Business Analyst

Purpose :

The purpose of this solicitation is to contract with a vendor to assist the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in gathering and documenting requirements for the development work needed for the School Finance Foundation Formula Payment System Rewrite project.

Responsibilities :

• Facilitate and participate in gathering, analyzing, and documenting business and technical requirements for the new payment system.
• Review and update existing requirements documents (NA+).
• Map all data used in the various calculations from the original application tables and fields through to the current School Finance system tables and fields.
• Document the specific fields in tables of data used for each calculation performed within the School Finance system.
• Prepare current- and future-state process maps, data flow diagrams, and entity relationship diagrams.
• Document the current system architecture and coordinate with DESE architects to create current- and future-state architectural diagrams.
• Prepare dependency diagrams / graphs and interface requirements documents.
• Prepare a comprehensive list of all formulas to be tabulated in the new system for both current-year and prior-year.
• Prepare comprehensive lists of all reports that must be created in the new system for both current-year and prior-year.
• Prepare a list of all Special Case Calculations and identify schools / LEAs that fall under them.
• Perform security role mapping and prepare an access control matrix for the future-state system.
• Prepare mockups for the new system GUI including calculation menus, maintenance screens, reports, and other visuals.
• Prepare detailed descriptions of two potential development solutions and recommend the best approach.
• Assist DESE and ITSD in developing the solicitation for the vendor who will implement the chosen solution.
• Use ADO to create Epics, Features, User Stories, and Tasks to track project work.
• Store all project-related documentation in the State-approved repository specified by ITSD.

Requirements :

3+ years utilizing a suite of tools to support project delivery, including :

Skill Table : Skill

Required Experience (Years)

Candidate Experience (Years)

Notes

Confidently applying algebraic math equations in technical and analytical contexts.

3+

Proven self-starter, consistently delivering high-quality results with minimal supervision.

3+

Hands-on experience eliciting and documenting comprehensive business requirements.

5+

Analyzing and developing both business processes and technical documentation to support project goals.

5+

Expertise in data mapping to ensure accurate data integration and transformation.

5+

Translating complex, non-technical business needs into clear technical requirements.

5+

Converting technical specifications into accessible, non-technical language for stakeholders.

5+

Working with SQL Server 2019, including writing and optimizing SQL queries.

3+

Developing and maintaining reports using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) 2016 and 2022.

3+

Creating, interpreting, and maintaining detailed specification documentation.

3+

Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with a focus on clarity and collaboration.

Collaborating with customers to write effective and actionable user stories.

3+

Experience crafting detailed use cases in partnership with stakeholders.

3+

Identifying and defining project scope to align with business objectives.

3+

Evaluating business needs and preparing strategic solution recommendations.

5+

Utilizing a suite of tools to support project delivery, including :

3+

Microsoft Visio (workflow documentation)

Microsoft Office Suite

Azure DevOps (ADO)

Webex and Microsoft Teams

Snagit or similar screen capture tools

Applying project management methodologies and best practices to drive successful outcomes.

3+