Business Analyst I

HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union and Hope Policy Institute) provides financial services; leverages resources; and engages in advocacy that strengthens the financial health of people in under-resourced Deep South communities. Since 1994, these efforts have benefited more than three million people in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, and influenced billions in persistent poverty communities across the nation. Learn more at https://www.hopecu.org/.

• Title: Business Analyst I
• Department: Decision Science & Insights
• Reports To: Manager of Operational Data Reporting Decision Science & Insights
• Supervises: n/a
• Job Classification: Exempt
• Location: Remote

The Business Analyst I is primarily responsible for query and reporting across internal and external data sources to support program management and provide business value. The analyst assists in researching and analyzing program data to assess impact and efficiency, identify gaps in program performance, and support data-driven recommendations for process and program improvements.

This position is remote and available within our 6-state footprint of MS, LA, AR, AL, TN, or GA. Occasional travel to the corporate office in Jackson, MS for in-person meetings and/or training is required.

Responsibilities

• Understand complex business processes and translate them into meaningful requirements for development
• Create dynamic and interactive dashboards or reports via Power BI and/or other visualization tools where appropriate
• Analyze datasets using tools such as Excel, SQL Server, or Power BI, or within Microsoft Azure
• Build productive working relationships across departments and interact professionally with diverse teams and stakeholders
• Support strategic projects across operational initiatives to include project health, project updates, roadblocks, etc.
• Assist with mapping data sources to targets, data staging, identifying system connection points, and defining governance activities
• Conduct quality assurance activities (e.g data validation and verification, root cause analysis, documentation and reporting, as well as data quality standards)
• Learn and navigate end-user software systems to support reporting needs (e.g in-app reporting modules within core line of business systems)
• Drive process automation/process improvement activities that create operational efficiency (e.g using ETL tools, AI-powered tools, or workflow orchestration/scheduling tools)
• Become a team subject matter expert and work to understand the "WHY" behind data as well as program and organizational context to bridge the gap between technical skills and business strategy
• Prepare and presenting findings in formats including reports, dashboards, spreadsheets, and email summaries for relevant stakeholders along with status updates and recommendations across program phases
• Support the identification of technology solutions for new strategies and programs
• May support system conversion and/or data migration activities to map data from legacy to new systems as needed
• Assist end users in navigating and understanding reporting systems and dashboards
• Other duties as assigned by manager

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in business, mathematics, economics, computer science, information management, data science, statistics, or related field
• 1 to 3 years of proven work experience or equivalent experience including internships and projects
• Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences across multiple levels of the organization

Technical Skills

• SQL Server (querying, database management)
• ETL processes (data extraction, transformation, and loading)
• Power BI or equivalent dashboard creation and visualization tool

Preferred

• Familiarity with data models, database design, data mining, and segmentation techniques
• Python statistical analysis and automation
• Leverages artificial intelligence tools for task automation, prompt engineering, technical execution, or basic reporting

Key Competencies & Skills

• Attention to Detail: Taking responsibility for a thorough and detailed method of working.
• Conceptual Thinking: Understanding a given situation or problem by combining information that is readily available; identifying patterns or connections between situations that are not obviously related; identifying key or underlying issues in complex situations. Being solutions oriented.
• Data Gathering and Analysis: Collecting, consolidating, and using relevant information; recognizing important information; tracing possible causes of problems, and searching for practical data/solutions.
• Organizational Awareness: Having and using knowledge of systems, situations, procedures, and culture inside the organization to identify potential problems and opportunities; perceiving the impact and the implications of decisions on other components of the organization.
• Results Orientation: Being persistent and showing perseverance on achieving concrete and tangible results out of personal responsibility; getting optimum results from situations and being ready to take action and show tenacity in case of obstacles or resistance.
• Oral/Written Communication: Shaping and expressing ideas and information in an effective manner as well as expressing ideas and opinions clearly in properly structured, well-organized, and grammatically correct reports or documents.
• Problem Solving- Having the ability to identify problems and issues of varying complexities and to find effective solutions with few guidelines.
• Interpersonal Understanding- Showing interest in other peoples feelings, attitudes, and reasoning

Work Environment

• This is a fully remote position; employees are expected to maintain a dedicated and professional workspace conductive to focused work
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Comprehensive Benefits Package

• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Disability Benefits
• Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement, Professional Development

Hope Enterprise Corporation does not participate in or engage in any form of visa sponsorship, including employment-based visa applications or extensions (e.g., H-1B, TN, O-1, OPT, STEM OPT, etc.). Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.