Us

Build something exceptional, with us...

Our ambition is clear and openly bold.

Armstrong Watson is on a journey to more than double our turnover by 2030, through disciplined organic growth, the attraction of outstanding talent, and the selective acquisition of like‑minded firms.

But growth alone is not the goal.

Reputation is.

And reputation is earned, not inherited.

Our strategic intent is simple to say and hard to deliver.

To become the most respected adviser to privately owned businesses in the North and the UK.

The firm business owners talk about.

The firm lawyers and bankers recommend without hesitation.

To achieve this, we are building the best Accounting and Financial Advisory firm to deal with, not just in the North, but across the UK. Exceptional service, deep expertise, trusted relationships, and absolute reliability define everything we do. These are not slogans; they are standards we hold ourselves to every day.

At our core, we exist for one reason, to help our clients achieve prosperity, a secure future, and peace of mind.

This strategy sets the direction.

Our people, our values‑led culture, and our standards will deliver it.

We are looking for people who want more than the next job. People who care deeply about:

• Standards and professionalism
• Doing work they are proud to put their name to
• Building long‑term client relationships
• Being part of a firm with real momentum and intent

If you want to grow with a business that is ambitious, values‑driven, and serious about excellence, Armstrong Watson offers opportunity and expectation in equal measure.

What you will find here:

• A firm with clear direction and momentum
• Clients who value advice and relationships
• Colleagues who care about doing things properly
• A culture built on Passion, Trust, Humanity and Honesty
• Genuine opportunity to shape your career as the firm grows

This is our moment, and our vision is clear, to build something genuinely remarkable.

The Role

This position will work across all Service Lines and support functions to identify, design, and implement process improvements, workflow automation, and AI-enabled solutions. The role will partner closely with Service Line Heads, and the wider Technology Team, to deliver measurable efficiencies, improved client service, and scalable ways of working.

The overall purpose of the position is to enable greater productivity and consistency across the firm by mapping end-to-end processes, identifying automation opportunities, defining requirements, and supporting delivery of workflow automation and AI-enabled solutions.

Key responsibilities will include:

Stakeholder Engagement & Discovery

• Planning and facilitating discovery workshops, interviews and working sessions across Service Lines and support functions
• Eliciting and clarifying pain points, constraints, risks, data needs, and desired outcomes
• Building trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels and maintaining clear communication throughout delivery

Process Analysis & Documentation

• Documenting end-to-end processes using appropriate mapping techniques (e.g. flowcharts, swimlanes and BPMN)
• Producing clear “As-Is” and “To-Be” process maps, including decision points, exceptions, controls, and handoffs
• Identifying inefficiencies, duplication, bottlenecks, rework, and control gaps; and recommending pragmatic improvements

Automation & AI Enablement

• Identifying and assessing opportunities for workflow automation, task automation, and system integration
• Collaborating with the Technology Team to translate business needs into implementable solutions and backlogs
• Supporting the adoption of AI tools (e.g. Copilot / GenAI-enabled workflows) to improve drafting, summarisation, triage, search, and reporting
• Defining guardrails for AI usage in line with firm policies, data protection, and client confidentiality

Requirements, Delivery Support & Benefits

• Defining requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, success measures, and benefits cases;
• Supporting solution design, prioritisation and delivery planning with Technology and other Service Lines
• Co-ordinating and / or supporting with testing (UAT), training, communications, and rollout activities
• Tracking benefits and outcomes (time saved, error reduction, cycle-time improvements, client experience uplift)

Continuous Improvement & Knowledge Management

• Maintaining process documentation and ensuring solutions are operationalised and owned by the firm
• Identifying opportunities to standardise and reuse patterns across Service Lines (templates, workflows, prompts, controls)
• Contributing to a pipeline of automation / AI opportunities and supporting with continuous improvement governance

Please note that we will not be accepting candidates from agency suppliers in connection with this vacancy.

The Candidate

In order to fulfil the responsibilities of the position, we would like candidates to be / have:

Essential

• Proven experience as a Business Analyst / Process Analyst / Business Systems Analyst or similar role
• Strong facilitation skills with experience running workshops and stakeholder interviews
• Ability to document processes clearly (As-Is / To-Be) and translate them into requirements
• Demonstrable experience working with technology / IT teams to deliver change
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to tailor messaging for different audiences
• Comfortable working across multiple Service Lines and managing competing priorities

Desirable

• Experience in professional services (accountancy, legal, consulting, financial services)
• Experience with workflow automation, RPA, low-code platforms and / or system integrations
• Exposure to AI tools (e.g. Microsoft Copilot) and AI-enabled productivity practices
• Familiarity with Agile delivery (user stories, backlog management) and / or Lean / Six Sigma methods
• Relevant qualifications (e.g. BCS Business Analysis, IIBA, Lean Six Sigma

The Benefits

In return for your hard work helping us shape our future growth and development; we will provide a competitive salary and a positive benefits package which includes:

• Salary Sacrifice Employer Contribution Pension Scheme including Life Cover (4x salary) and Income Protection
• Competitive Annual Leave entitlement & Annual Leave Purchase Scheme allowing you to buy up to 5 additional days annual leave each year
• Smart Working Policy, giving you the ability to balance home and remote working
• Health Shield Cash Plan (cash back on a range of Health benefits and discounts on holidays, fashion and entertainment)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential support for wellbeing and health)
• Paid flu jabs and eye tests
• Introductory Commission Scheme (financial reward if you refer a new client)
• Employee Referral Scheme (financial reward if you refer new AW colleagues) enabling you to claim up to £2,500 for each referral
• Investment towards Continuous Professional Development (CPD), which includes access to comprehensive training courses and materials
• Paid professional membership fees

In addition to all the benefits you would expect from an award winning employer, you will be given the utmost encouragement and support to develop your career further.

When you're with us... we're with you.