Business Analyst

Invitation to Compete #24-17

Business Analyst – Temporary

Administrative Services – Central Library

Full-time; 80 hours per pay period

$40.00 – $46.30 per hour

Complete applications materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.

This is a term-limited, full time, non-exempt and benefited position. This position may last up to 18 months.

Overview

The City of Seattle is in the midst of re-implementing its Summit Oracle/PeopleSoft Financial System (Summit Re-implementation Project, also known as “SRI”). This multi-year project will transform and standardize financial reporting, accounting practices and policies, and business processes across the City. The Seattle Public Library is filling a temporary analyst position to serve on the department’s Summit Re-implementation Team.

This position will work closely with the Business Office Manager, Finance team, and Library leadership to plan, coordinate and execute the department’s pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation efforts associated with the City’s Summit Re-implementation project. This position will report to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.

This is a business-focused role. The ideal candidate will be someone with experience engaging teams of stakeholders, subject matter experts, and end users – and who is comfortable acting as a liaison between the SRI technical implementation teams and Library staff.

The implementation of this project will require the candidate to be able to understand the City’s operational/structural requirements and purposes of SRI and to integrate the Library’s desired management structures and information requirements into the final system design.

The focus of the Business Analyst’s efforts will include business process analysis and design, project management, the people side of change management (partnering with and engaging key departmental stakeholders in design, test and implementation activities) as well as side systems readiness.

The Seattle Public Library is Seattle’s center of information and knowledge and one of the most popular and valued services in the city. Library staff members are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service and care. Staff members are committed to the Library’s organizational values of respect, partnership, engagement, diversity, transparency and recognition. In particular, they demonstrate respect, engage in partnerships, and are transparent in their communications and intentions. This position will work both at a strategic level, to help build out the project and define strategies across the Library, as well as playing a hands-on role in analysis, design, testing and rollout activities.

Job Responsibilities:

• Learn the Summit system in some detail to understand the functionality of the system and the configurations required to implement Library business requirements. This includes building an understanding of Library financial procedures and reporting requirements.
• Project Management: Lead on developing and managing timelines and work plans, dependencies and status reporting. Plan and facilitate productive meetings and manage, track, escalate (as necessary) and resolve issues.
• Analysis and Design: Conduct analysis and help facilitate decision-making about system configurations, customizations and changes as appropriate. This will be done working closely with SRI team members on both the Summit and Library side, as well as with relevant subject matter experts and decision-makers throughout the Library. Regular, ongoing tasks will include the provision of the proposed new Summit structural field elements as well as validating the functioning of the procedures/structures.
• Side system analysis & transition management: Partner with Library staff to understand applicable existing side systems and identify which ones can be replaced with PeopleSoft 9.2 functionality. For systems that will remain in place, lead the transition effort to integrate with PeopleSoft 9.2 and optimize associated business processes.
• Policies and Procedures: Responsible for understanding current processes and developing and managing the future financial and accounting policies and procedures based on project decisions. Develop business and technical processes for the Library as needed to support an optimal rollout of the new system. Tasks will include providing assistance in updating the documentation for departmental procedures.
• Spearhead functional and end-user testing: Work closely with SRI project functional analysts and departmental power users to ensure testing activities are robust and involve the right people while balancing day to day operations so they continue without negative impact.
• Training and go-live: Identify and develop Library specific training materials relative to systems implementation and go-live stabilization support. This may include updating existing policies, procedures and desk manuals to ensure Library operations are able to continue unabated and take optimal advantage of the more robust functionality available as a result of SRI.
• Attend periodic SRI related planning meetings to provide feedback pertaining to the functionality that will be required within the new financial system.

Qualifications:

• A Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA), Business Administration (MBA), or a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field with a combination of education, training, and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform responsibilities listed above.
• A minimum of two (2) years of work experience with project management, automated financial reporting systems, policy and procedure development, business analysis, systems readiness and/or organizational change management for a complex enterprise system implementation. Public sector experience strongly desired.
• Demonstrated ability to understand automated financial systems and financial reporting requirements of a complex, multifaceted organization considered a strong plus. Familiarity with the City of Seattle’s financial system (Summit PeopleSoft) is highly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Clear and succinct verbal, written and cross-cultural communication skills in person, by phone and via e-mail. Ability to communicate in a friendly and positive manner with a diverse customer base. Ability to communicate as appropriate for the needs of the intended audience to ensure understanding of materials.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills with the ability to resolve conflict, solve problems creatively, work effectively in a team setting and influence others to move toward a common vision. Must have the ability to operate with diplomacy, transparency, respect and discretion in all interactions.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work, and to work under pressure and with interruptions. Demonstrated ability to work independently, professionally, and effectively with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments from multiple stakeholders concurrently and to successfully meet deadlines.
• Strong customer service orientation which includes the ability to effectively work in a multicultural workplace with a diverse customer base.
• Commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library’s mission.

Additional Information:
How to Apply

To be considered for this vacancy candidates must submit an application via this bulletin and include:

• A Cover Letter describing how your qualifications and experience meet those required for the position.
• Resume
  

All application materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.

If you have questions about this bulletin or general questions regarding employment at the Library, please call 386-4121 or email jobapplications@spl.org

THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROUDLY PROMOTES DIVERSITY IN EMPLOYMENT. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please let us know.