FICC Business Analyst - Exeter based

Description

The role is a Business Analyst post in the FICC (fixed income, currencies and commodities) part of FTSE Russell, based in Exeter, supporting the delivery and development of index, benchmark and data products.

You will help turn strategic, client, operational, regulatory and technology needs into clear outcomes that can be delivered, following each product from concept to live operation.

You will find and shape opportunities for new products, product improvements, platform change, automation, data work and changes to the operating model. Work covers fixed income indices, interest rate and FX benchmarks, commodities and digital assets, along with the systems, data and controls behind their calculation, administration and distribution.

The team works in a product-led model, partnering with Product, Engineering and Operations and working with Index Research, Data, Governance, Risk, Compliance, Sales and others. The ideal candidate pairs solid analysis skills with knowledge of financial markets, data and technology, and with controlled delivery in a regulated setting.

Responsibilities

• Gather, analyse and write up business, functional and non-functional requirements, centred on what stakeholders need, the outcomes they want and how value will be measured.
• Help deliver new and improved FICC indices, benchmarks, data services and related capabilities, from first idea through implementation to business-as-usual running.
• Write business requirements, process maps, user stories, acceptance criteria, impact assessments and other analysis documents suited to the delivery approach.
• Work with Product, Engineering and Operations to weigh solution options, dependencies, risks, controls, operational readiness and implementation effects.
• Turn index methodologies, benchmark rules, data specifications and business rules into requirements that can be built and tested.
• Plan and run business and user acceptance testing: scenarios, expected results, traceability, defect handling and business sign-off.
• Find ways to improve processes through automation, standardisation, simplification and better use of data and technology.
• Support platform migrations, system modernisation, data onboarding, vendor and third-party integrations and decommissioning across the FICC estate.
• Assess data sourcing, quality, lineage, licensing and operational factors, working with internal teams and external providers as needed.
• Contribute to governance, change control, risk assessment, operational resilience and control design, so solutions are sustainable and well documented.
• Run workshops, working groups and decision forums, presenting complex information clearly and challenging assumptions constructively.
• Build working relationships across regions and functions, keeping people informed on scope, decisions, changes, issues and dependencies.
• Support responses to regulatory, policy, audit or methodology changes that affect FTSE Russell indices and benchmarks.

Requirements

• Substantial business analysis, change delivery or product implementation experience in financial services, market data, index or benchmark administration, banking, broking, asset management or a data or vendor environment.
• Good grasp of financial markets and of at least one FICC or index area, such as fixed income, interest rates, foreign exchange, commodities, digital assets, index methodologies or benchmark administration.
• Strong skill in eliciting and analysing requirements, and the confidence to question scope, assumptions, outcomes and proposed solutions.
• Track record of producing high-quality requirements, process models, user stories, acceptance criteria, impact assessments and test documentation.
• Strong stakeholder management and facilitation skills, able to communicate clearly with Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk and other business functions.
• Experience working in a regulated, controlled environment, with understanding of governance, risk, controls, data quality and operational resilience.
• Good understanding of software and product development lifecycles, including agile and iterative approaches.
• Experience supporting testing, implementation and transition to business-as-usual, with attention to traceability, evidence and control requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to work across complex data, process and technology landscapes.
• Able to juggle competing priorities, hit deadlines, make sound decisions and work independently while staying collaborative.
• Familiarity with data analysis, query, workflow or automation tools is desirable. Practical knowledge of cloud technologies and modern data platforms would be an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, able to explain complex topics clearly to colleagues at different levels and across cultures.

Conditions

Hybrid working, with 3 days in the office and occasional travel.

Career stage: Senior Associate.

The company is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on protected grounds, and it makes reasonable accommodations for religious practices and for mental health or physical disability needs.

Benefits

• Tailored benefits and support, including healthcare, retirement planning, paid volunteering days and wellbeing initiatives.
• Opportunities to join charitable and sustainability activity, including fundraising and volunteering through the company's charity.