IT Business Analyst

Company

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (PLM) is headquartered is in Center City Philadelphia. We are recognized as one of the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Top Workplaces for nearly a decade! We are America’s premier property and casualty insurance company dedicated to protecting wood-related businesses such as lumber, building materials retailers, and distributors to wood product manufacturers and sawmills. We establish long-term relationships built on stability in the marketplace, superior service, industry-specific risk management, quality products, and the utmost professionalism as we consistently strive for profitable growth. At PLM, we believe that company growth starts with employee development. We fully fund continuing education within general business and insurance and encourage our people to pursue industry designations. Our benefits are designed to motivate and reward our people for their loyal service to PLM and its policyholders.

 

Summary Description

This position is vital for bridging the gap between business needs and IT capabilities, leading to improved efficiency, modernization, and successful project outcomes. The Business Analyst exists to serve as a liaison between the Business Departments and IT, ensuring that business requirements are clearly communicated to the IT team, reducing misunderstandings and improving project outcomes. The analyst conducts detailed analyses and integrates systems into business processes, leading to optimal efficiency and quality. Staying current on the latest insurance processes and IT advancements allows the Business Analyst to automate and modernize business processes. Serving as a liaison with vendor delivery staff, the Business Analyst monitors deliverables and ensures they meet requirements.

 

Responsibilities

The following are the day-to-day responsibilities for this position.

· Conduct detailed as-is and to-be process analysis and work with business stakeholders and IT to integrate systems into such processes.

· Collect business and functional requirements; constructs workflow charts, diagrams, and use cases.

· Conduct meetings and presentations to share ideas and findings.

· Perform quantitative and qualitative analyses to support process design leading to optimal efficiency and quality; develops reports and data analyses to measure ongoing operations, management, and control.

· Develop test strategy and plans and document results of functional testing.

· Assist in end user training development and delivery for applications and processes.

· Perform project management independently or in conjunction with a third-party project manager.

· Stay current on the latest insurance processes and related IT advancements to automate and modernize business processes particularly for the business functions supported. 

· Serve as liaison with third-party delivery staff, monitoring deliverables and ensuring timely and quality completion according to requirements.

 

Position Characteristics

Overall, the position requires a combination of technical expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders effectively. Misunderstandings or lack of clarity can lead to project delays and suboptimal outcomes. As a liaison between business departments and IT, the Business Analyst must ensure clear communication of business requirements to the IT team.  Staying current on the latest insurance processes and related IT advancements is crucial for automating and modernizing business processes. This requires continuous learning and adaptation. Conducting detailed analyses and integrating systems into business processes can be complex and time-consuming. Ensuring seamless integration while maintaining efficiency and quality is a significant challenge. Serving as a liaison with vendor delivery staff and monitoring deliverables to ensure timely and quality completion according to requirements can be challenging, especially if there are discrepancies or delays. Building strong relationships and timely communications is critical to this position.

 

 

Position Requirements

General Competencies 

• Excellent analytical and conceptual thinking skills.
• Excellent oral communication and written documentation skills.
• Ability to understand stakeholders and work closely with them to determine solutions.
• Fundamental analytical and conceptual thinking skills.
• Innovative mindset and ability to invoke change.
• A track record of following through on commitments.
• Professional presentation and ability to engage in diverse business audiences.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills.
• Experience leading and facilitating teams.
• A history of leading and supporting successful projects.

Technical Expertise

• Experience writing traceable business and functional requirement documents.
• Proficiency in P&C insurance industry operations, processes, and business terminology.
• Experience in one or more core insurance systems: policy, claims, billing, with preference in claims.
• User experience and use case design and documentation.
• Experience with gathering reporting and data requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of SDLC and agile methodologies.
• SQL Querying experience
• Competency in Microsoft applications, MS Visio or other flowcharting tool.
• Experience with business intelligence tools and analytics is desired.
• Knowledge of AI and its capabilities is a plus

Education

• A bachelor's degree in business, MIS, or related field, or an MBA.
• Minimum five years experience in business analysis with three in insurance
• At least one professional business analyst certification is desired (e.g., IIBA)

  

Work Conditions

· Ability to hear

· Ability to speak clearly

· Ability to write

· Ability to walk, stand and sit for extended periods of time. 

· Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other components

· Occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or address project or operational issue

 

Measures of Success

• % of Requirements with First Time Approval/Signoff
• % On-time Delivery for Projects and Tasks
• # of Tickets within 90 Days Post Implementation
• % User Satisfaction/Project Sentiment
• % Support Service Levels Met
• % Innovation Score