JOB TITLE:  APPLICATIONS ANALYST

(FINANCE SYSTEMS)

REPORTS TO:  APPLICATIONS MANAGER

DIVISION: Group IT

LOCATION:  BURTON

Role Purpose

The Applications Analyst (Finance Systems) is responsible for support and development for our Finance systems across the Punch Group (Presently Peoplesoft v8.8 & JDE v7.5). Experience of latest versions of JDE and Psoft would be preferable. The role includes:

1.      support, problem analysis and development of the Finance systems

2.      providing technical support to users of the system

3.      manage the outsourced suppliers supporting the two Finance systems in conjunction with Applications Manager

4.      working with stakeholders and users of the systems to ensure the processes supported by these systems are optimised;

5.      working with suppliers & end users to support the Finance systems

a.      identify opportunities for improvement/development

b.      deliver these improvements in a timely & cost effective way.

c.      working with the appropriate Applications Support Manager ensure support and developments done by out-sourced suppliers (if applicable) are of high quality and on a cost effective basis

Key Accountabilities

·         Support, problem Analysis, development (or configuration) of Punch Group finance systems

·         Provides day to day support for queries, problems and changes to projects within agreed service levels

·         Provide out of hours support on a rota basis

·         Ensure that SLA’s are maintained for all appropriate Applications environments

·         Work with end users & suppliers to identify & analyse opportunities for improving the existing Application environments

·         Work with end users & suppliers to understand & optimise the business processes supported by the Applications

·         Work with the Project Office to assist in the design and development of new project plans and business cases

·         Working with the Applications Support Manager and the Commercial IT Manager to ensure appropriate contracts are in place with suppliers

·         Work with the Applications Technical Analyst to ensure that Applications are developed and maintained within the agreed technical policies and standards.

·         Ensure that applications are developed and tested in accordance with Company methodologies

·         Produce appropriate documentation for projects within agreed company and IT standards.

·         Provide support as necessary for any Disaster Recovery tests required to be done

Role Dimensions

Financial (budgetary control etc.)

Non-financial (staff management etc)

·         This role has no budgetary control

• This role has no direct reports

Key Relationships

• Applications Senior Analyst
• Applications Manager
• Applications Technical Analyst
• Technical Architect & Security Manager
• Commercial IT Manager
• Infrastructure & Operations Team
• Project Office
• Appropriate Functional users

Typical Outputs (reporting requirements etc)

 Any outputs required will be agreed by the Manager this role reports into.

Person Specification

Competency Requirements

Technical / Professional Expertise Required

• Excellent analytical skills
• Business Process reviews
• Excellent technical skills appropriate to the Applications to be supported
• Good understanding of the business processes relevant to the Applications e.g. Asset Management, Lease Lifecycle etc
• Strong Project Management skills, ideally familiar with PRINCE2/P3
• Ability to find pragmatic, cost effective & ‘fit for purpose’ solutions to business problems
• Drive to get things done in a timely and efficient manner
• Good relationship management skills with the ability to manage a wide range of stakeholders effectively
• Excellent communication skills (verbal & written)
• Ability to influence other staff as appropriate
• Must be able to juggle a range of activities at any one time.

·         General competencies required:

o        Striving for success and bias to action

• Self confidence
• Customer orientation
• Good team player
• Ensuring delivery and quality
• Flexibility

·         At least 2 years experience of working with relevant technologies

·         Understanding of best practice processes relevant to finance applications

·         More than 2 cycles of experience implementing similar applications or projects elsewhere

·         Knowledge of PRINCE2 & ITIL

• Some experience of relationship management in a demanding client base
• Experience of working in a fast paced retail environment with quick turnaround times
• Experience of working with large scale IT application developments.