cv tony lawrence 10_14

Tony Lawrence Curriculum Vitae – March 2014 of 6

Tony David Lawrence PGD CCI (Open) BA MBCS (CITP) MIIBA

Consultant Business Analyst

34 Gurdon Road, Grundisburgh, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6XA

E: [email protected] H: 01473 738104 M: 07900 256021 I am an experienced and motivated IT professional, specialising in freelance Business Analysis services

and Consultancy. I utilise all my knowledge, skills and personal qualities to improve business

performance, deliver successful change, and develop and lead effective teams. With more than 25

years working in IT across many sectors, including Insurance/Financial Services, Education

Services/Assessment, Publishing/Online Media, Retail Energy, and the Airline Industry, I can offer a

unique combination of practical experience throughout the project lifecycle, using appropriate tools &

techniques, creativity and engineering rigour.

Current/Most Recent Position: Study Sabbatical (June – November’14) During this period I am completing my MSc in Computing for Industry and Commerce (Q1/15) carrying

out some primary research into IT education, including producing and testing e-learning objects. As well

as my ongoing professional development this material and the research findings will have direct benefits

to my clients and colleagues in future engagements.

Business Analyst at Pearson English (November’12 – May’14) Business Analyst and proxy Product Owner on a strategic business programme; developing a unique

(first in market) online 4-skills English language testing product. The programme is using cutting edge

Computer Adaptive Testing and working with various internal & external partners to cut the overall

publishing cycle from years to months. My role is to apply analysis best practice and support the

business and technology leads in a fast-moving agile environment, working across 4 continents, rapidly

delivering content and a feature-rich Customer experience.

Key Attributes, Skills and Competencies:

- Analytical, flexible & goal-oriented attitude; equally competent on individual tasks, working as

part of a team, or leading a delivery-focused project team,

- Excellent communicator who builds strong working relationships with Colleagues, Customers

and Partners at all levels,

- Proven success in all stages of the Software Development Life-cycle for IT solutions across

multiple platforms; ecommerce, multi-tier internet (B2C & B2B), client-server, mainframe,

distributed, EDI, COTS, desktop & third party integration,


- Application of CASE tools, application architectures, Business Components within a Service

Oriented Architecture (SoA) etc.,

- Innovator and skilled practitioner in business & process modelling (BPMN, BPR & BPI),

- System & component modelling with UML tools & techniques; Use Cases, Activity & Class

Diagrams, State Charts etc.,

- Web conceptual design, prototyping & usability testing,

- Uses traditional structured methodologies, Agile (experienced as Product Owner and

‘requirements champion’), or tailored hybrid approaches,

- Thrives on challenges, especially developing with leading-edge technologies, improving

business practices, and exploiting new markets & opportunities.

Career History Highlights & Major Achievements:

Business Analyst at IBRC/Dublin (August 2012) • This short consultancy engagement involved modelling the current and future operational

business model and product development initiatives for mortgage arrears management. I also

mapped current processes using an evolving standard notation.

Lead Business Analyst at Yorkshire Building Society (January – July 2012) • I led a multi-disciplinary analysis & design team that is transforming the Arrears Management

function, part of YBS Lending Quality,

• The first major user of SOA/BPM technologies in the organisation and so we faced challenges

to develop the required skills, artefacts and governance approach,

• Responsible for the planning, budgeting, and management of delivery of high quality artefacts

including process definitions, [SOA] servicing specifications, User Interface design, as well and

more traditional functional & non-functional requirements.

Business Analyst at comparethemarket/BGL (December’10 – November’11) • Lead analyst on a first-in-market Rewards Scheme for comparethemarket, including new Customer

registration, Sales verification with insurance partners, fulfilment & Customer Support functions,

• Planned and co-ordinated User Acceptance Testing across sites, involving multiple organisations

and developed & bought-in components, leading to a successful on-time delivery as part of a multi-

media launch,

• (Separate role in BGL group) Led branded development & implementation of white label

eCommerce websites for finance & retail sector partners (4 websites live in 3 months). Managed

external relationships and co-ordinated internal requirements gathering, testing & acceptance.

Agile Business Analyst at RBI (July’10 – October’10)


• Performed a number of interrelated roles as the Business Analyst for the Flight Group

(flightglobal.com), working alongside the Product Owners, Scrum Team and other business &

technical stakeholders,

• Produced the requirements model for a strategic £2M website revisioning including a modified

information architecture and new paid-for Business-to-Business data services,

• As Lead Analyst/Project Manager for the implementation of an aircraft tracking map co-ordinated

the business activities, third party developer and internal test & support team. Helped to gather

prioritised requirements for longer-term development & operation of this channel.

Business Analyst/Consultant at bmibaby (March’10 – June’10) • Performed a hybrid consultancy/analysis role on a strategic enhancement to the web-based flight

booking journey, including conceptual designs & market testing,

• Worked independently across business and IT functions to drive and manage a challenging

‘discovery & initiation’ phase; validating & prioritising requirements and modelling proposals for

change (conceptual designs),

• Produced a business case & impact assessment with supporting requirements catalogue.

Business Analyst/Consultant at Hiscox Insurance (Sept’09 – Feb’10) • Captured functional requirements for a new ecommerce website offering direct (retail) commercial

insurance products into a new market,

• Performed a key lead analyst role connecting the Sponsor and the senior business stakeholders

(US based) with UK and offshore development groups,

• Worked with Customer Experience analysts and new media partners to develop fit-for-purpose

website designs and optimised Customer Journeys,

• Created UML artefacts, including an innovative way of connecting Use Cases with business

services, including some pre-built web services and legacy integration,

• Took part in process mapping for the new organisation for both Customer-facing, servicing and

back-office functions; helped to introduce and tailor documentation around UML Activity Diagrams.

SBA/Consultant at BGL comparethemarket.com (Feb’09 – Sept’09) • Acted as a proxy Product Owner in an Agile (Scrum) development project; helping to establish best

practise and seek benefits in cost, timescales & quality for the business Sponsor and Stakeholders,

• Gathered functional & non-functional requirements for a major strategic project, to re-engineer a

Motor Insurance aggregator website and migrate Customers from legacy systems to SQL

Server/.net architecture,

• Lead analyst and champion on a Business Change Programme to re-design and re-engineer the

Home Insurance website, with the objective to double the net conversion rate. Outputs included

requirements documentation and functional specifications for the new website.


Senior Business Analyst at Provident Insurance (Apr’08 – Jan’09) • Performed various roles working on a strategic change programme to deliver multi-channel

ecommerce solutions for Provident and their parent company GMAC,

• Developed a requirements/Use Case model for web-based/browser-based solutions built on a new

service-oriented architecture with back office integration,

• Adapted and deployed various UML techniques and traditional documentation to articulate project

scope, business and system requirements,

• Worked with Third Party partners and service providers; including Aggregators, Payment Service

Provider, web design agency and US-based Programme Office.

Business Analyst at Surecomp Business Solutions (Nov’07 – Mar’08) • Documented current & future-state Business Processes and functional requirements for my Client’s

Customer (a Dutch-American bank and Factor),

• Developed requirements models and gap analyses for Commercial Finance software solution;

including Credit & Risk Management, Basel II Reporting/Compliance, Collateral Audits, and

Financial Reporting,

• Facilitated UK and overseas cross-functional workshops, which included Senior Stakeholders and

domain experts.

Senior Business Analyst at Cambridge Assessment (UCLES) - 2003 to 2007 • Managed & mentored Business Analyst colleagues in various engagements and to develop

professional services in the organisation; including establishing UML guidelines & role-based

competencies, coaching, recruitment and performance management,

• Produced a strategy & development roadmap for a Creditor Payment Process improvements

programme, facilitating workshops & modelling of the current and future operating environments;

implemented as browser-based internal and external applications using web services,

• Analyst/consultant on a number of IT and business change initiatives from the production of

Business Cases, software procurement and selection of development partners (formal RFI/RFP

process), though to User Acceptance Testing and the realisation of significant Business Benefits,

• Led the development and deployment of Agile techniques as lead analyst/team co-ordinator

• Lead analyst capturing requirements and carrying out a functional gap analysis for a new 500K

extranet website (B2B) for Cambridge International Examinations,

• Managed a project to implement a new ecommerce solution for Sale of Publications, in overall

control of business work streams and third party supplier relationship.

Business Analyst at TXU Energy 2002 - 12 month fixed term contract • Established and managed a Project Office, and organised a Programme Board for innovative Retail

Energy initiatives. Provided audit & control mechanisms, resulting in successful planning &


implementation of a £4M bespoke white-label IT solution and sales & customer servicing operation

(first-in-market),

• Lead Business Analyst/Project Manager rapidly developed a unique energy sales proposition with

the business, and servicing & IT partners.

(Various Roles) AXA Insurance - 1996 to 2002 Member of a business-focused IT team, delivering strategic Internet applications offering personal

lines insurance products and services to the public. Worked closely with the business and

technology partners from the inception of the programme; gathering requirements; liaising with web

design agencies; managing web delivery; implementing ‘joined-up’ integrated business solutions.

• Lead Analyst on the first AXA UK application to sit on strategic ecommerce architecture. This

award-winning direct (B2C) insurance website which greatly surpassed expectations,

• Managed the development of a branded web application for a partner, RACe, in less than 3 months

with more than 75% re-use,

• Outsourced the fulfilment & servicing of web sales to a Third Party Administrator (CEGA). Expedited

the time-to-market for a new web-based Travel Insurance product using external systems &

expertise, and a secure XML data transfer mechanism,

• Established business capability to service internet Customers through a new Contact Centre

operation; provided the requisite training, IT infrastructure, systems & procedures,

• Established a first-line Business Support Team, from inception to successful implementation for

1600+ Sales & Customer Service Advisors,

• Managed User Acceptance Test teams of up to 10 business & IT people, notably working with AA

Insurance Services on Full-Cycle EDI, and Finance & Renewals functions,

• Selected and procured Corporate Modelling tool (CASEwise Modeler™); developed usage

guidelines, standards & training material and facilitated the documentation of business processes.

IT Developer & Systems Analyst at Guardian Insurance - 1989 to 1995

Successfully completed analyst/programmer training (SSADM, PL/1, DB2 etc.), and subsequently

worked as a programmer, systems analyst, project manager and systems architect.

Statistical Assistant BUPA - 1987 to 1989

Undertook various roles, culminating in analysis of large corporate customer accounts (staff health

insurance schemes), for relationship retention and development.


Qualifications: Sponsored Training - Consultancy Skills, SSADM, Business Process Analysis, Requirements

Management, UML and Agile Techniques

Open University - Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry (Nov 2014)

Due to complete research project and MSc in February 2015 - Professional Certificate in Management (May 1998)

- BA Degree (June 1992) including Electronic Systems & Control Engineering,

Software Engineering, and Data Modelling/Database design

- Currently studying towards an MSc in Computing for Commerce &

Industry, Units studied so far include; Project Management, Software

Requirements Engineering, UI Design & Evaluation, Software Enterprise

Management and Systems Engineering -

Harrow Weald Sixth Form College - 3 GCE A Levels Mathematics, Further Maths & Physics

Rooks Heath High School, Harrow - 12 O/A and O Levels

Membership of Professional Bodies:

− British Computer Society (Chartered IT Professional)

− International Institute of Business Analysts

cv tony lawrence 10_14

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