Position: Business Analyst (Ref code: 130913-KATFOR-EX-IO35-JOH)

Location: Washington, DC

Duration: 12 months

Description:

Cognos Prototype Developer or Business Analyst with Cognos background
(Financial & Administrative Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence Applications)

Job Summary

Cognos implementation experience is required.
Work with the business clients to analyze needs and then build prototypes for the Business users. Will then pass this prototype to the development team.
May propose new functionality, new development and enhancements while working directly with the business users.
Familiarity with Cognos Business Intelligence and Enterprise Planning 10.1.1 or 10.2 and ORACLE 11g and their integration with SharePoint are highly desirable.

The Business Analyst provides leadership in the application of technology to achieve business outcomes. Persons in this position are expected to understand business processes and how enabling technologies can be applied to achieve business objectives. The Business Analyst has the ability to synthesize inputs from many sources, and to bridge the relationship between business and technology units. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are as important as technical skills in this internal consulting role. Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Identifying opportunities to enhance business unit performance by utilizing knowledge of business priorities, conducting business process analysis, and applying knowledge of technology tools and applications
Developing the business case to convince business unit stakeholders to adopt new work practices and technologies
Overseeing or conducting the collection, documentation, analysis and communication of business and functional requirements, and ensuring understanding by technical team members
Working with business and technical teams to evaluate and select technical solutions, possibly overseeing or participating in the development of prototypes or proofs of concept; conducting presentations and facilitating discussions with users
Participating in the preparation of Requests for Information and Requests for Proposals for technology solutions
Overseeing or assisting in development of business case for change, including cost/benefit analysis and risks and feasibility studies
Participating in the design, selection, testing, and implementation of solutions
Serve as subject matter expert
Coordinate with service provider performing hands-on software development
Review technical designs to ensure feasibility and good fit with existing and new systems
Coordinate the quality assurance and testing process.
Assess user training needs, participate in the development and review of user documentation, and coordinate the development and delivery of user technical support and training
Review or participate in the development of implementation plans for new applications and work practices, including plans to manage transition to new work practices and applications
Monitoring and analyzing end user satisfaction with IT solutions and services
Marketing IT services to business units by: educating customers on the value of IT services and how they meet business unit objectives; communicating technology strategies and plans; and promoting understanding of IT roles, processes and activities.
Experience
Identifying, documenting and analyzing opportunities to improve business processes and facilitate decision making, including business unit adoption of new processes
Gathering, analyzing, and documenting business objectives and functional requirements
Developing business architecture and designs
Supervising more junior staff or outsourced service providers using performance-based contracting
Familiarity with budgeting, corporate performance management, including financial and HR analytics
Managing large and complex software development projects, having multiple interfaces and external dependencies, from formulation through implementation. Recent experience in managing enterprise data-centric projects and systems (data marts, warehouses, business intelligence dashboards and scorecards) is highly desirable.

Skills

Familiarity with enterprise architecture principles and a broad range of technologies supplemented by in-depth knowledge in specific areas of relevance
Ability to quickly grasp how new technologies work and how they might be applied to achieve business goals
Analytical skills that enable synthesis of inputs from many sources, and allow for strategic thinking and tactical implementation
Interpersonal skills that create openness and trust among colleagues
Facilitation and conflict management skills that enable effective working relationships
Ability to multi-task and to improvise when necessary to keep a project on track
Spoken and written communications that are compelling, convincing and reassuring and skills to articulate complex technical ideas to non-technical stakeholders.

Education
Advanced university degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, business, or related field of study or equivalent, plus a minimum of four years of relevant experience; or a bachelors degree in computer science or a related field of study plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, is required.