Business Analyst Manager

An exciting opportunity has opened for a Business Analyst Manager to join our Operational Change team in Manchester.

In this role, you’ll lead and develop a team of Business Analysts, providing both strategic direction and hands-on support. You’ll play a key part in delivering AJ Bell’s growth and cost objectives, while progressing your own career in a dynamic and forward-thinking environment.

Purpose of the role

• To lead the provision of business analysis services to support AJ Bell with its growth and cost targets.
• To work with senior stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of continuous improvements, new products and functionality.
• To implement change across the department in support of strategic goals and ways of working

At this role level, you will:

• Be a leader in the business analysis community.
• Have people management accountabilities.
• Lead the AJ Bell Community of Practice and be seen as a go-to person in the field.
• Mentor others.

Job Responsibilities

• Responsibility for the business analysis service provision for the Operations and Regulatory Divisions, where advice given and decisions made will have a measurable impact on the profitability or effectiveness of the organisation. Determining the value proposition for the business analysis function.
• Work with executive stakeholders to determine the contribution that business and IT improvements can make to achieving business objectives, defining strategies, agreeing and prioritising business requirements, conducting feasibility studies, producing both organisational-level and detailed business models, and overseeing the definition and implementation of holistic solutions.
• Recognise opportunities for the business from organisational and technological change and define change initiatives that will exploit such opportunities.
• Advise and influence executive management throughout the business change lifecycle, ensuring that change initiatives are aligned with the strategy and enterprise architecture.
• Writing and presenting fluently and persuasively on all aspects of business analysis work will be a core skill of yours, while communicating effectively with executives and staff at all levels

• Manage the day-to-day tasks of the team to support timely and high-quality delivery in accordance with the agreed practices and methodology.
• Support the removal of blockers to delivery or escalate for resolution where appropriate.
• Liaise with external suppliers on deliverables.
• Support production incidents as appropriate.
• Conduct performance reviews acknowledging achievements and areas for development and improvement.
• Supporting and enabling the business to achieve its regulatory requirements, including consumer duty.

Your Skills and Competencies 

• Business analysis. You can set the direction for business analysis within a programme of work, enterprise or wider sector. You can guide tactical decision making and influence the formulation of longer-term strategic plans in an evolving, complex and unpredictable environment. You can give colleagues the means and authority to make decisions about their approach to business analysis activities. You can ensure that the proposed solutions align with the organisational strategy and vision.
• Business modelling. You can set the direction of scope and methodology for the representation of real-world complex situations across a programme or organisation.
• Consultancy (business analysis). You can provide advice, guidance and recommendations based on your specialist knowledge and experience. You can propose methodologies to follow and approaches to implementation. You can frame problems so they can easily be understood, and troubleshoot where required, to support the business in operating more effectively.
• Enterprise and business architecture (business analyst). You can work with limited direction to translate business drivers, goals and constraints into business objectives. You can help to define required capabilities and support organisational changes to create operating models that meet business objectives.
• Requirements definition and management. You can direct the approach to requirements management. You can enable others to select and apply appropriate life cycle methods. You can influence the prioritisation of complex requirement sets, enabling long-term strategic decision making and short-term tactical fixes. You can ensure the proposed solutions align with the organisational strategy and vision. (Skill level: expert)
• Stakeholder relationship management (business analysis). You can develop engagement strategies and lead on communication with stakeholders at all levels. You can actively establish relationships and apply the benefits of professional networks. You can act as a point of consultation and escalation to resolve conflict in complex situations. (
• Systems analysis. You can set the direction for the identification and analysis of IT system capabilities. You can identify gaps in functionality and enable others to explore and assess the effect of software changes. You can demonstrate a strong understanding of business perspectives and technical concepts and can bring them together to form recommendations and a common understanding. You can communicate this effectively between users, development teams and external suppliers.

What We’re Looking For

• Leadership Excellence: Demonstrated extensive leadership skills, with a focus on providing direction, fostering inclusivity and building high performing teams.
• Exceptional communication:  Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively with business and technical stakeholders, including executive and board-level interactions.
• Technical Proficiency - High technical competence of Business Analysis strategy and practices.

What we offer

• 27days holiday, increasing with service + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
• 8% Pension with matched contributions
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Share schemes (including free shares and BAYE)
• Health Cash Plan and discounted private healthcare
• Free onsite gym
• Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Travel and bike loan schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme

Life at AJ Bell

• Regular social events including summer and Christmas parties
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to you
• Casual dress code
• Friendly, supportive team environment

Our ways of working

We offer hybrid working, with a minimum of 60% of your working time per month spent in the office. For new starters, there’s an initial period of full-time office working to help you settle in and build relationships.

Inclusion & diversity

We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential.