Principal Business Analyst

Practicus; Marlow; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Practicus is seeking a Principal Business Analyst to join a highly regulated, collaborative Business Change function in the United Kingdom. You will own complex, organisation-wide change programs, influence senior stakeholders and mentor other BAs throughout the full project lifecycle.

You will shape approach to major transformation initiatives and work closely with Project/Product managers and technology teams to translate business needs into practical solutions, ensuring successful adoption of

Qualifications

• 5+ years' Business Analysis experience.
• Background within Financial Services.
• Experience across Agile, Waterfall and hybrid delivery environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Confident presenting to senior/C‑suite stakeholders.
• Experience managing third‑party relationships.
• The ability to lead, influence and bring structure to complex change.

Responsibilities

• Lead business analysis across complex, high‑risk and large‑scale change initiatives.
• Analyse business problems, opportunities, processes and systems to identify improvements.
• Lead workshops and facilitate requirements gathering with diverse stakeholders.
• Define and document high‑level and detailed business requirements.
• Undertake impact assessments and identify operational, technical and process gaps.
• Develop business cases, change proposals and supporting documentation.
• Contribute to business architecture, strategic alignment and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with technology teams throughout solution design, development and implementation.
• Support system, user and operational acceptance testing.
• Help ensure business change is successfully implemented and adopted.
• Influence stakeholders across multiple functions and levels, including senior leadership.
• Provide guidance, mentoring and quality oversight to other Business Analysts.
• On smaller initiatives, operate across both BA and project delivery responsibilities.

Skills

Business Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Requirements Gathering

Communication

Analytical Thinking

Commercial Awareness

Leadership / Influence

Problem Solving

Ambiguity Tolerance

Independent Working

Education

Business Analysis / Business Architecture qualification

Job description

*Please note you have to have financial services experience for your application to be considered*

We’re partnering with a highly established, regulated organisation to appoint an experienced Principal Business Analyst into a growing Business Change function.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a commercially minded BA who enjoys working on complex, organisation-wide change, influencing senior stakeholders and taking ownership from initial problem definition through to implementation.

You’ll join a collaborative Business Analysis team and play a key role in shaping how the organisation approaches major transformation initiatives, while also providing guidance and mentoring to other BAs.

The Opportunity:

As Principal Business Analyst, you’ll take ownership of complex, long‑term projects spanning technology, operations, data and business change.

You’ll work closely with Project and Product Managers, technology teams and senior business stakeholders to understand challenges, define requirements and translate business needs into practical solutions.

The role is particularly suited to someone who enjoys being hands‑on and involved throughout the full project lifecycle, rather than operating within a narrowly defined BA discipline.

You’ll also have regular exposure to senior leadership, so the ability to communicate clearly, challenge constructively and present complex information with confidence will be essential.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead business analysis across complex, high‑risk and large‑scale change initiatives.
• Analyse business problems, opportunities, processes and systems to identify improvements.
• Lead workshops and facilitate requirements gathering with diverse stakeholders.
• Define and document high‑level and detailed business requirements.
• Undertake impact assessments and identify operational, technical and process gaps.
• Develop business cases, change proposals and supporting documentation.
• Contribute to business architecture, strategic alignment and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with technology teams throughout solution design, development and implementation.
• Support system, user and operational acceptance testing.
• Help ensure business change is successfully implemented and adopted.
• Influence stakeholders across multiple functions and levels, including senior leadership.
• Provide guidance, mentoring and quality oversight to other Business Analysts.
• On smaller initiatives, operate across both BA and project delivery responsibilities.

What we’re looking for:

• 5+ years' Business Analysis experience.
• Background within Financial Services
• Strong experience across technology, operations and business change.
• Experience working across Agile, Waterfall and hybrid delivery environments.
• Strong understanding of IT operations, systems and development practices.
• Experience with business architecture and strategic alignment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Confidence presenting to and influencing senior/C‑suite stakeholders.
• Experience managing third‑party relationships.
• The ability to lead, influence and bring structure to complex change.
• A highly analytical and commercially aware approach.

A Business Analysis or Business Architecture qualification would be advantageous.

The person:

This is a role for someone who is hands‑on, resilient and comfortable operating in ambiguity.

You’ll need to be someone who can move between strategic conversations and detailed analysis, create structure where it doesn’t already exist and remain effective when priorities change.

The successful individual will be:

• Naturally curious and analytical.
• Energetic, proactive and self‑motivated.
• Comfortable challenging and influencing at senior level.
• Resilient when projects or priorities change.
• Confident working independently with limited support.
• Comfortable getting into the detail when required.
• Able to translate technical concepts for non‑technical audiences.
• A strong communicator who can articulate ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Collaborative, with a genuine interest in developing those around them.

Why this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a highly collaborative Business Change environment where you’ll have genuine visibility and influence.

Rather than being confined to one specialist area, you’ll work across a diverse portfolio of initiatives, with current priorities including technology transformation, automation and digitalisation, alongside future strategic change programmes.

You’ll also have the opportunity to help shape the wider BA function and bring fresh thinking and experience into an established team.