IT Business Analyst

Business AnalystCollaborates with stakeholders to identify and articulate business and stakeholder requirements, as well as identify the solutions that will maximize the value delivered. This includes interviewing stakeholders, eliciting, analyzing, specifying and validating business, stakeholder, solution and transition requirements, and communicating those requirements to solution/development teams through the software development life cycle (Agile, Waterfall, Iterative). Applies proven communication, modeling, analytical, problem-solving, facilitation, negotiation, influence and leadership skills to ensure stakeholder expectations are met. Produces requirements on small-to-medium, lesscomplex projects that require planning, elicitation, documentation, analysis and management of business. Acts as a liaison between the business customer and InformationTechnology (IT) project team(s) by building cooperative, constructive, effective working relationships with internal and external customers. Ensures IT understands the business and stakeholder requirements and resolves any gaps in understanding. Responsible to make an established range of decisions, escalating to management when necessary and updating Manager on a regular basis.ResponsibilitiesResponsible for planning and monitoring activities for business analysis activities. Chooses a business analysis approach that is appropriate for the change. Performs a stakeholder analysis to determine potential types and areas of impact associated with the change. Builds a strong relationship with the project manager to ensure a common understanding of the goals, objectives and scope of a change initiative.Responsible for elicitation of business requirements and related activities. Uses a variety of elicitation techniques to identify the characteristics of the change. Confirms and communicates what the stakeholders' needs are. Identifies and cultivates relationships with key stakeholders; forms and asks probing questions and actively listens to responses.Responsible for activities related to business requirements management and communication. Translates business concerns, questions and desires into clear stakeholder requirements through use cases, process diagrams, functional requirements and others. Defines relationships between various types of requirements. Traces requirements to business objectives, test cases and solutions. Assesses the value, urgency and risk associated with each individual requirement. Evaluates new and changing requirements for impact to projects. Works with stakeholders to reach approval and agreement on requirements. Acts as a liaison between the stakeholder and project team(s) to ensure understanding of the requirements will result in an effective solution.Responsible for requirements analysis and design definition. Analyzes the needs in order to recommend a solution or a range of solutions. Analyzes and quantifies the potential value of the solution options. Models and/or tailors requirements so they are understandable and usable by each stakeholder group.Coordinates and facilitates meetings with stakeholders, vendors and regulatory agencies as required to support planning, validation/acceptance and final deployment processes.Performs other duties as assigned.Complies with all policies and standards.QualificationsBachelor's Degree In Business, Finance or IT or commensurate experience - PreferredDemonstrated experience setting goals and successfully implementing and achieving goals. - RequiredDemonstrated experience creating and working in a team culture that is committed to collaborative cross-functional relationships and service excellence. - RequiredIf no degree, minimum of three years of professional business and/or IT experience is required. - RequiredProven ability to do a stakeholder analysis, select a project approach, and estimate BA effort with guidance from a BA II or BA III.Demonstrated ability to write basic requirements documents under supervision of a BA II or BA III. Requirements are well formed, cohesive, complete, consistent, feasible, modifiable, unambiguous and testable.Proven understanding of the distinction between requirements: business, stakeholder, solution (functional and non-functional) and transition.Demonstrated ability to execute elicitation techniques such as interviewing, brainstorming, document analysis, prototyping and requirements workshops.Proven ability to construct basic business process models.Demonstrated basic understanding of one or more Software Development Methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile or Iterative.Proven ability to problem solve by defining basic steps and/or providing examples where techniques were used.Demonstrated ability to grasp technology concepts such as database, table driven code, testing tools, security, and/or computer programming concepts.Proven verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to convey information to clients, internal and external stakeholders, in a clear and concise manner.Demonstrated ability to reduce uncertainty and to manage ambiguity. Deals constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions.Demonstrated adaptability to adjust to multiple demands/deadlines, shifting priorities, ambiguity and rapid change.Proven strong attention to detail with excellent organization skills.Demonstrated knowledge and experience of various insurance industry systems, insurance and annuity products and/or the product development process, is not required, but helpful.Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, Word, Visio and PowerPoint).MS SharePoint and Access experience is helpful.Work Setting/Position Demands:Works in an office setting and remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.Requires the ability to verbally communicate and exchange accurate information to customers and associates on a regular basis.Requires visual acuity to read and interpret a variety of correspondence, procedures, reports and forms via paper and electronic documents, visual inspection involving small defects; small parts, and/or operation of machinery (including inspection); using measurement devices continuously. Visual acuity is required to determine accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.Requires the ability to prepare written correspondence, reports and forms using prescribed formats and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style on a regular basis.Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusionsPerforms substantial movement of wrists, hands, and fingers for continuous computer work.Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects/events.Travel Requirements:None