Senior Business Analyst in Manchester

The Senior Business Analyst will play a leading role in shaping, analysing and delivering complex business change across the firm.

Working closely with senior stakeholders, legal teams, Business Services functions and technology leaders, this role will ensure that business needs are clearly understood, robustly challenged and translated into effective, value-driven solutions.

As part of Fieldfisher's Business Analysis capability within IT, the role will work across strategically significant initiatives spanning both legal practice and Business Services.

The successful candidate will leverage their understanding of legal and professional services processes to identify opportunities for improvement, optimise ways of working and help deliver change that enhances client service, operational efficiency, compliance and commercial performance.

The Role involves

• Leading the analysis of complex business challenges and opportunities across legal practice areas and Business Services functions, providing clear recommendations that support strategic decision making and measurable business outcomes.
• Taking ownership of end-to-end Business Analysis activity across one or more major initiatives, ensuring alignment between business objectives, user needs and technology delivery.
• Working closely with Partners, Practice Group leaders and Business Services stakeholders to understand and improve key legal operating processes such as client onboarding, matter lifecycle management, conflicts management, risk and compliance processes, billing, financial management and knowledge management.
• Confidently engaging with senior stakeholders across the firm to define, challenge and prioritise requirements, constructively questioning assumptions and influencing outcomes.
• Identifying, documenting and improving business processes, with particular focus on legal service delivery, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and client experience.
• Applying a broad range of Business Analysis techniques to understand current and future state processes, assess impacts and define practical solutions.
• Working collaboratively with technology, data and architecture teams to shape solution options that support both legal and Business Services transformation objectives.
• Conducting market research and vendor evaluations, leading engagement with suppliers through evaluation, design and contract negotiation phases.
• Acting as a point of contact for external vendors, ensuring alignment with business needs and adherence to the Fieldfisher's governance and onboarding processes.
• Leading the development of business cases, investment proposals and benefits frameworks, clearly articulating commercial value (Return on Investment (ROI)), efficiencies, risk reduction and client service improvements.
• Supporting the adoption of innovative technologies, including AI enabled and automation solutions, through robust analysis of business need, operational impact and value realisation.
• Coaching and mentoring Business Analysts, sharing best practices and supporting the continued development of the Business Analysis capability.
• Supporting the Business Analysis Manager with operational activities, capability development and continuous improvement initiatives across the team.
• Keeping abreast of legal sector trends, regulatory developments and emerging technologies, bringing insight and recommendations that help the firm remain competitive and innovative.

Key Skills

• Demonstrable experience leading the analysis of large-scale, complex and ambiguous business problems, translating them into pragmatic, value driven outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end business analysis activity across complex initiatives, applying appropriate techniques across discovery, definition, design, delivery and benefits realisation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge senior stakeholders, shape decision making and manage conflicting priorities.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience developing business cases, options appraisals, cost / benefit analysis and benefits realisation tracking.
• Proven experience of calculating and demonstrating ROI as part of proposals.
• Excellent documentation skills, with the ability to create clear, concise and senior-appropriate outputs such as business cases, recommendation papers, roadmap views and decision packs.
• Experience providing coaching, guidance and informal assurance to Business Analysts, with a focus on continuously improving standards, tools and ways of working.
• Experience working within a legal or professional services environment, or a similarly complex and regulated sector, with an understanding of risk management, governance and stakeholder trust.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Confident operating with ambiguity, using sound judgement to shape clear and practical recommendations.
• Ability to work independently across multiple concurrent initiatives, often with competing priorities and tight deadlines, while maintaining quality, consistency and stakeholder confidence.
• Collaborative and approachable, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams.
• Supportive of others, with a willingness to coach, mentor and contribute to the wider improvement of the Business Analysis capability.

Who are we looking for?

• We don't have a type. We believe our differences are our strength; varied cultures, approaches and experiences can only benefit us.

What do we offer?

You can be yourself

It takes everyone to make us who we are. We’re a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.

In the office or WFH? : We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home, so we operate a 60:40 rule.

Beyond salary : We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more.

Visit

Reward & Benefits ¦ Fieldfisher.

Come for the WOW views : Based on the 17th floor in No.1 Spinningfields, with views of the entire City.

Nurturing your talent: T ake a 'build a career' approach to your training. You'll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something you'd like to study more closely.

Funnel your interests : You have a life outside work, and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs, affinity networks, inclusive events, and pro bono/charity initiatives.

Inclusion at Fieldfisher

At Fieldfisher, inclusion is central to how we work. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to succeed.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or once you join us, we will work with you to put the right support in place.

Examples include extra time for assessments, accessible document formats, alternative interview formats, quiet rooms, or physical and technological accessibility support.

For accessibility information on our Manchester office, visit: Accessing Fieldfisher Manchester ¦ Fieldfisher

We recruit on a rolling basis. Your application may be reviewed before the application deadline. We accept applications until we have filled the role.

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