Business Analyst - Automation & AI Enablement in Carlisle

Armstrong Watson are a trusted and leading independent Accountancy and Business Advisory firm based in the North of England and Scotland. Our services and advice are all centred around our Quest to support our clients to achieve prosperity, a secure future and peace of mind, which cannot be achieved without the expertise of our dedicated and valued colleagues. With approximately 800 colleagues situated across 19 offices, our people and our culture are at the heart of what we do. We recognise the unique impact we have on not only our clients, but also our colleagues, and the communities in which we operate. Our success is dependent on every colleague embracing all four of our core values: Honesty, Humanity, Trust and Passion.

This position will work across all Service Lines and support functions to identify, design, and implement process improvements, workflow automation, and AI-enabled solutions. The role will partner closely with Service Line Heads, and the wider Technology Team, to deliver measurable efficiencies, improved client service, and scalable ways of working. The overall purpose of the position is to enable greater productivity and consistency across the firm by mapping end-to-end processes, identifying automation opportunities, defining requirements, and supporting delivery of workflow automation and AI-enabled solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement & Discovery

• Planning and facilitating discovery workshops, interviews and working sessions across Service Lines and support functions;
• Eliciting and clarifying pain points, constraints, risks, data needs, and desired outcomes;
• Building trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels and maintaining clear communication throughout delivery.

• Documenting end-to-end processes using appropriate mapping techniques (e.g. flowcharts, swimlanes and BPMN);
• Producing clear “As-Is” and “To-Be” process maps, including decision points, exceptions, controls, and handoffs;
• Identifying inefficiencies, duplication, bottlenecks, rework, and control gaps; and recommending pragmatic improvements.

• Identifying and assessing opportunities for workflow automation, task automation, and system integration;
• Collaborating with the Technology Team to translate business needs into implementable solutions and backlogs;
• Supporting the adoption of AI tools (e.g. Copilot / GenAI-enabled workflows) to improve drafting, summarisation, triage, search, and reporting;
• Defining guardrails for AI usage in line with firm policies, data protection, and client confidentiality.

• Defining requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, success measures, and benefits cases;
• Supporting solution design, prioritisation and delivery planning with Technology and other Service Lines;
• Co-ordinating and / or supporting with testing (UAT), training, communications, and rollout activities;
• Tracking benefits and outcomes (time saved, error reduction, cycle-time improvements, client experience uplift).
• Maintaining process documentation and ensuring solutions are operationalised and owned by the firm;
• Identifying opportunities to standardise and reuse patterns across Service Lines (templates, workflows, prompts, controls);
• Contributing to a pipeline of automation / AI opportunities and supporting with continuous improvement governance.

Please note that we will not be accepting candidates from agency suppliers in connection with this vacancy.

The Candidate

• Proven experience as a Business Analyst / Process Analyst / Business Systems Analyst or similar role;
• Strong facilitation skills with experience running workshops and stakeholder interviews;
• Ability to document processes clearly (As-Is / To-Be) and translate them into requirements;
• Demonstrable experience working with technology / IT teams to deliver change;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach;
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to tailor messaging for different audiences;
• Comfortable working across multiple Service Lines and managing competing priorities.
• Experience in professional services (accountancy, legal, consulting, financial services);
• Experience with workflow automation, RPA, low-code platforms and / or system integrations;
• Exposure to AI tools (e.g. Microsoft Copilot) and AI-enabled productivity practices;
• Familiarity with Agile delivery (user stories, backlog management) and / or Lean / Six Sigma methods.

The Benefits

In return for your hard work helping us shape our future growth and development; we will provide a competitive salary and a positive benefits package which includes:

• Salary Sacrifice Employer Contribution Pension Scheme including Life Cover (4x salary) and Income Protection
• Competitive Annual Leave entitlement up to 26 days, plus Bank Holidays
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme allowing you to buy up to 5 additional days annual leave each year
• Smart Working Policy, giving you the ability to balance home and remote working
• Health Shield Cash Plan (cash back on a range of Health benefits and discounts on holidays, fashion and entertainment)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential support for wellbeing and health)
• Paid flu jabs and eye tests
• Introductory Commission Scheme (financial reward if you refer a new client)
• Employee Referral Scheme (financial reward if you refer new AW colleagues) enabling you to claim up to £2,500 for each referral
• Ongoing access to online training courses and materials
• Paid professional membership fees
• Charity of the Month
• Colleague of the Month
• Subsidised social events throughout the year

In addition to all the benefits you would expect from an award winning employer, you will be given the utmost encouragement and support to develop your career further.