Senior Business Analyst

The Granite Group; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holiday

Mental health support (24/7)

Hybrid working

Early access to salary

Career development

Job summary

Acorn Insurance in Liverpool is seeking an experienced Senior Business Analyst to drive strategic improvements, mentor junior analysts, and lead cross-functional initiatives that shape operations and technology.

You will translate business needs into actionable insights, collaborate with stakeholders, and deliver complex, technically focused projects across the organisation within a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Senior Business Analyst in insurance/financial services (preferred).
• Strong SQL and Excel skills for data analysis and decision support.
• Excellent stakeholder management and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex projects aligned with business objectives and deliver measurable improvements.
• Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses and risk assessments to support decisions.
• Mentor junior analysts and drive performance via regular reviews and development plans.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement efficiency improvements and new solutions.
• Translate business needs into actionable requirements and technical designs; oversee third‑party implementations.

Skills

SQL

Excel

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Leadership

Education

CBAP/ PMI-PBA or equivalent

Agile/Scrum certification

Job description

Acorn Insurance is looking for an experienced Senior Business Analyst where you’ll play a pivotal role in driving strategic business improvements and delivering high-impact solutions across the organisation. You’ll lead complex initiatives with autonomy, mentor junior analysts, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape the future of our business operations and technology landscape.

Your expertise will help translate business needs into actionable insights and ensure the successful delivery of both operational and technically complex projects.

Job Title: Senior Business Analyst

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Location: Liverpool City Centre, Hybrid working available

Salary: £Competetive

What you will be doing:

• Lead complex projects and initiatives, ensuring they align with business objectives.
• Develop business cases, conduct cost-benefit analyses, and assess risks to support decision-making.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to Business Analysts, supporting their professional development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement efficiency improvements.
• Work independently with minimal oversight, taking ownership of deliverables and outcomes.
• Translate business requirements into clear, actionable solutions, including third-party implementations.
• Research and propose new approaches to business opportunities, including supplier engagement where appropriate.
• Develop and apply a strong technical understanding of internal systems to provide best approach insights, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions.
• Engage with development teams to shape solution design and ensure alignment with business needs.
• Leads the performance and development of Business Analysts by conducting regular 1:1s, delivering performance reviews, setting clear objectives, and creating tailored development plans, while actively supporting career progression and succession planning
• Deliver business analysis activities across various delivery frameworks, including Agile.
• Lead “As-Is” and “To-Be” process modelling with a technical focus.
• Analyse and document technical requirements to ensure clarity across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Constructively challenge technical approaches to promote best practices and effective delivery.
• Use data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Excel) to support decision-making and process reviews.
• Produce and maintain high-quality documentation throughout the project lifecycle, including technical specifications, system architecture, data flows, integration points, configuration settings, and custom developments.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience in a Senior Business Analyst role, ideally within insurance or financial services.
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), PMI-PBA, or equivalent (preferred).
• Agile or Scrum certification (e.g., Scrum Master, Agile Practitioner) highly desirable.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities without direct line management.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, both internal and external.
• Demonstrated success in delivering operational and technically complex business improvements.
• Proficiency in business analysis tools and techniques, including SQL and Excel.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and high accountability.
• Exceptional communication and documentation skills, especially in technical contexts.

Grow with Acorn

At Acorn Insurance, we’re proud of our Liverpool roots — and even prouder of how far we’ve come. As part of the Acorn Group, we bring over 40 years of specialist insurance expertise to the table. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a national leader, now employing 1,700+ people across the UK and reached a milestone £750 million in total value of insurance policies written in 2024.

We’re growing fast, with new opportunities emerging every week. That growth is largely due to the values we share:

• We run through walls for our customers and each other
• We challenge the status quo
• We succeed when we help those around us succeed
• We decide quickly when the smart thing to do is use our judgement

Benefits:

• A maximum of 35 days’ holiday (depending on role and tenure) including bank holidays, with additional buy/sell options
• 24/7 mental health support & free counselling available
• Grow with us: Through career fairs, leadership programs, and learning on the go!
• Flexible benefits, including early access to salary via our internal platform
• Hybrid working options to support work-life balance and individual needs
• Recognition awards, social events & more

Our Commitment to our colleague’s:

These aren’t just words — they’re the principles we live by. And we’re proud to back them up with real action, earning recognition and accreditation from leading organisations that share our commitment to people and growth:

• Mindful Employer – championing mental health and wellbeing
• Disability Confident Level 1 & 2 – creating accessible, inclusive opportunities
• Menopause Friendly accredited – supporting every stage of life
• Armed Forces Covenant signatory – honouring those who serve
• Armed Forces Defence employer recognition scheme - Supporting those who serve
• Great Places to Work 2024/25 – fostering an engaging and positive workplace culture
• Best Place to Work for Development – proud to be investing in people’s future
• Best Place to Work for Women – breaking down barriers to women's career progression

If you’re looking for a company with a strong culture, real career progression, and a people-first approach — all rooted in the heart of Liverpool — Grow with Acorn.

If your application is successful, we will commence relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include a standard criminal record check and an insolvency register check.

Visa Requirements

Because our training is quite comprehensive, we can only consider applicants who have at least one year remaining on their Graduate or Post-Study Work visa. At the moment, we’re not able to offer visa sponsorship.

We’re Here to Support You

We’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can flourish. If you need any adjustments at all, just let us know. Whether it’s flexible hours, adapted equipment, or a bit of extra support, we’ll work with you to make sure you can do your best work.