Senior Business Analyst - Guidewire Data Specialist

Welcome to Hastings Direct. We’re a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become the best and biggest in the UK market. Over the past few years, we’ve made significant investments in our data and tech capabilities, particularly within our CIO function. Our CIO team is at the forefront of driving innovation and ensuring our technology infrastructure supports our ambitious goals. We’ve nurtured our 4Cs culture, fostering collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement.

The CIO team plays a crucial role in this journey, working on cutting-edge projects that enhance our digital presence and improve customer engagement. We provide insurance to nearly four million customers, but we know there’s even bigger opportunity out there. If you are excited about joining us and think you have some of what we are looking for, even if you’re not 100% sure, we would love to hear from you. Our CIO team is always looking for passionate individuals who are eager to make a difference and contribute to our success.

We’re looking for an inquisitive and technically strong Senior Business Analyst to join our Business Analysis community, with a particular focus on Guidewire data integration and delivery. This role is ideal for someone who thrives understanding how things work under the hood and then explaining it in a way that others get. You will champion a data driven culture by asking the right questions and challenging assumptions, becoming the go-to expert on the Guidewire data model for the data engineering teams.

What you’ll be doing:

• Completing the end-to-end analysis and documentation of business requirements, with a strong emphasis on Guidewire data structures and integration points.
• Collaborating with solution architects to define sustainable, scalable solutions that align with our data strategy and regulatory obligations.
• Managing and mentoring a team of Business Analysts and Junior BAs, ensuring high quality deliverables and consistent backlog readiness for PI planning.
• Facilitating workshops and stakeholder sessions to elicit and refine requirements, particularly around data flows, reporting needs, and system interactions within the Guidewire suite.
• Driving the creation and maintenance of detailed artefacts including process maps, user stories, and data specifications.
• Ensuring all change initiatives are compliant with regulatory frameworks and internal governance standards.

Technical Skills Required:

• Guidewire Suite: You must have strong working knowledge of PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, and/or ClaimCenter, particularly in relation to data models, integration layers, and reporting.
• Data Analysis: You must have the ability to interrogate and interpret complex data sets, define data requirements, and work with data teams to ensure data quality and integrity.
• Process Mapping & Documentation: You must be proficient in creating detailed process flows, user stories, and functional specifications.
• Agile Tooling: System of record housekeeping is vital. You must be able to demonstrate good housekeeping skills in Jira, Octane, or equivalent tools.
• Integration & Architecture Awareness: You should have a strong understanding of how business requirements translate into technical solutions, including APIs, data pipelines, and system interoperability.
• Regulatory Awareness: It would be beneficial to be familiar with data governance and compliance requirements in the insurance or financial services sector.

What we’re looking for:

• 5+ years of Business Analyst experience, within general insurance or financial services.
• Proven experience working with the Guidewire suite in data-heavy implementations or migrations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into business language.
• Experience delivering within SAFe or other Agile methodologies, as well as traditional waterfall environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence at Head-of and Director level.
• A proactive and curious mindset. You will be comfortable to work collaboratively with different people, asking questions and seeking to continuously improve how we work.

What we offer:

• Attractive salary based on experience (pay reviews also completed each year).
• Flexible Working: We champion a flexible and hybrid working approach.
• Competitive Bonus Scheme: All colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus.
• Physical Wellbeing: We fund our colleagues to claim against everyday health care through our healthcare cash plan.
• Financial Wellbeing: Life assurance cover and income protection at no extra cost, pension contribution match up to 10%.

At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us.