Business Analysis Practice Lead

The opportunity you've been waiting for

This financial services business has a Change Management Framework, a Change Management Committee and a Head of Change. The next step is a leader who owns business analysis as a practice.

As Business Analysis Practice Lead, you'll lead the Business Analyst team, set the standards they work to and help decide where change effort goes. You'll be involved from project inception through to implementation, with a sharp focus on the roadmap and on business readiness once change lands.

If you've led Business Analysts before, or you're a senior BA ready to step into leadership, this is a role where you'll build the function as much as run it.

How you'll make your mark

You'll sit within the Change Management team, working closely with the Head of Change to develop the change function. Your remit covers four areas.

Leading the team

• Line manage the permanent and contract Business Analyst team.
• Own business analysis as a service across the organisation.
• Define roles, responsibilities, skills and behaviours for BA colleagues at every level and grade.
• Develop the team through mentoring, coaching, training and quality assurance of their output.
• Shape the training strategy and roll-out plans with your Business Analysts.
• Drive continuous improvement across the business analysis function.

Resourcing

• Allocate Business Analysts to projects and programmes.
• Represent BA resourcing at the resource management forum.
• Make sure projects are properly resourced, and own Business Analyst recruitment.

Shaping the roadmap

• Manage new project requests and present recommendations to the Change Management Committee.
• Identify regulatory changes that need project resource, through monthly touchpoints with 1st and 2nd line Risk.
• Support business areas with new requests and business cases.
• Help develop the change roadmap, including prioritisation decisions.
• Keep business analysis deliverables and reporting consistent across projects.
• Put plans in place so changes transition smoothly into business as usual.

Governance and standards

• Own the business analysis standards and processes within the Change Management Framework.
• Define the standard templates for Project Life Cycle documentation.
• Coach colleagues to complete Life Cycle documentation to the required standard and on time.
• Identify and implement improvements to the business analysis elements of the framework.

What you'll bring

Experience in a similar role, or a step up from Business Analyst with leadership experience behind you. This could also suit someone ready to grow their leadership further.

• A broad understanding of project delivery, including requirements, scope definition and business cases.
• Experience of change delivery and managing business requirements, process and solution.
• Experience building, leading and developing high-performing teams.
• The ability to shape and lead analysis strategically as part of a team.
• Clear, confident communication with customers, stakeholders and suppliers, written and verbal.
• A structured, logical approach to problem solving.
• The curiosity and confidence to challenge existing practices.
• Sound judgement in identifying and managing risks and issues.
• Resilience and the ability to work effectively under challenge.
• Competence with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio.

A BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis, or a similar recognised qualification, would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

Ownership. You'll lead the business analysis practice and decide how it works, from roles and training to templates and standards.

Influence. You'll present recommendations to the Change Management Committee and help set priorities on the change roadmap.

Room to grow as a leader. You'll build your team through recruitment, coaching and a training strategy you help design.

A bit more about the business

This financial services business runs change through a defined Change Management Framework, overseen by a Change Management Committee and led by a Head of Change. Regulatory change is part of the picture, with close links to 1st and 2nd line Risk.

The change function is in development, and business analysis sits at its heart. This role exists to give that practice clear leadership, consistent standards and a strong team.

Denholm's take

This role offers real scope. You'll lead people, set standards and have a voice in which projects go ahead. That combination makes it a role you can genuinely build.

It also suits more than one profile. An established BA lead will find plenty to own. A senior Business Analyst ready to step up will find a role with that move in mind.

If that sounds like you, let's have a confidential conversation.