Data & Automation Specialist

MCS Group; Armagh; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

MCS Group in Northern Ireland is seeking a Data & Automation Specialist to join a business-improvement and AI delivery team. The role intersects data, automation and AI, collaborating with the Operations Director to identify inefficient processes and deliver technology-led improvements.

You will work across finance, operations and other functions to automate manual tasks, build Power BI dashboards and develop AI-enabled use cases.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering process improvements, reporting solutions or workflow automations.
• Strong hands-on experience with Power BI.
• Working knowledge of SQL and the ability to interrogate and validate business data.
• Strong Excel skills, particularly where you have improved or replaced spreadsheet-led processes.
• Experience using Power Automate or another workflow automation platform.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to take a business problem and translate it into a practical technical solution.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence working with non-technical teams.
• Experience managing improvements from requirements gathering through to implementation.
• An understanding of AI tools and their potential application within a business environment, including the importance of data quality, validation and appropriate data handling.

Responsibilities

• Understand processes across finance, operations and other functions to identify automation opportunities.
• Translate business requirements into practical technical solutions.
• Build automated workflows with Power Automate or similar technologies.
• Develop and maintain Power BI dashboards and reporting solutions.
• Use SQL to extract, validate and analyze data from business systems.
• Coordinate testing, documentation, training and implementation of new solutions.
• Manage a prioritised programme of improvement initiatives and measure impact.
• Work with IT and external partners on integrations and system enhancements.

Skills

Power BI

SQL

Excel

Workflow automation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Tools

Power Automate

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

APIs or scripting

Job description

Data & Automation Specialist - Business Improvement & AI

Location: Magheralin
Working arrangement: On-site, five days per week
Reporting to: Operations Director

An established Northern Ireland business is looking to appoint a Data & Automation Specialist as part of continued investment in its systems, data and wider digital transformation.

This is a newly focused role sitting at the intersection of data, business improvement, automation and AI. You will work directly with the Operations Director and stakeholders across the organisation to identify inefficient processes and deliver practical technology-led improvements.

This is not purely a reporting or data analyst position. The focus is on understanding how the business operates and then using Power BI, SQL, automation and emerging AI tools to make it work better.

The role

You will work across finance, operations and other business functions to understand existing processes, identify areas of manual effort and determine where technology can make a measurable difference.

That could mean replacing a spreadsheet-heavy process with an automated workflow, improving the quality of operational reporting, building a Power BI dashboard or identifying a practical use case for AI.

You will have ownership from initial requirements gathering and process analysis through to building or coordinating the solution, testing it and supporting users through implementation.

Key responsibilities

• Work with stakeholders across the business to understand processes, challenges and areas for improvement.
• Review and document existing workflows and translate business requirements into practical solutions.
• Identify repetitive, manual or spreadsheet-heavy processes that can be improved through automation.
• Build and implement automated workflows using Power Automate or similar technologies.
• Develop and maintain Power BI dashboards and reporting solutions.
• Use SQL to extract, validate and analyse data from business systems.
• Improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of information across the organisation.
• Explore practical applications of AI and emerging technologies within existing business processes.
• Assess potential AI use cases based on accuracy, data requirements, business value and suitability.
• Work alongside internal IT and external technology partners on integrations, system enhancements and application changes.
• Coordinate testing, documentation, training and implementation of new solutions.
• Manage a prioritised programme of improvement initiatives and measure the impact of changes delivered.

What we're looking for

We're interested in people from data analytics, business improvement, automation, business systems or technology transformation backgrounds who can combine analytical thinking with hands‑on delivery.

You should bring:

• Experience delivering process improvements, reporting solutions or workflow automations.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Power BI.
• Working knowledge of SQL and the ability to interrogate and validate business data.
• Strong Excel skills, particularly where you have improved or replaced spreadsheet-led processes.
• Experience using Power Automate or another workflow automation platform.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to take a business problem and translate it into a practical technical solution.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence working with non‑technical teams.
• Experience managing improvements from requirements gathering through to implementation.
• An understanding of AI tools and their potential application within a business environment, including the importance of data quality, validation and appropriate data handling.

Desirable experience

Experience in any of the following would be particularly useful:

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or other ERP/CRM platforms.
• Finance, order management, stock control, retail or distribution processes.
• Implementing AI‑enabled workflows or business process automation.
• Integrating data across multiple business systems.
• Power Apps.
• APIs or scripting.
• Previous experience within technology, analytics or transformation consulting.

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to take a broad role with direct exposure to senior leadership and the ability to influence how technology is used across the organisation.

Rather than inheriting a narrow reporting remit, you'll have the scope to look across the business, identify where improvements can be made and then help deliver them.

For someone who enjoys combining data analysis, Power BI, automation, AI and business problem‑solving, this offers the chance to take genuine ownership of improvement initiatives and see the impact of the solutions you deliver.