Principal Business Analyst

Principal Business Analyst

Department: Product & Delivery

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London or Manchester UK

Description

About us

We're Transform.

Transform is a fresh alternative to Big Consulting. As an end-to-end transformation partner, we define, design, build and operate systems that solve our clients' toughest challenges and seize their biggest opportunities. That often means combining strategy, data, AI, technology, and change management.

Sometimes we manage and operate the systems we create; other times, we hand it over for the client to run - standing by to make improvements when things change. It all comes down to making an impact: improving lives, supporting citizens, streamlining workflows, and making the world a better place.

We specialise in public sector and public-facing organisations-from government agencies and local authorities to energy, utilities, transportation and healthcare. We also work for some of the world's most dynamic brands across automotive, retail, financial services, and consumer goods.

We work closely (often on site) with our clients; to deliver impact you are keen to help us build the workforce of the future, we should talk.

We're all in! That's what gets us out of bed every day. We hope you feel the same.

The Role

We are looking for a Principal Business Analyst to join our growing Product and Delivery practice.

As a Principal Business Analyst, you will set the standard for our BA community, providing leadership, guidance, and support to more junior colleagues. You'll work across a wide range of projects in both the public and private sectors, helping organisations deliver better outcomes for their customers, clients, and stakeholders.

You'll have proven experience leading teams (including other Business Analysts) and driving improvements in delivery. You'll be confident "speaking digital" with both specialists and non-specialists, enjoy tackling complex analytical challenges, and be comfortable contributing to business development activities such as tenders and pitches.

Key Responsibilities

Expert BA Practitioner

• Lead the investigation of problems and design of business solutions using a range of research and analysis techniques.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate risks and issues.
• Gather, consolidate, and interpret complex information, presenting it clearly to both business and technical colleagues.
• Lead the design of solutions using process, workflow, or digital techniques (including BDD).
• Refine and develop ideas into viable solutions, enabling colleagues across roles (e.g. product managers, researchers, service designers, developers, and delivery managers) to contribute effectively.
• Provide thought leadership within Transform's BA community, fostering an open culture of knowledge-sharing and best practice.
• Bring your own ideas, perspectives, and recommendations, drawing on both professional and personal experience.
• Lead clients in applying best practice, demonstrate account leadership, and ensure quality throughout delivery engagements.

Practice Leadership

• Role-model the behaviours and attitudes expected across the practice.
• Provide line management for junior BAs, supporting their growth and development.
• Play a key role in BA recruitment, helping attract and assess top talent.
• Maintain a growth mindset, championing new practices and innovations to keep Transform ahead of the curve.
• Contribute to wider business growth through capability and community development, knowledge-sharing, well-being initiatives, proposal development, and brand visibility.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven track record leading teams to improve how organisations deliver for their stakeholders.
• Experience mentoring and developing BAs, ideally within a community of practice.
• Experience in team growth activities, including recruitment.
• Ability to oversee and improve BA deliverables and outputs.
• Deep understanding of Agile methods and experience working in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.
• Skilled in coaching customers on high-quality business analysis processes and techniques.
• Strong ability to capture and clearly articulate organisational needs.
• Experience using creative, engaging methods to bring requirements and solutions to life for stakeholders.
• Comfortable working with diverse disciplines and perspectives, aligning them into a shared vision.
• Strong problem investigation skills with the ability to guide teams toward effective solutions.
• Proficient at producing evidence, documentation, and reporting to track progress and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Holder of a BCS Diploma in Business Analysis (or similar qualification).
• Demonstratable growth mindset with evidence of continuous learning and improvement.
• Experience of contributing to wider business growth initiatives and success, both as part of a team and individually.
• A growth mindset
• AI curious and ready to embrace opportunities

Desirable Skills/Experiences

Experience in any of the following would be a plus:

• Scrum Mastery or Delivery Management
• Product Management
• Data Modelling
• Testing / QA Management
• User Research or Service Design
• Consultancy

About us and our benefits

Our culture is built on

• We raise the bar
• We look out for each other
• We embrace our differences
• We shape a changing world
• We're all in

Our benefits include

• Holiday entitlement, 28 days with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days (note that 3 days are held for Christmas holidays)
• Day off (on or in the week of) your birthday
• Pension eligibility, up to 5% matched contributions
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• Enhanced maternity and enhanced paternity and shared parental leave
• Cycle to work schemes
• Gym & retail discounts
• Regular social events/activities
• A range of other benefits from our flexible benefits package

At Transform, you can expect meaningful work, with real impact and the space to grow as people as well as a professional.

You'll work alongside curious, authentic experts who care deeply about doing the right thing, for our clients and for each other with no egos, no blame, and no standing on the sidelines.

We're all in on creating an environment where people feel supported, included and trusted to do their best work. In return, we ask for curiosity, honesty and a willingness to lean into learning, quality, teamwork, and to making change that truly lasts.

We're committed to equality of opportunity for all, and we actively seek applications from all ethnicities, orientations, beliefs, gender identities + those with neurodiverse traits and disabilities. We want you to have the best opportunity to show us who you are and what you can do. Please do let us know if you need any adjustments now or at any point in the recruitment process.

If this sounds like you, please get in touch to discuss in more detail.

Use of AI in CV and Interviews

We value authenticity and transparency in our hiring process. To ensure fairness and accuracy in assessing your skills and experience, we ask that you refrain from using AI-assisted tools to generate answers during the application process or within interviews.

We are looking for genuine insights into your abilities, experiences, and personality. Any misrepresentation through AI-generated content may impact our ability to make an informed decision. We look forward to getting to know the real you!