Lead IT Business Analyst – Annuity Distribution & Sales Platforms
Transamerica, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Job Description Summary
The Lead IT Business Analyst serves as the primary business analysis and solution partner for agent facing Go To Market (GTM) platforms that support annuity sales, education, illustration, automation, and downstream processing. This role owns end to end business analysis across user experience, calculations, integrations, automation, and batch workflows to ensure tools meet agent needs, product rules, and operational standards. Responsibilities
Business & Systems Analysis Leadership: Lead requirements elicitation, analysis, and documentation for agent‑facing annuity sales platforms, including illustration, education, automation, and workflow tools. Translate annuity product rules (e.g., FIA, RILA, VA) and sales workflows into clear functional and non‑functional requirements. Define current‑state and future‑state process flows, system interactions, and data flows across UI, APIs, batch processes, and automation. Act as the primary liaison between business stakeholders and technology teams to ensure shared understanding and alignment on outcomes. Agent Experience & Platform Ownership: Own the end‑to‑end business analysis for assigned GTM platforms, ensuring solutions deliver a consistent, intuitive, and efficient agent experience. Partner with UX, product, and engineering teams to validate usability, workflow efficiency, and functional completeness. Ensure alignment across multiple tools and channels used by agents throughout the annuity sales process. Technical & Solution Collaboration: Collaborate closely with architecture and engineering teams to evaluate solution options, assess technical impacts, and support design decisions. Analyze and document system integrations, including REST/SOAP APIs, batch jobs, workflow automation, and data exchanges. Support cloud‑based solution analysis (AWS/Azure), CI/CD considerations, and production stability requirements. Participate in technology evaluations, vendor assessments, and feasibility studies as needed. Quality, Testing & Validation: Define and support comprehensive test strategies covering manual testing, automation, regression, calculation validation, and data integrity. Partner with Quality Engineering teams to ensure appropriate automation coverage for agent workflows, calculations, and batch outputs. Validate illustration results, reports, and downstream data against business and actuarial rules. Ensure test cases, execution results, and traceability are maintained in enterprise tools (e.g., qTest, Jira). Vendor & Cross‑Team Leadership: Lead requirements alignment and delivery coordination with external vendors and internal delivery teams. Review vendor deliverables to ensure alignment with business intent, technical standards, and quality expectations. Serve as a point of escalation for analysis‑related issues and drive resolution across teams. Operational Support & Governance: Support production readiness, post‑implementation validation, and issue triage. Ensure compliance with enterprise standards for change management, risk, controls, and documentation. Contribute to continuous improvement of BA practices, templates, and standards within the team. Mentor and guide other business analysts on analysis, testing, and stakeholder engagement best practices. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 7+ years of experience in business systems analysis or IT business analysis, including experience leading complex initiatives. Proven experience supporting agent‑facing sales, illustration, or distribution platforms, preferably within financial services or insurance. Strong understanding of annuity products and sales workflows (e.g., FIA, RILA, VA). Demonstrated ability to analyze complex calculations, data flows, integrations, and batch processes. Experience working in Agile delivery environments and collaborating with cross‑functional teams. Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments and lead through influence. Financial services or insurance industry experience, particularly in annuities. Experience with cloud‑based platforms (AWS and/or Azure). Familiarity with APIs (REST/SOAP), workflow automation, and CI/CD concepts. Experience partnering with Quality Engineering teams and supporting test automation strategies. Working knowledge of tools such as Jira, qTest, SQL, and Excel for analysis and validation. Experience coordinating with external vendors and system integrators. Experience with Annuity Distribution & Sales Platforms Working Conditions
Hybrid - Office Environment (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) Work outside of normal business hours may be required based on priorities and deliverables Occasional Travel This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request. Compensation & Benefits
The Salary for this position generally ranges between $100,000 - $125,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law. Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. This is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Cedar Rapids, IA; Denver, CO; Philadelphia, PA). Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position. What We Offer
For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees. Compensation Benefits Competitive Pay Bonus for Eligible Employees Benefits Package Pension Plan 401k Match Employee Stock Purchase Plan Tuition Reimbursement Disability Insurance Medical Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Employee Discounts Career Training & Development Opportunities Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service. Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays). Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child. Adoption Assistance Employee Assistance Program Back-Up Care Program Employee Matching Gifts Program Employee Resource Groups Inclusion and Diversity Programs Employee Recognition Program Referral Bonus Programs Inclusion & Diversity We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women. Giving Back We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That's why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work. Transamerica’s Parent Company Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe. It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity. * As of December 31, 2023
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Lead IT Business Analyst serves as the primary business analysis and solution partner for agent facing Go To Market (GTM) platforms that support annuity sales, education, illustration, automation, and downstream processing. This role owns end to end business analysis across user experience, calculations, integrations, automation, and batch workflows to ensure tools meet agent needs, product rules, and operational standards. Responsibilities
Business & Systems Analysis Leadership: Lead requirements elicitation, analysis, and documentation for agent‑facing annuity sales platforms, including illustration, education, automation, and workflow tools. Translate annuity product rules (e.g., FIA, RILA, VA) and sales workflows into clear functional and non‑functional requirements. Define current‑state and future‑state process flows, system interactions, and data flows across UI, APIs, batch processes, and automation. Act as the primary liaison between business stakeholders and technology teams to ensure shared understanding and alignment on outcomes. Agent Experience & Platform Ownership: Own the end‑to‑end business analysis for assigned GTM platforms, ensuring solutions deliver a consistent, intuitive, and efficient agent experience. Partner with UX, product, and engineering teams to validate usability, workflow efficiency, and functional completeness. Ensure alignment across multiple tools and channels used by agents throughout the annuity sales process. Technical & Solution Collaboration: Collaborate closely with architecture and engineering teams to evaluate solution options, assess technical impacts, and support design decisions. Analyze and document system integrations, including REST/SOAP APIs, batch jobs, workflow automation, and data exchanges. Support cloud‑based solution analysis (AWS/Azure), CI/CD considerations, and production stability requirements. Participate in technology evaluations, vendor assessments, and feasibility studies as needed. Quality, Testing & Validation: Define and support comprehensive test strategies covering manual testing, automation, regression, calculation validation, and data integrity. Partner with Quality Engineering teams to ensure appropriate automation coverage for agent workflows, calculations, and batch outputs. Validate illustration results, reports, and downstream data against business and actuarial rules. Ensure test cases, execution results, and traceability are maintained in enterprise tools (e.g., qTest, Jira). Vendor & Cross‑Team Leadership: Lead requirements alignment and delivery coordination with external vendors and internal delivery teams. Review vendor deliverables to ensure alignment with business intent, technical standards, and quality expectations. Serve as a point of escalation for analysis‑related issues and drive resolution across teams. Operational Support & Governance: Support production readiness, post‑implementation validation, and issue triage. Ensure compliance with enterprise standards for change management, risk, controls, and documentation. Contribute to continuous improvement of BA practices, templates, and standards within the team. Mentor and guide other business analysts on analysis, testing, and stakeholder engagement best practices. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 7+ years of experience in business systems analysis or IT business analysis, including experience leading complex initiatives. Proven experience supporting agent‑facing sales, illustration, or distribution platforms, preferably within financial services or insurance. Strong understanding of annuity products and sales workflows (e.g., FIA, RILA, VA). Demonstrated ability to analyze complex calculations, data flows, integrations, and batch processes. Experience working in Agile delivery environments and collaborating with cross‑functional teams. Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments and lead through influence. Financial services or insurance industry experience, particularly in annuities. Experience with cloud‑based platforms (AWS and/or Azure). Familiarity with APIs (REST/SOAP), workflow automation, and CI/CD concepts. Experience partnering with Quality Engineering teams and supporting test automation strategies. Working knowledge of tools such as Jira, qTest, SQL, and Excel for analysis and validation. Experience coordinating with external vendors and system integrators. Experience with Annuity Distribution & Sales Platforms Working Conditions
Hybrid - Office Environment (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) Work outside of normal business hours may be required based on priorities and deliverables Occasional Travel This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request. Compensation & Benefits
The Salary for this position generally ranges between $100,000 - $125,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law. Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. This is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Cedar Rapids, IA; Denver, CO; Philadelphia, PA). Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position. What We Offer
For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees. Compensation Benefits Competitive Pay Bonus for Eligible Employees Benefits Package Pension Plan 401k Match Employee Stock Purchase Plan Tuition Reimbursement Disability Insurance Medical Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Employee Discounts Career Training & Development Opportunities Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service. Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays). Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child. Adoption Assistance Employee Assistance Program Back-Up Care Program Employee Matching Gifts Program Employee Resource Groups Inclusion and Diversity Programs Employee Recognition Program Referral Bonus Programs Inclusion & Diversity We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women. Giving Back We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That's why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work. Transamerica’s Parent Company Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe. It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity. * As of December 31, 2023
#J-18808-Ljbffr