Business Analyst

We are seeking a detail-oriented and technically-savvy Business Analyst within our IT department to drive technology solutions for trading and settlement operations. This role bridges business needs and technical delivery, translating complex operational requirements into scalable system solutions. The ideal candidate will have strong SDLC expertise, technical architecture understanding, and deep knowledge of post-trade settlement processes. You will work closely with development teams, QA, infrastructure, and business stakeholders to deliver high-quality trading and settlement systems.

Responsibilities

Business Analysis & Requirements

• Gather, analyse, and document detailed business requirements from trading desks, settlement teams, and operations stakeholders;
• Conduct requirements workshops and user interviews to understand settlement workflows, pain points, and system integration needs;
• Create comprehensive functional specifications, user stories, and use cases for development teams;
• Develop data flow diagrams, system architecture diagrams, and process models;
• Translate complex trading and settlement business logic into technical requirements

SDLC & System Delivery

• Participate in all phases of the software development lifecycle (requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, support)
• Work within Agile/Scrum frameworks; collaborate in sprint planning, daily standups, and retrospectives
• Define acceptance criteria and success metrics for system enhancements and new features
• Participate in design reviews and validate technical solutions against business requirements
• Support development teams during coding and technical implementation phases
• Manage requirements traceability and change control throughout project lifecycle

Settlement Systems & Technical Support

• Support and optimise back office settlement systems
• Monitor settlement system performance, stability, and data integrity
• Analyse settlement metrics, trade fail rates, system bottlenecks, and operational inefficiencies
• Document settlement processes, system configurations, and technical workflows for IT and operations teams
• Coordinate with infrastructure and database teams on system capacity, performance tuning, and optimisation
• Support integration efforts between trading systems, settlement systems, and third-party platforms (clearinghouses, custodians)

Quality Assurance & Testing

• Design and execute comprehensive test strategies for settlement system changes and implementations
• Lead user acceptance testing (UAT) cycles coordinate with business stakeholders on validation
• Develop test plans, test cases, and regression testing protocols
• Identify and document defects; work with development teams on resolution and verification
• Validate compliance with regulatory requirements and data accuracy standards

Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Create and maintain technical and functional documentation, runbooks, and system procedures
• Develop training materials and documentation for support teams and IT staff
• Maintain up-to-date system configuration documentation and change logs
• Document regulatory and compliance requirements impacting system design

Process Improvement & Optimization

• Identify opportunities for process automation and system optimization
• Recommend infrastructure improvements, technology upgrades, and architectural enhancements
• Analyse settlement data and system logs to identify trends, risks, and performance issues
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using Six Sigma or Lean methodologies

Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as primary liaison between IT department and business operations teams
• Present technical findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Communicate project status, risks, and issues to IT leadership and business sponsors
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and provide technical guidance to support teams

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, Finance, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• 5-10 years of business analysis experience, with at least 2-3 years in IT-focused roles within financial services or trading operations
• Strong proficiency in Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, DevOps)
• Hands-on experience with settlement systems and post-trade operations (trade matching, affirmation, clearance, settlement)
• Demonstrated experience in requirements gathering, documentation, and specifications writing
• Working knowledge of system architecture, API integration, and data flow design
• Strong data analysis skills with tools like Excel, Python, or SQL
• Understanding of securities markets, trading operations, and settlement workflows
• Knowledge of software testing methodologies and QA processes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong ownership mindset (able to take initiatives from 0 → 1)
• Ability to work independently and as part of cross-functional IT and business teams
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) – International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA); and/or
• IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA); and/or
• Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) – Project Management Institute; and/or
• Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) – Scrum Alliance; and/or
• FINRA Series 7, Series 63, or Series 65 certification;
• SEC Settlement Operations Certification (SOC);
• DTCC professional certification;

Technical & Functional Skills

1. Settlement & Trading Systems

• Settlement platforms (Broadridge, CVS/QST)
• Trading systems (Bloomberg or any other Order and Execution Management Systems)
• Trade matching and reconciliation tools

2. Core Competencies

• Deep understanding of SDLC and software delivery best practices
• Technical aptitude with ability to understand complex system architecture
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Attention to detail and accuracy (critical in settlement operations)
• Strong communication and stakeholder management
• Cross-functional collaboration skills
• Regulatory and compliance awareness
• Process improvement and optimisation mindset
• Adaptability to changing technologies and methodologies
• Project and delivery management experience
• Ability to bridge business and technical domains

3. Domain Knowledge

• Securities settlement lifecycle and post-trade operations
• Trade fails, exception handling, and reconciliation processes
• Corporate actions processing and impact on settlement
• Regulatory requirements (T+1, SEC Rule 10b-10, FINRA standards)
• DTC, NSCC, and DTCC operational procedures
• Counterparty risk management
• Cash and securities reconciliation methodologies
• Custody and depository operations