Lead Business Systems Analyst (Guidewire) _ Direct Hire

Kaeppel Consulting is seeking an experienced Lead Business Systems Analyst / Functional Lead with deep expertise in Guidewire to work for one of our clients in one of the following locations- Jacksonville, FL; Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; Alpharetta, GA; Dallas, TX; Downers Grove, IL. This role will focus on collaborating with stakeholders and developers to define and deliver on product and program requirements, driving large-scale projects and initiatives. The successful candidate will be responsible for gathering and analyzing business needs, recommending best practices, and managing production activities to achieve business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business Process Analysis: Conduct thorough analysis of business operations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for process automation, cost reduction, and performance improvement.
• Requirements Definition: Gather and document requirements in the form of use cases, business process flows, data flow diagrams, and user stories with detailed acceptance criteria.
• Guidewire Expertise: Leverage in-depth knowledge of Guidewire PolicyCenter and BillingCenter, including the data model, to provide expert advice on system design and implementation.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Act as a liaison between business teams and IT, ensuring alignment on priorities, timelines, and objectives. Guide stakeholders through the product’s capabilities and potential improvements.
• Project Documentation: Prepare key project management deliverables, including project proposals, charters, schedules, and plans. Ensure comprehensive and consistent documentation methodologies across projects.
• Risk Management: Own the identification, analysis, and mitigation of risks across projects. Provide clear communication of risks, impacts, and resolutions to stakeholders.
• Process Improvement: Continuously seek opportunities to enhance business processes using metrics, automation, and best practices. Lead initiatives for process improvement across the organization.
• Scrum Participation: Actively participate in scrum ceremonies, providing input to sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for Guidewire products, particularly in P&C Non-Standard Auto Insurance, and contribute to the success of large-scale initiatives across multiple departments.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: 12-15 years of business analysis experience, specifically in the Guidewire space. Experience in P&C insurance or a related financial services industry is highly desirable.
• Guidewire Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of Guidewire PolicyCenter and BillingCenter data models, with expertise in P&C Non-Standard Auto Insurance business processes.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Experience with SQL, Microsoft Access, and ServiceNow is a plus. Familiarity with Splunk, Application Dynamics, and APM tools is beneficial.
• Education: A degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience. Additional certifications or coursework in insurance or computer science are preferred.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both business and IT stakeholders.
• Emotional Intelligence: High emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust-based relationships with both peers and stakeholders.
• Organization & Detail Orientation: Exceptional organizational and attention-to-detail skills. Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and ensure high-quality delivery.
• Facilitation Skills: Excellent facilitation skills for meetings, workshops, and cross-functional collaborations.

Additional Qualifications (Nice to Have):

• Experience with ServiceNow for incident management and project tracking.
• Proficiency with APM tools (e.g., Splunk, Application Dynamics) to analyze system performance and drive insights.
• Knowledge of controls and procedures related to business processes and improvement initiatives.