Lead Business/ Systems Analyst in Knutsford

A great opportunity has arisen to join our Application Services team within the IT Department as a Lead Business Systems Analyst. Reporting into the Head of Application Services, you will work closely with subject matter experts throughout the VDS and act as the conduit between the IT technical teams and business departments to ensure the change deliverable meets requirements and is fit for purpose. You will also coordinate testing and training as required, and take on project management responsibilities as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent the IT Team to maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
• Manage and mentor other Business Analysts within the team.
• Gather requirements from all business areas.
• Document detailed functional specifications.
• Run and manage effective workshops to gather and present requirements.
• System test and manage the UAT of changes from third parties and in‑house development to ensure they satisfy business requirements.
• Work closely with project managers to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Work closely with the development team to ensure system design and delivery accurately meets business requirements.
• Provide training to users and/or trainers.
• Review and improve project and business processes to provide benefits.

Key Requirements

• 5 years’ experience in a software development environment, and ideally 1 year managing a small team.
• Previous experience as a Business Analyst; extensive end‑to‑end experience of IT system projects and changes.
• Fully conversant in implementation and handover of delivered projects into Business as Usual operations.
• Proven problem‑solving ability with an analytical mindset.
• Financial Services industry experience.
• Team player, energetic personality, works well under pressure.
• Customer and result oriented.
• Excels working in a small team environment and can get things done with limited resources.
• Able to prioritise workload according to business need.
• Eager to learn, proactive, contributes and shares knowledge.
• Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and comfortable in a fast‑paced environment.
• Able to thrive in continuous change and complexity.
• Able to drive quality insights and deliver high‑impact projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High sense of responsibility and a self‑starter.
• Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams without formal authority.
• Well‑organised and accurate.
• Excellent presenting skills, able to communicate product, business, technical information with enthusiasm and optimism.

Technical Skills

• Jira software.
• Experience in a Business Analysis role within an IT Development environment.
• Excellent understanding of the full software development lifecycle.
• Experience within a Prince2 environment.
• MS Project and project planning in a software development environment.
• Experience of change management.
• Experience communicating with people at all levels of the business.
• Certified ISEB/BCS Business Analyst.

What we are offering

• A competitive salary.
• Great working team environment.
• 10 % Non‑Contributory Company Pension.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Simply Health Cashplan.
• Life Insurance.
• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Parking space (if working in the office).
• A fulfilling and stimulating career.

At The Veterinary Defence Society, we are committed to equality and diversity. We ensure that job standards are relevant to the successful undertaking of the job. We do not indirectly disadvantage any persons on the grounds of gender, age, disability, race, ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual orientation, any other protected characteristic, or social status. As part of the recruitment process, The Veterinary Defence Society collects and processes personal data relating to applicants. We are committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data and to meeting our data protection obligations.