Business Analyst (Private Markets)
Sonata One · Cape Town
Sonata One is a rapidly scaling, regulated fund services and technology (fintech) business. We're The Private Funds Clearinghouse, connecting more than 53,000 investors with 6,500 funds and 180 fund managers around the globe. Our vision is to change the paradigm of private markets investing through harmonising the end-to-end investment process within one platform. Investors benefit from a seamless, one & done experience across the fund lifecycle (from fund selection and subscription through to settlement and reporting) underpinned by a globally compliant KYC passport and 24/5 support. Fund managers can raise capital faster at a lower cost from a wider pool of pre-approved investors. Founded in 2015, Sonata One has a presence in eight locations worldwide including the US, UK and Luxembourg, Guernsey, South Africa and Mauritius.
We operate as #OneGlobalThread in line with our values: We challenge the norm, we change the way we think and work, by connecting systems and people, while committing to our vision and each other. We are now looking to recruit a Business Analyst to join our global team.
Position Overview:
We are hiring a Business Analyst to play a key role in the implementation and ongoing management of Sonata One's solutions for our clients.
This is an internally focused role within our Implementation team, responsible for how Sonata One itself operates. The BA is responsible for design, documentation and improving our internal processes, so that every service line runs in a consistent, controlled and scalable way. This includes working alongside our learning and development team ensuring our people are trained to deliver those processes well.
This is a varied role sitting at the intersection of implementation, operations, CRM and technology. You will work directly with our internal stakeholders, namely the technology and operations function to understand their requirements, processes and objectives, translating these into clear business requirements and actionable plans.
This is a critical role to the scaling and success of Sonata One. We are transforming into a larger business which requires structure at all levels. You will be a trusted internal advisor, helping senior members of the team understand how Sonata One works, identifying and opportunities to improve processes and ensuring that implementations are delivered effectively.
The role will suit someone who is structured, logical, enjoys working with people, asking questions, understanding how businesses operate and turning complex requirements into clear, structured solutions.
Responsibilities
Process Mapping
- Map current-state processes across service lines: Subscription, KYC/AML, Tax, Transfer Agency and investor portal
- Understand and identify the gaps that exist in our existing processes, specifically between teams and the interplay between functions
- Design target state processes that are standardised, efficient and scalable. We operate as one global team and do not necessarily need different procedures for different jurisdictions
- Revamp and maintain our central process library: process maps, standard operating procedures, guides, and policies, including any newly developed documentation.
- Working with the implementation manager to define an effective client lifecycle. Map workflow from business development to Implementation and ongoing BAU
- Build strong relationships with client stakeholders and act as a key point of contact throughout implementation projects
- Gather, document and analyse business and functional requirements
- Translate internal requirements into clear actions, processes and deliverables for internal teams, specifically technology and operation
- Identify dependencies, risks, issues and potential blockers and work collaboratively to resolve them
Gap analysis and continuous improvement
- Find gaps, bottlenecks, manual workarounds and control weaknesses in how we operate today.
- Prioritise improvements by impact, risk and effort, and build the business case where investment is needed.
- Track improvement initiatives through to delivery and measure the benefits.
- Turn feedback from client implementations, passed on by the external BA, into internal fixes.
Internal training and enablement
- Work with the learning and development lead to design and deliver training for Sonata One staff on processes, systems and controls.
- Build onboarding pathways for new joiners in each team
- Check understanding and adherence through refreshers and spot checks, in partnership with team leads
Technology and data
- Work with the externally facing BA to define requirements for system enhancements, and automation
- Work with technology and product teams on testing and roll-out of internal changes
- Support management information (MI) and KPI reporting on process performance.
Business Analysis
- Facilitate workshops, meetings and discovery sessions with internal stakeholders
- Work with the CTO, Head of Product, Director Of Operations and MD of Growth to establish business priorities for any system changes required to deliver
- Map and document current-state and future-state processes
- Translate business requirements into clear and actionable documentation
- Ensure requirements are understood consistently across clients, Implementation, Operations, CRM and Technology
Experience Required:
- Experience working as a Business Analyst in an operational, process improvement or business transformation environment
- Proven experience mapping, redesigning and documenting internal processes, ideally across multiple teams or service lines
- Strong understanding of change delivery and the ability to manage multiple improvement initiatives and priorities at once
- Experience working with internal stakeholders, including operations, compliance and technology teams
- Ability to understand complex operational processes and turn them into clear process maps, and training materials
- Comfortable working with team leads and senior stakeholders, and bringing people along through process change
- Ability to balance the needs of individual teams with consistency, control and scalability across the wider business
Strong understanding of:
- Business analysis methodologies and techniques, including translating complex requirements into practical steps
- Client implementation and onboarding
- Process mapping and process improvement
- Stakeholder management and client communication
- Technology-enabled business processes
- Financial services or fintech environments
Experience within fintech or financial services is important for this position, particularly where candidates have worked with regulated environments, complex client onboarding or technology-enabled financial processes. Experience within private markets, fund administration, investor onboarding or adjacent financial services environments would be advantageous.
Personal Attributes
- Highly client-focused, with a genuine desire to understand and solve client problems
- Naturally curious and comfortable asking questions to get to the root of an issue
- Strong communicator who can build relationships with both clients and internal stakeholders
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Comfortable managing multiple projects, priorities and stakeholders simultaneously
- Commercially aware and able to understand the wider impact of decisions
- Confident challenging existing processes and suggesting better ways of working
- Proactive, solutions-focused and comfortable working in an environment where things are continually evolving
- Collaborative and willing to work across functions to get things done
- Hungry to learn, develop and make an impact within a growing business
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Technology or a related field preferred but not essential with relevant experience
- Business Analysis, Project Management or related professional qualifications are advantageous
- Relevant experience within fintech, financial services or another regulated industry is highly desirable
Being part of Sonata One provides a collaborative and inclusive work culture that values innovation and diversity. We believe in the power of our unique mission and we all work together towards that one single goal. We also believe in being real. We're not a big corporate. Everyone has an important role to fulfil, and your contribution will be an integral part of our success story.
Benefits:
- Private Medical Insurance – Comprehensive coverage to support your health
- Life Insurance – Peace of mind for you and your loved ones
- Income Protection – Financial support when you need it most
- Hybrid Working – Supporting work/Life Balance
- Annual Leave – With extra days that grow the longer you’re with us
- Pension Scheme – Employee matched helping you plan confidently for the future
- Wellness Budget – Investing in your health with a gym membership
- Employee Assistance Program – Confidential, 24/7 support for life’s ups and downs
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Leave – Because family matters
- Career Training & Development – Ongoing learning opportunities to help you grow
- Paid Volunteering Day – Take time to give back to causes you care about
- Work From Anywhere – Choose your backdrop