Business Applications Analyst (12-month fixed-term contract)

The Firm
HFW is a sector focused global law firm.  We have over 600 lawyers working across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.  We take a progressive approach to our roles in commercial business – thinking creatively and pragmatically to support our clients.

Whether we are solving complex issues within the construction, aviation or shipping industries, or providing advice across insurance, commodities and energy we are specialist lawyers here to add value to our clients.  We think about the commercial solution first, and then underpin our advice with a solid foundation of legal expertise. 

The Department
HFW has an IT Department of approximately 50 staff globally, located in London, Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Melbourne and Singapore.  The IT team is undergoing a period of significant change and maturation very much aligned to the ambition of the firm, and this role is a key element in improving the performance and value derived from the applications supporting the legal practice and operations. Together, we are implementing a world-class IT infrastructure and services designed to assist our clients, lawyers and business services.

The Role
HFW is running an ambitious digital transformation programme, which is moving the Firm's systems into Microsoft's cloud and leveraging the latest development and delivery techniques to deliver value to its clients and differentiate it from its competitors.

The Business Applications Analyst is a SFIA level 4 role, which will work closely with the Firm's Partners, staff and clients to identify and deliver innovative technical solutions, either from the Firm's portfolio of applications such as Office 365, iManage Work and HighQ, or to assess options to build (e.g. using Mendix or Power Apps) or buy.

The successful candidate will have a hands-on, business-oriented approach and will be curious, with a desire to research and apply the latest technology developments across a wide spectrum of areas, e.g. contract management, transaction management, computational contracts, machine learning for document review, etc.

The role will sit within the Technology Delivery team and will work closely with the IT Operations, Service Desk and Cyber teams.

There will be excellent opportunities for development and progression, with exposure to a wide range of internal customers across the Firm, underpinned by training.

The role is pivotal in ensuring that technology supports the delivery of legal services to HFW's lawyers and clients, which will differentiate the Firm from its competitors.
The Firm has a flexible approach to working patterns and the workplace, which reflects its global nature.

Duties and responsibilities
•    The incumbent will perform at level 4 across a range of disciplines within SFIA. This includes:
•    Acts as product owner for one or more lower-value products or services; prioritises product requirements and owns a product backlog.
•    Analyses market and/or user research, feedback, expert opinion and usage data to understand needs and opportunities.
•    Defines the required behaviour and performance of the system, product or service in terms of the total user experience, resolving potential conflicts between differing user requirements.
•    Specifies measurable criteria for the required usability and accessibility of the system, products and services.
•    Finds opportunities for innovation in, and enhancement of, systems, products and services.
•    Collects and analyses data related to people’s behaviours, needs, and opinions.
•    Creates insights, reports and presentations to inform decision making and drive actions.
•    Investigates operational requirements, problems, and opportunities, seeking effective business solutions through improvements in automated and non-automated components of new or changed processes.
•    Assists in the analysis of stakeholder objectives, and the underlying issues arising from investigations into business requirements and problems, and identifies options for consideration.
•    Works with stakeholders, to identify potential benefits and available options for consideration, and in defining acceptance tests.
•    Plans and performs all types of user experience evaluation to check and confirm that usability and accessibility requirements have been met.
•    Evaluates prototypes or designs of systems, products or services against the agreed usability and accessibility specifications.
•    Other responsibilities include:
•    Delivers training sessions to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to colleagues.
•    Works closely with the P3M team, and suppliers where appropriate, to manage day to day the delivery, embedding and optimisation of business-oriented, innovative technology solutions.
•    Represents the IT department both internally and client facing as a member of the IT department.
•    Any other ad hoc duties as and when required.
Key skills and experience required
•    Experience of involvement in successful technology delivery in a legal or comparable professional services organisation would be beneficial but not essential.
•    Candidates could be from a technology supplier or be a lawyer by background.
•    Effective evidence of ability to operate at SFIA Level 4.
•    Demonstrable experience of liaising with a range of stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
•    Good understanding of the technology market, with professional services-centric solutions advantageous.
•    Strong analytical skills with a good understanding of business analysis techniques.
•    Able to effectively translate and accurately communicate technology matters to senior technical and non-technical stakeholders.
•    Able to manage stakeholders’ expectations when delivering complex change to deadlines.
•    Curious and inquisitive mind-set, with a passion for delivering innovative solutions.
•    Excellent, pragmatic approach to risk and issue management. 
•    Professional manner with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively.
Additional Information
Kindly note, this job description is not contractual. It will be reviewed periodically and may be amended or altered to meet the needs of the firm.

Due to the volume of applications, only those candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

HFW operates a Preferred Supplier List (PSL). Recruitment agencies should not submit CVs unless they are part of the PSL and have been engaged regarding this specific vacancy

HFW aims to ensure equality of opportunity and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff.  All applications will be considered only on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.

HFW collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants to manage its recruitment process.  The firm is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations.  For information on how the firm will process your data, please see our Privacy Notice on our website (www.hfw.com/Privacy-Notice), in the section "What we collect and how we use it".