Business Analyst - Akron, Ohio, , United States

Job Summary · The Business Analyst (BA) serves as a process expert for Valmark's investment business, and plays a critical role in creating useful reports, analyzing data, identifying strategic and tactical enhancements, project management, and driving investment initiatives to c ...

Job description

Job Summary

The Business Analyst (BA) serves as a process expert for Valmark's investment business, and plays a critical role in creating useful reports, analyzing data, identifying strategic and tactical enhancements, project management, and driving investment initiatives to completion. The BA works across the investment operations team, including the Principal Review, Controls, and Processing teams. The BA has a detailed understanding of both business functions and technology used on these teams and uses that knowledge to make recommendations or improvements to existing processes and procedures. The BA is required to have a strong technical background and ability to collaborate with diverse workstyles as will serve as the liaison between the business units, vendors and shared services such as Information Technology and Financial Reporting.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

1. Lead Strategic Technology and Process Enhancements

• Drive technology initiatives that create efficiencies, support scalability, and enhance both existing and new investment strategies.

• Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) and product lead for key investment technologies, overseeing testing, feedback, and vendor relationships such as PershingX, Tamarac, DST, etc.

• Identify and recommend process improvements or data initiatives that simplify complexity, optimize workflows, and ensure Valmark remains innovative within the industry.

2. Support the VP of Financial Operations and Division Leadership

• Partner closely with the VP – Financial Operations to improve productivity, manage competing priorities, and maximize impact across teams and product lines.

• Act as an integrator across various work streams, providing broad and balanced perspectives that align with organizational goals.

• Assist in preparing and facilitating meetings, tracking initiatives, and ensuring timely follow-up on key action items with IT and other internal stakeholders.

3. Manage Cross-Functional Communication and Collaboration

• Serve as a liaison among investment unit leaders to improve information flow and collaboration.

• Hold stakeholders accountable to project deadlines and deliverables.

• Promote alignment and synergy between teams by identifying shared goals and opportunities for integration.

4. Lead Data Analysis and Reporting Efforts

• Collect, analyze, and interpret investment data to provide insights and recommendations for leadership decision-making.

• Develop clear, actionable reports for Member Offices, carrier partners, and senior management.

• Monitor key performance indicators to identify trends, gaps, and areas for strategic improvement.

5. Drive and Manage Business Initiatives

• Own and manage business initiatives from concept through completion, including strategy, planning, communication, testing, implementation, and evaluation.

• Coordinate across departments to ensure milestones are met and outcomes align with organizational objectives.

• Serve as a central point of contact for project updates, risks, and adjustments.

6. Provide Leadership, Guidance, and Issue Resolution

• Steer and co-facilitate committee meetings with the VP of Financial Operations to advance division priorities.

• Act as an escalation resource on complex business or operational issues, providing recommendations and resolution strategies.

• Model collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement to strengthen the Investment division's overall effectiveness.

Core Competencies

• Ability to build mutually beneficial relationships with department leaders and diverse personality types
• Complex problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Strong understanding of business units and their processes
• Understanding of industry data feeds, aggregations, and leveraging these feeds and systems to the maximum extent possible
• Working knowledge of Target Process project management system
• Strategic thinking with the ability to identify opportunity and challenges
• Strong organization skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities with a high degree of follow through
• Collaborative and team-focused
• Self-started with ability to work independently in fast paced environment
• Ability to clearly articulate complex matters, both verbally and in writing
• Someone who encompasses and leads by our core values: Live by the Golden Rule, Tell the Truth About Everything, Simplify Complexity, Build Lasting, Mutually Beneficial Relationships, and Protect our Innovative and Entrepreneurial Culture

Supervisory Responsibility

• Not responsible for supervising employees.

Required Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Education and Experience

• Associates or Bachelor's degree
• 3 – 5 years of experience in Investment Operations
• Trained in Target Process

Physical Demands

This is a largely sedentary role. It may involve repetitive motions in the hands/wrists as this role is dependent on consistent computer-use during the workday.

Salary Range : $70,000-80,000

Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

Days and typical hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some flexibility in working hours is allowed, but the employee must work 40 hours each week to maintain full-time status. Up to 2 days WFH per week, per policy. 

Valmark reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. This job description in no way implies this is an all-inclusive list of responsibilities to be performed by the Employee in this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "at-will".