Business Analysis Manager

The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Business Analyst to join our project team responsible for the replacement of our current Finance ERP system. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in business analysis, with a specific focus on finance systems and experience in ERP implementations or any large global transformation initiatives. This role involves working closely with stakeholders to understand business requirements, translating them into technical specifications, and ensuring the successful deployment of the new ERP system.

Reporting to the Senior Business Analysis Manager, you will be a key member of the Global Programme Group (GPG) at Clifford Chance. Collaborating with senior leadership and a broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders, your role will be central to the successful definition and delivery of the new finance ERP system.

Leading the business analysis activities for the finance ERP replacement project, you will conduct comprehensive impact assessments, define precise requirements, and ensure the new system is in harmony with the firm's policies, processes, and practices. Working in tandem with Programme, Portfolio, and Project colleagues, your focus will be on facilitating a smooth transition to the new ERP system.

As a Business Analysis Manager for the Finance Transformation Project, you will be integral to the successful replacement of the firm's Finance ERP system. This project is designed to enhance financial processes, improve data accuracy, and ensure seamless integration with existing business systems.

In Terms of technical Expertise, you will:

Lead Comprehensive Process Mapping Efforts:

• Conduct detailed mapping of current and future state processes for both back-office and front-office functions, ensuring alignment with the new ERP system. This includes identifying inefficiencies, redundancies, and opportunities for improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Conduct workshops and interviews with key stakeholders, including finance, accounting, IT and operational teams, to gather detailed information on current processes and desired outcomes.
• Confidently manage and run workshops, ensuring active participation and engagement from all attendees.

Detailed Documentation:

• Create detailed process maps, flowcharts, and diagrams that accurately represent the current state and proposed future state of financial workflows.
• Maintain a high level of attention to detail to ensure all aspects of the processes are thoroughly analysed and documented.

Technical Analysis:

• Perform in-depth technical analysis of current systems and workflows to identify integration points, data flows, and system dependencies.
• Analyse system capabilities and limitations to determine the most effective configuration and customisation options for the new ERP system.
• Develop and document technical specifications and requirements, ensuring they align with business objectives and stakeholder needs.

Business Analysis:

• Conduct thorough business analysis to understand the financial operations and requirements of the organisation.
• Identify key business drivers and objectives, ensuring they are incorporated into the ERP system design.
• Translate business requirements into functional specifications, bridging the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Ensure all business analysis deliverables are completed on time and meet the quality standards of the organisation.
• Understand the impact of the ERP system on back-office processes and workflows, ensuring minimal disruption.
• Analyse how the ERP system will affect front-office operations and client interactions.

Collaboration with ERP Vendors and IT Teams:

• Work closely with ERP vendors to understand the capabilities and limitations of their solutions. Ensure that the selected ERP system aligns with the organisation’s business requirements and objectives.
• Collaborate with IT teams to design and implement solutions that meet business requirements, including system configuration, customisation, and integration with other systems.
• Facilitate regular meetings and communication between the ERP vendors, IT teams, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment and address any issues or concerns promptly.

In Terms of Common Capabilities, You Will Have:

• Excellent communication (verbal, written and presentation) skills, with confidence to deliver at all levels.
• The ability to work effectively in a matrix-managed environment and informally influence and inform stakeholders and others – exemplifying the firms' Code of Conduct.
• Experience working on large-scale, complex projects as well as handling day-to-day operational requests.
• The ability to balance conflicting needs and priorities.
• Strong and creative problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work across multiple projects concurrently, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of tasks.
• Confidence to identify and highlight improvement opportunities, being both flexible and adaptable.
• Strategic and organisational awareness and the ability to apply these viewpoints to the detailed or people-focused challenges.

Requirements

Your Experience

A relevant Business Analysis or Change certification is desired. You will have experience of working within a global Professional Services organisation, preferably the legal sector. You will have demonstrable knowledge of business analysis principles, methodologies, tools, and approaches, and ideally be familiar with finance ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Elite 3E, Oracle). You will have a good understanding of finance processes (e.g., billing, WIP, accounts payable, accounts receivable). You will have experience of working on global change initiatives and a solid understanding of how to take people and organisations through the change process. You will have strong familiarity with industry-standard business change and project management approaches, tools, and methodologies.

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

The Business Analysis framework will be central to the way in which we deliver improvement projects and integrate with both the Change and Project Management functions. The post-holder will be fully supported by GPG colleagues and onboarded using the core frameworks to ensure clarity around optimum ways of working from the outset. You will then assist with onboarding new members of the team (either permanent or transient) using the framework.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career. We're proud of our approachable, friendly, and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.