Business Analyst

AJ Bell plc; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in Manchester is looking for a skilled Business Analyst to join their team. This role focuses on leading business analysis initiatives, defining requirements, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful project delivery. Ideal candidates will have proven experience and skills in communication, documentation, and familiarity with software concepts. This position offers a competitive salary and a supportive working environment including a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Starting salary of £35,000 - £50,000

26 to 31 days holiday

Pension schemes with matched contributions

Discretionary bonus

Health Cash Plan

Free on-site gym

Personal development programmes

Social events calendar

Qualifications

• Experience turning business requirements into user stories.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and articulate requirements.
• Comfortable in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead key business analysis initiatives.
• Engage with stakeholders to define requirements.
• Collaborate with development teams and vendors.

Skills

Proven experience working with Product Owners

Delivery on software development projects

Facilitating workshops and meetings

Effective communication skills

Gathering and documenting business requirements

Familiarity with software concepts (APIs, databases)

Guiding junior team members

Experience in financial services industry

Familiarity with agile environments

Strong analytical and lateral thinking skills

Job description

Looking to develop a Business Analysis career with an award‑winning business in the financial services industry? AJ Bell could have just the opportunity for you.

We are seeking a skilled Business Analyst to join our dynamic team at our head office in Salford Quays. You’ll be working alongside the Advised Product Team to drive innovative development of the advised product suite with a focus on AJ Bell Investcentre, assisting with the successful delivery of continuous improvements, new products & functionality.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Take ownership of key business analysis initiatives, working collaboratively to ensure project delivery aligns with strategic goals.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to understand business needs and define requirements.
• Requirement Definition: Translate complex business requirements into user stories and acceptance criteria to support effective solution development.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with development teams and third-party vendors to deliver solutions that meet business objectives.
• Standards & Practices: Help define and uphold Business Analysis standards and methodologies within the organisation.

We are looking for a Business Analyst with:

• Proven experience of working closely with Product Owners, development teams and other business stakeholders
• A proven history of delivery on both large software development projects, including system and technical changes, as well as smaller individual changes
• Experience of facilitating and managing workshops and meetings (virtual or in‑person)
• Effective communication skills including questioning and challenging stakeholders, clearly articulating technical and business understanding and building and maintaining interdepartmental relationships
• Proficiency in gathering and documenting business requirements using various techniques.
• Familiarity with software concepts such as APIs, databases, and user interfaces.
• Ability to foster collaboration and guide junior team members without direct line management responsibilities.
• Experience in the financial services industry is desirable.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Evidence of strong experience working on and delivering digital change.
• Experience in writing user stories, modelling processes, and documenting requirements.
• Ability to clearly articulate business requirements to UX Design, Development, and Testing teams.
• Experience in working in an agile environment.
• Highly organised and self‑motivated.
• Excellent communicator with good written and verbal skills including a high degree of collaboration.
• Excellent analytical and lateral thinking skills.
• Good knowledge of technology including web solutions, APIs and microservices.

About us

AJ Bell is one of the fastest‑growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award‑winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,450 employees and have been named one of the UK's ‘Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work®.

At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.

What we offer

• Starting salary of £35,000 - £50,000 per annum
• Starting holiday entitlement of 26 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service and a holiday buy and sell scheme
• A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 7%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Annual free share awards scheme
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
• Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
• Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
• Free on‑site gym providing a wide range of free classes
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Sick pay+ pledge
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay
• Loans for travel season tickets
• Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
• Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
• Parking at Exchange Quay (Subject to availability)
• Personal development programmes built around you and your career goals, including access to personal skills workshops
• Ongoing technical training
• Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
• Casual dress code
• Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals

At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That's why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the office. For new team members, an initial period will be full‑time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.

If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we'd love to speak to you.