Business Analyst Cross-Function Vice President

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary: Business Analyst (BA)

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA? We’re looking for a Business Analyst for Operations Planning Department to join our team in the Change Management Group.

This role is responsible for understanding and assessing the changing needs of the business. They may be required to analyse the impacts of change, document and support communication between relevant groups and stakeholders, and capture requirements needed to initiate a change.

This role must communicate within a multi-disciplinary team, gain consensus for the best solution and implement the required changes within the required timeframe, budget and quality parameters. The individual will ensure that the business case, plans and control processes have sufficient detail and have evaluated the potential impact of the changes made, including a traceability matrix, and will involve the appropriate staff or teams during the QA, testing and delivery of changes, including helping to resolve any issues.

If working on a regulatory drive project, they are accountable for ensuring regulation is successfully implemented into the business by translating EMEA regulatory requirements into business requirements.

Business Area

Change Management Group (CMG) provides the SMBC enterprise professional project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) resource and expertise to the organisation. It was established in November 2019 as an independent, centralized business function operating at a strategic level to provide enterprise-wide oversight and management of change.

The oversight function includes governance, guidance, best practices, mentoring and up-skilling project managers from other departments and BAU staff.  Implementation of a standard enterprise-wide project framework including tools, templates and standardized processes. The aim is that CMG ensures strategic alignment between business objectives and projects executed.

CMG is also a resource centre/ centre of excellence. It is comprised of professionally qualified project, programme and change managers, business analysts and junior analysts. These are divided into multi-disciplinary teams with reporting line to a Team Lead.

While working on projects or programmes individual staff retain their report line but for the purposes of the project have a dotted line to the Project or Programme manager and/or Sponsor. The teams handle the bank’s most complex programmes and projects that require strong regional or global co-ordination, are often regulatory deadline driven or key for business strategy, require close cooperation with multiple departments, offices and other regions and have significant budgets.

The CMG remit includes management of the enterprise project portfolio. This is a growing function within the team and provides:

• Central coordination of change delivery.

• Efficient use of resources, identification of conflicts, constraints and transparent reporting of data for the portfolio

• Identification of trends or themes impacting delivery progress

Facts & Scale:

CMG has a flexible pool of professionally qualified project, programme and change managers, business analysts and project analysts, this number changes depending on the requirements of different programmes and projects. BAs work on complex projects and programmes across EMEA.

Position Description

Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• BAs are expected to present at Steering Committees, translating complex data eg regulation, process flows or technical detail clearly and logically, explaining any implications or risks so that senior management can make effective decisions based on the BA’s input.

• If working on a regulatory driven project, the BA is responsible for tracking and analysis of the relevant regulatory communications and updates across EMEA and will work with SME/s and end users to understand and document the practical implications for all associated systems and processes. They must then provide technical revisions and updates to the relevant traceability matrix

• Communicate with internal colleagues to understand the current practice and processes of departments and the organisation, including liaising with EMEA offices to first identify where change is required, then analyse and provide recommendations re the optimal approach, communicate the preferred approach across stakeholders and gather consensus to support and provide technical documentation to support.

• Use data modelling practices to analyse findings and create suggestions for strategic and operational improvements and changes

• Identify and document the processes, system changes and timescales required to introduce changes and ensure the correct governance of the changed process

• Work closely with the SME/s to appraise senior stakeholders (likely to include MD and above stakeholders) of the potential impact of change on the service, function or system/s highlighting the options, impact and potential links between required changes on the existing infrastructure so that well informed decisions can be made

• Detail the appropriate business requirements and regulatory technical specification to support any changes or new requirements

• Support and involve the appropriate staff and teams in the QA, testing and delivery of changes, including helping to resolve any issues.

• Document and store all BA artefacts so that they can be provided for internal audit or regulatory oversight

Experience and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level and professional BA qualifications desirable

• Able to successfully manage multiple tasks at any given point, strong relationship building skills and communication skills (both written and verbal)

• Knowledge of front to back office business processes and products

• Knowledge and experience of financial services, markets and banking activities and the surrounding regulatory framework.

• Prior experience of successfully delivering projects within financial services

• Experience of regulatory change impacting banking systems, processes, and procedures.

• Knowledge of banking operational and trade flows

• Experience of participating in deadline driven and/or systems project teams.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively to gain agreement and resolve conflict

• Must be able to take own initiative but also willing to support and take direction when working with a Project or Programme Manager

• Resilient to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

• Must be able to demonstrate flexibility to move between “big picture” thinking and handling detailed tactical information.

• Able to work collaboratively in teams, ask good questions to rapidly understand complex systems and processes, analyse data and make recommendations based on evidence from the data.

Competencies

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working 
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance 
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services  
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities 
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!