Business Analyst

The Business Analyst (BA) is responsible for supporting core system and business functions and maintaining user relationships. Key functions include delivering support to end users in the organization about how to use enterprise systems efficiently and effectively in fulfilling business objectives (this includes troubleshooting applications and software for assigned internal customers, such as accounting, risk, alliance, ethanol, and other business units). The BA is also responsible for assisting in the design, delivery, and improvement of in-house and commercial software applications, training programs and related courseware. The BA must also be able to model and document key business processes, collaborate with end-users and technical staff to develop and maintain system functionality, and provide critical end-user support.

This role requires the ability to quickly identify, resolve and document problems; and use critical thinking and innovation to suggest improvements where applicable. A successful business analyst will be detail-oriented yet work efficiently, have the ability to multi-task and have strong written and verbal communication skills. This individual must be able to analyze complex problems and develop an intimate functional knowledge of company processes, system transactional data; while supporting daily operations.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Create and deploy feedback mechanisms for end users. Analyze results, make recommendations for support process improvement, and implement changes.
• Evaluate documented resolutions and analyze trends for ways to prevent repeated future problems.
• Collaborate with project sponsors to determine project scope and vision.
• Clearly identify project stakeholders and establish user classes, as well as their characteristics.
• Conduct interviews to gather user requirements via workshops, questionnaires, surveys, site visits, workflow storyboards, use cases, scenarios, and other methods.
• Identify and establish scope and parameters of requirements analysis on a project-by-project basis to define project impact, outcome criteria, and metrics.
• Work with stakeholders and project team to prioritize collected requirements.
• Research, review, and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of existing requirements-gathering processes and develop strategies for enhancing or further leveraging these processes.

Acquisition & Deployment

• Assist in conducting research on software and hardware products to meet agreed upon requirements and to support purchasing efforts.
• Participate in the QA of purchased solutions to ensure features and functions have been enabled and optimized.

Operational Management

• Perform hands-on fixes at the desktop/server level, including installing and upgrading enterprise software and configuring systems and applications.
• Analyze and verify requirements for completeness, consistency, comprehensibility, feasibility, and conformity to standards.
• Develop and utilize standard templates to accurately and concisely write requirements specifications.
• Translate conceptual user requirements into functional requirements in a clear manner that is comprehensible to developers/project team.
• Create process models, specifications, diagrams, and charts to provide direction to developers and/or the project team.
• Develop and conduct peer reviews of the business requirements to ensure that requirement specifications are correctly interpreted.
• Assist with the interpretation of user requirements into feasible options, and communicating these back to the business stakeholders.
• Manage and track the status of requirements throughout the project lifecycle; enforce and redefine as necessary.
• Communicate changes, enhancements, and modifications of business requirements- verbally or through written documentation - to project managers, sponsors, and other stakeholders so that issues and solutions are understood.
• Provide guidance and/or instruction to junior staff members.
• Identify and learn appropriate software applications used and supported by the organization.
• Coordinate with department heads to assess departmental application training needs and objectives.

Formal Education & Certification

• College diploma or university degree in the field of business administration, computer science, finance, or information systems.
• 2+ years' experience in Information Technology or equivalent.
• 2+ years' experience working with Microsoft SQL/Query Writing.
• 2+ years' experience in biofuel and/or commodity trading operations a plus.

Knowledge & Experience

• Demonstrated knowledge of the organization's core business process and operations.
• Proven experience with business and technical requirements analysis, elicitation, modeling, verification, and methodology development.
• Experience overseeing the design, development, and implementation of software and hardware solutions, systems, or products.
• Ability to create systematic and consistent requirements specifications in both technical and user-friendly language.
• Exceptional analytical and statistical skills with the ability to apply them to systems issues and products as required.
• Understanding of application development and software development life cycle concepts.
• Working technical knowledge of programming languages including Microsoft SQL/Query Writing
• In-depth, hands-on knowledge of and experience with enterprise and desktop applications, including Microsoft Visio and Office.
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing and business modeling.
• Excellent understanding of the organization's goals and objectives.

Personal Attributes

• Able to exercise independent judgment and take action on it.
• Excellent analytical, mathematical, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Logical and efficient, with keen attention to detail.
• Highly self-motivated and directed.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks while under pressure.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Work Conditions

• Occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers required to operate a computer keyboard or mouse, and to handle other computer components.