Business Systems Analyst

**Schedule**
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

**Education Level**
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field of study

**Career Level**
Requires 2 years of relevant experience

McMaster University Continuing Education is an ancillary focused on the learning needs of adults who are typically working professionals wanting to study part-time. Presently, McMaster Continuing Education offers over 30 programs including certificates and diplomas in different professional areas; professional development offerings; programs targeting the learning and development needs of McMaster employees. McMaster University Continuing Education also organizes diverse community engagement activities; engages in internal and external partnerships; provides corporate learning opportunities for local businesses as well as provincial and national organizations; and maintains professional relationships with accrediting bodies and provincial and national learning associations. McMaster Continuing Education employs a staff of approximately 35 and more than 150 part-time instructors and consultants.

The Business Systems Analyst (I) will use a variety of specialized skills to support Continuing Education’s information technology systems and related business processes. The position is responsible for running processes in PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, monitoring data integrity and creating and modifying reports. The position is also responsible for troubleshooting system problems and recommending solutions. A strong knowledge of relational databases and query writing skills are critical for the role.

**Job Summary**:
The Business Systems Analyst (I) acts as a technical and consulting resource for routine and moderately complex issues related to various University departments and units with respect to the implementation and maintenance of information technology systems. Supports the University's academic and administration departments by acting in a functional capacity in all phases of the Project Life Cycle for components of medium to large projects, including post-production support and ongoing maintenance. Continuously gains an understanding of the University's operations and processes and how systems are used in support of those operations. Works under routine supervision without frequent reference to others and uses minor discretion to resolve various problems and inquiries. Specific instruction is given and work is frequently reviewed.

**Purpose and Key Functions**:

- Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirement workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, and task and workflow analysis.
- Analyze information needs and functional requirements and deliver artifacts such as functional requirements, business process models, use cases, screen and interface designs, test plans and test cases.
- Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources to distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs
- Take ownership of functional issues by identifying underlying problems, analyzing potential solutions and implementing system resolutions, including workarounds.
- Provide Level III post implementation support to users regarding functional issues.
- Participate in all phases of testing including, but not limited to, system, integration, acceptance, regression, and performance.
- Work with the development team to determine technical approaches and technical risks for project testing.
- Develop requirement specifications according to standard templates, using natural language.
- Work closely with testing team members to ensure that requirements are testable.
- Prepare and assist other testers with the creation of test cases.
- Identify and manage defects identified during all phases of a project.
- Review test cases created by testing team members to ensure that the test cases adequately define the business processes.
- Resolve problems in the test, production implementation, and post-implementation phases in coordination with other technical and business groups.
- Develop simple queries using basic Business Intelligence tools.
- Review systems, processes, and information and provide recommendations to supervisor.
- Serve as the conduit between the Project Management Office and development teams through which requirements flow.
- Liaise between the technology and support teams.
- Communicate project, issue, and system status to the Lead and Project Manager.
- Communicate testing results to other stakeholders.
- Facilitate effective dialog between technical staff.
- Interact with and exchange information with colleagues.
- Follow a test script and document defects.
- Prepare and review recommendations and other project initiation documents.
- Prepare and review end user and operations documentation, training materials, and timelines.
- Maintain information technology process flow, methodology, and control documentati