Senior Business Analyst

CNA Hardy; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading commercial insurance provider in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Business Analyst. The role involves leading change initiatives and delivering business analysis for various projects. Candidates should possess strong analytical and communication skills, and experience in both waterfall and agile methodologies. The position may require occasional travel to European offices and the ideal candidate will have a commitment to delivering excellence in business analysis services.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering technology-based change in both waterfall and agile environments.
• Capability to lead and mentor junior analysts in project work.
• Ability to work independently and define user requirements.

Responsibilities

• Define Business Analysis approach tailored to project objectives.
• Challenge proposed solutions to ensure alignment with business strategy.
• Liaise between business, IT, and external parties to resolve issues.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Requirements gathering

Education

Business analysis qualifications

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SQL

Job description

The Senior Business Analyst is responsible for a full range of activities which ensure the successful delivery of change programmes delivered to the CNA Hardy business. As well as responsibility for their own analysis deliverables, the Senior Business Analyst is expected to act as a lead on larger programmes involving multiple analysts, taking responsibility for organising and coordinating the work of the other analysts to ensure that it aligns with the objectives of the change initiative. Leading by example, the holder of this job profile is committed to excellence in the delivery of business analysis artefacts and the provision of business analysis services. They are expected to become a functional expert on a range of processes and applications used within the organisation, whether developed internally or by third party vendors. Typically work is delivered as part of assignments to projects being delivered by Transformation & Projects team department IT and Change department, potentially in conjunction with one or more third party vendors. Additionally, you may also be required to assist with small projects, and with normal and standard releases for a range of applications, in co‑ordination with internal and/or external teams as appropriate. Specific tasks require such skills as facilitation, influencing, planning, logical thinking, requirements gathering, prioritisation, initiative taking, multi‑tasking, problem analysis, solution design, and test planning, all in combination with superb written and oral communication skills. Mentoring and development of the skills of junior analysts within the team is expected, along with selected line management duties such as objective setting. The scope of the role encompasses all CNA Hardy European offices and may require occasional travel to these offices.

Responsibilities

• Definition of Business Analysis approach tailored to specific project objectives and target outcomes.
• Analysis of business problems and requirements and their translation into structured documentation suitable for use by 3rd parties or internal development teams.
• Challenge proposed solutions to ensure that they fit within CNA Hardy's strategy and appetite for risk, solving genuine problems that deliver enhanced business value.
• Breakdown and explain complex concepts to senior stakeholders.
• Produce cost/benefit analyses.
• Apply appropriate tools and methodologies to document, analyse and maintain traceability of business requirements.
• Proactively identify and resolve business process and IT issues.
• Identify and analyse existing 'business as usual' inefficiencies.
• Liaise between the business, IT and external parties.
• Adhere to and champion analysis best practices.
• Coordinate user involvement at all stages of the business change cycle, from initial problem analysis through to user acceptance testing, warranty period and beyond.
• Work with Service Management to ensure that change initiatives transition smoothly into the live environment, with all appropriate documentation and business as usual processes in place.
• Work with internal or external development teams to ensure that deliverables are of excellent quality and within the scope of the appropriate change initiative.
• Work with Project and/or Programme Management to ensure that change initiatives remain on scope and tightly focused, to time and budget, delivering measurable business benefit through the controlled implementation of business change.
• Prepare and present training materials through the use of methods appropriate to the audience.
• Assist and support the business with new systems/processes as a result of project delivery.
• Manage your own time and workload in line with project plans, as well as those of other analysts within your area of responsibility.
• Mentor junior analysts within the team, leading by example.
• Update management on the progress of owned tasks.
• Escalate issues as appropriate.
• Manage assigned risks and issues.
• Adhere to change, project, and analysis standards defined by CNA Hardy's management functions.
• Perform other duties as directed by the Business Analysis Manager or CNA Hardy management.

Qualifications

• Business analysis qualifications.
• Experience of delivering technology‑based change in both waterfall and agile environments.
• Experience of working within a business analysis environment and be able to demonstrate a dedication to delivery of excellence in the field of change.
• Ability to work independently with users to define requirements or under the direction of Project Managers. Capable of prioritising and managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Outstanding analytical skills, including a thorough understanding of how to interpret customer business needs and translate them into structured documentation suitable for use at all organisational levels.
• Ability to analyse and solve problems quickly and effectively while obtaining consensus to the proposed solutions.
• Ability to lead and mentor team members analysts, including setting objectives in relation to project work.
• Good matrix management skills and ability to balance competing priorities in time sensitive situations.
• Deep familiarity with a variety of business analysis and proven application within a project environment.
• Extensive experience of the full software development lifecycle, gained over multiple assignments to a variety of change programmes.
• Able to foster working relationships within the team, client departments, and 3rd parties with ease.
• Clear & concise written and oral communication skills, able to produce meaningful documentation for both senior stakeholders and technical delivery teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, consultative and communication skills. Ability to interact effectively at all levels with clients, consultants, vendors, peers, and IT management and staff.
• At ease presenting to large audiences.
• Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Skype for Business, and other business productivity systems.
• Exposure to a variety of business application systems such as finance, ERP, transaction/data processing, document management, workflow, data warehouses/marts.
• Basic SQL skills and an understanding of relational databases.
• Experience with subscription‑based specialist insurance, i.e. Lloyd's market, ILU or LIRMA.
• Experience with change management methodologies, e.g. ADKAR.
• Must be able to travel to European offices on occasions and have a flexible approach to working hours to meet business requirements.

CNA Hardy is a leading specialist commercial insurance provider for clients within the Lloyd's and company markets. We are part of CNA Financial Corp, the 8th largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance company. Established in 1897, CNA has approximately 7,000 employees, serving businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. We offer a wide range of products and services, providing a superior suite of insurance solutions that any organisation conducting business requires.