Lead Data Business Analyst (ERP)

Role: Lead Data Business Analyst
Role overview
The Lead Data Business Analyst will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of Phase 0 (an initial phase of work to assess the viability of the business case) of the ERP programme, which focuses on understanding and preparing the data landscape across HR and Finance globally. This individual will lead efforts to identify, map, and assess key data sources, ensuring the groundwork is laid for seamless integration and transformation in subsequent project phases.

This is a hands-on role. During the first three months, the Lead Data Business Analyst will need to engage closely with stakeholders across the business to gain a deep understanding of the current data landscape—identifying the systems and data in scope, defining key data requirements, and working with the system integrator (SI) to catalogue data while the SI produces the overall strategy. It is critical that whoever takes on this role is a diligent, self-organised professional who understands the importance of data quality, rather than someone who simply operates in a management role.

The exact deliverables will be agreed during initiation but the types of output we would expect to be delivered by this role would be a data inventory, a data mapping document and a data quality assessment.

Engagement details
Engagement Duration: Initial 3-month full-time role, aligned with the Phase 0 SI engagement. Potential for extension contingent on Phase 1 approval.
Start Date: Inline with Phase 0 start, expected March.
Location: Primarily remote. However, alignment with UK/EU time zones is strongly preferred due to the need for frequent collaboration with global stakeholders.

Key responsibilities
Identify and document key data sources across HR and Finance globally, mapping them to ERP requirements.
Collaborate with stakeholders to define high-level data cleansing and transformation rules.
Conduct an initial assessment of data quality, highlighting risks and gaps.
Coordinate with HR and Finance teams to validate assumptions using preliminary data samples.
Provide inputs to the overall project plan, defining data-related timelines, risks, and resource needs.

Skills, Experience, and Knowledge
The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
Skills:
• Strong data analysis and mapping capabilities, particularly in HR and Finance domains.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to manage complex data landscapes and identify risks proactively.
• Organisational skills to coordinate data activities across distributed teams.

Experience:
• Proven experience in data lead roles within ERP projects, preferably SAP-based implementations.
• Track record of working on complex, multi-country projects with diverse system landscapes.
• Experience collaborating with System Integrators (SI) during project discovery and data strategy phases.

Knowledge:
• Deep understanding of data requirements for HR and Finance processes in ERP contexts.
• Familiarity with data governance, data quality assessment, and cleansing best practices.
• Knowledge of global data compliance standards and regulations.

Evaluation Criteria
When reviewing CVs, the following attributes will be critical:
• Evidence of similar ERP data lead roles in previous projects.
• Clear articulation of problem-solving approaches for complex data issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work with geographically dispersed teams and systems.
• Relevant technical and project management certifications (e.g., Prince2, PMP, data governance).