Business Analyst Consultant, CAX

The Opportunity:  At Equitable, we believe great things happen when we work together. We’re a Canadian mutual company driven by purpose - putting people first and helping Canadians protect today and prepare for tomorrow. If you’re passionate about making a difference and growing your career in an inclusive and collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you. Our culture is built on care, passion and curiosity. We put people above all else, strive to be our best and welcome new ideas to deliver positive outcomes.   We're seeking a Business Analyst Consultant – CAX to lead high-impact IT initiatives, bridging business needs with technology solutions in areas like process redesign, automation, and CAX systems. This role combines strategic analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and hands-on project leadership to drive innovation and operational excellence. Join one of the region’s top employers and be part of something that truly makes a difference.Work Arrangements: This is a hybrid role. You will work in our office in Waterloo, ON a minimum of two (2) assigned, consecutive days every other week, plus a fifth (5th) assigned day per month. You are welcome to work from the office more than the minimum requirement, and there may be some roles that are required to work in our office more than the minimum requirement.   What you’ll do: Develop a formal Business Analyst practice and User Acceptance Testing practice, ensuring process and tool alignment with the IT Systems Analyst and Quality Assurance practices  Manage project scope, schedule, reporting, issue tracking and escalation for non-IT projects Primary liaison between Business and IT partners, involved with scope definition, issue management   Lead and drive requirements analysis and review, identifying the most optimal requirements to meet business needs   Assess IT estimates and determine the MVP (Minimal Viable Product) required to meet the business benefits, while balancing project costs and timelines   Strategic planning through creation of feasibility studies and business cases  Consult with management on business needs, opportunities and operational effectiveness with recommended solutions for process improvements  Recommends business solutions, recommending alternatives that satisfy sponsor/stakeholder needs  Document requirements and facilitate requirements review sessions with Business sponsors, project stakeholders and IT partners; Requirements include functional, non-functional, traditional and user stories/features  Participate in technical analysis meetings/daily stand-ups with IT partners and support Systems Analysts during the development of functional specifications   Closely work with developers and other IT resources to advocate for the business, to ensure user satisfaction  Works in partnership with Quality Assurance Analysts to ensure test strategy mitigates business risk  Supports and coordinates User Acceptance Testing by supporting planning, development of test cases, execution of tests and consideration of automated testing techniques  Creates or assists others in the writing of user documentation, instructions and procedures  Supports post-implementation testing, ensuring coverage of user testing to ensure no production issues  Identify and escalate project risks and issues      What you’ll bring:   10 years as a Lead Business Analyst or Systems Analyst on Large IT Projects, in the financial services or insurance industry  Strong critical thinking and analytical capability, with the ability to define and resolve complex issues   Strong experience in Process Redesign, including data modeling, transaction flow analysis, internal control and risk analysis and modern business methods and performance measurement techniques  Expert level knowledge of the Business Analysis, including process, tools and techniques  Experience developing, coaching and mentoring Business Analysts/User Acceptance Testers, at a junior to senior level  Proven success in the development and implementation of training programs  Strong organization skills and well-developed project management skills  Ability to write business cases, project plans, schedules and budgets  Excellent influencing and interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and advocate for Business partners  Strong knowledge of systems development methodologies  Knowledge and experience with agile development and product ownership  Solution assessment and validation to ensure alignment with Business needs  Experience developing non-functional requirements (e.g. application performance, scalability, throughput)   The ability to work at a conceptual/strategic level and at a detailed level  Superior documentation & presentation skills (written and verbal)  Superior motivational and communication skills  Strong conceptual skills and ability to exercise flexibility and judgement in a changing environment  Excellent self-management and time management skills  Business Analyst Certification or significant previous experience as a BA  Post secondary degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience  Technical Skills:  MS Office  MS Visio  HP ALM/Quality Center  Test Automation Tools are an asset What’s in it for you: Career Growth: Regular learning sessions and development opportunities  Total Rewards: Incentive pay, annual salary reviews, employer-paid benefits and pension matching  Time Away: Competitive vacation plus one paid volunteer day each year Flexibility: Healthy work-life balance with employee wellness always top of mind, complemented by a “dress for your day” approach At Equitable, we’re committed to fair pay and an inclusive, accessible hiring experience. If you need accommodations or alternative formats at any stage, just reach out to us at careers@equitable.ca. We’re happy to help.Your base pay will be based on your skills, qualifications, experience and education. In addition to your salary, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award tied to business performance, plus a wide range of competitive benefits. If you’re selected to move forward, our Talent Acquisition team will walk you through all the details of our total rewards program, so you know exactly what’s included.      Reports To: Director, Individual Wealth Portfolio Management Office Department: Individual Wealth Portfolio Management OfficeTerm: Permanent Full-Time Band 4L