Senior Business Analyst

Penta Consulting; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Penta Consulting in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Business Analyst - AI & Intelligent Automation to identify, shape, and deliver AI, data, and automation initiatives that drive measurable business value.

You will bridge business and technical teams, lead discovery, document requirements, support agile delivery, and track benefits realization across enterprise-scale programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• Minimum 6+ years of business analysis experience in enterprise environments.
• Experience supporting AI, data, or automation initiatives is essential.
• Strong stakeholder management and workshop facilitation skills.
• Proficiency with SQL for data profiling and analysis.
• Hands-on exposure to cloud platforms (GCP and/or AWS).

Responsibilities

• Lead use case discovery, demand management, and business case development.
• Develop current/future-state process models (BPMN or equivalent).
• Produce detailed functional and non-functional requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Collaborate with technical teams throughout the Agile delivery lifecycle.
• Establish value measurement and benefits tracking after deployment.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Workshops facilitation

SQL

GCP AWS

Data analysis

UAT

Agile

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems / Computer Science / Engineering / related field

CBAP/CCBA IIBA (Preferred)

Tools

GCP

AWS

SQL

BPMN

API concepts

Job description

Employment Type: 12 Months (Extendable)

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Business Analyst - AI & Intelligent Automation to join a growing Data, AI, and Automation function.

This role is focused on identifying, shaping, and delivering high-value AI, data, and intelligent automation solutions that drive measurable business outcomes. Acting as the bridge between business stakeholders and technical delivery teams, you will take ownership of use cases from initial discovery and feasibility assessment through to implementation, adoption, and benefits realisation.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in business analysis, process improvement, and technology delivery, with experience supporting AI, machine learning, data, or automation initiatives within enterprise environments. You'll play a key role in ensuring the right problems are solved, the right solutions are selected, and delivered outcomes generate tangible value.

Key Responsibilities

Use Case Discovery & Demand Management

• Lead discovery workshops with business stakeholders to understand processes, pain points, and improvement opportunities.
• Analyse current-state processes, operational challenges, and business objectives.
• Assess feasibility based on data availability, process maturity, technical fit, and potential business value.
• Evaluate and recommend the most appropriate solution approach, including AI, machine learning, intelligent automation, process optimisation, or no-build recommendations.
• Develop business cases with clearly defined assumptions, costs, risks, and expected benefits.
• Support demand management processes and prepare use cases for prioritisation and governance reviews.

Process & Data Analysis

• Develop current-state and future-state process models using BPMN or equivalent methodologies.
• Analyse workflows and identify opportunities for AI, automation, and intelligent decision-making capabilities.
• Assess data sources, data quality, ownership, lineage, and accessibility.
• Document business rules, decision points, exception handling, and process variations.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and data gaps early in the solution lifecycle.

Requirements & Delivery Support

• Produce detailed functional and non-functional requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Define service, performance, governance, security, and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with technical teams throughout the Agile delivery lifecycle.
• Facilitate backlog refinement, sprint support, demonstrations, and issue resolution.
• Design and coordinate testing activities, including User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Support deployment, hypercare, operational handover, and documentation activities.

Value Realisation & Benefits Tracking

• Establish baseline metrics and success measures for all initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders to define and validate value measurement frameworks.
• Monitor post-implementation performance against projected benefits.
• Report on realised outcomes, risks, and improvement opportunities.

Cloud & Technology Enablement

• Work alongside architects, engineers, and platform teams to shape realistic and scalable solutions.
• Understand cloud-based AI and data platforms, APIs, integrations, and processing architectures.
• Consider technology costs, operational impacts, and scalability as part of solution design.
• Identify technical dependencies and proactively manage delivery risks.

Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure adherence to data privacy, security, regulatory, and governance requirements.
• Support AI governance practices, audit requirements, and responsible AI principles.
• Define decision-making controls for AI and automation solutions.
• Maintain documentation and evidence required for governance approval processes.

Team Contribution

• Mentor junior and mid-level Business Analysts.
• Contribute to improving business analysis standards, frameworks, templates, and methodologies.
• Support continuous improvement across AI, automation, and delivery practices.
• Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 6+ years' Business Analysis experience within enterprise-scale environments.
• 2+ years supporting AI, Machine Learning, Data, Analytics, or Intelligent Automation initiatives.
• Proven experience taking initiatives from business problem definition through to production deployment and measurable business outcomes.
• Hands-on exposure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and/or AWS data and AI services.
• Strong understanding of cloud technologies, APIs, integration patterns, and consumption-based pricing models.
• Independent SQL capability for data profiling, validation, and analysis.
• Experience with business process modelling (BPMN or equivalent).
• Agile delivery experience within product, programme, or squad-based environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and workshop facilitation skills.

Preferred Experience

• Business Analysis certification (CBAP, CCBA, IIBA, or equivalent).
• Experience with Intelligent Automation technologies, including RPA, workflow automation, and intelligent document processing.
• Lean, Six Sigma, Process Improvement, or Process Mining experience.
• Exposure to AI solution patterns, including Machine Learning, GenAI, LLMs, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and Agentic AI frameworks.
• Industry experience within Telecommunications, Financial Services, or other large-scale operational environments.

Technical Skills

• Business Analysis & Requirements Engineering
• SQL
• GCP and/or AWS
• Data Analysis & Data Management
• API & Integration Concepts
• Agile Delivery Methodologies
• UAT Planning & Execution
• Benefits Realisation & Business Case Development
• Structured problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Strong workshop facilitation and stakeholder engagement
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Commercial awareness and business acumen
• Ability to challenge assumptions and influence decision‑making
• Strong attention to detail
• Critical thinking and solution evaluation
• Comfortable working across business and technology teams
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex initiatives
• Results‑oriented with a proactive mindset

What’s on Offer?

• Opportunity to shape and deliver cutting‑edge AI, data, and intelligent automation initiatives.
• Exposure to enterprise‑scale AI transformation programmes.
• Collaborative environment focused on innovation and measurable business value.
• Opportunity to work with emerging technologies including GenAI, Machine Learning, and Agentic AI.
• Strong career growth prospects within a rapidly evolving technology function.

Interested?

We're looking for a Business Analyst who combines strong process and stakeholder management skills with a solid understanding of AI, Data, and Intelligent Automation technologies. If you're passionate about translating complex business problems into innovative, high-value solutions, we'd love to hear from you.