Being a Business Analyst at PDMS

As part of our new series, we are introducing some of our team members and what they do in their day-to-day roles at PDMS. 

Ellis joined our Glasgow team in 2021 as a Business Analyst.  Here he explains more about his role and some of the qualities needed to become a Business Analyst. 

You joined PDMS during lockdown - how was that for you?

Due to the lockdowns in Scotland, I was already used to working from home in my previous role, so this meant it was a relatively smooth transition to working with PDMS. It has been nice to be in my own comfortable environment and there was no nervousness of going into the office on my first day! I was also fortunate that my partner was starting a new job at the same time, so I had that support network at home.

Although it did come with some challenges. It was difficult to build relationships with new colleagues as communication and introductions were solely online and on the phone, as well as having to collect equipment from the office during a lockdown!

How did you become an Analyst?

My original job title at my previous company was as a ‘Sales, Data and Communication Coordinator’ where I worked between the Business and IT teams. By having this experience working between these two sides of the organisation, I soon realised that my skill set fit well into an Analyst role. Although it is not a role that I sought out, but rather fell into, it is something that I really enjoy.

What areas of analysis do you cover?

I cover a bit of everything. I am currently working across five projects, which involves writing requirements that the client has set, client support and communicating directly to clients. I am also involved in testing products for clients as well as the huge element of customer service as the end goal is to always satisfy the client.

How is your studying going?

I have passed the first of five exams for my BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis and I am planning to complete the other four elements in the future. PDMS was very supportive of me while I studied for this qualification, and even allocated me time to study within my normal working hours.

Before this, I have not sat any formal qualifications as I had decided to leave school and go straight into the workplace rather than attending university. I believe that learning is a dynamic process that happens every day through the development of new processes within technology, especially within the role that I am in.

How did you find transitioning from the energy sector to software solutions?

For me, it was a big jump to transition to the work that PDMS does. Although I was already working as a Business Analyst within the energy sector, I was working with organisations like PDMS as a client. This gave me a great insight into how to work with clients successfully and provided me with lots of transferrable skills.

What made you decide to leave the energy sector?

The energy sector is a shrinking market, and it didn’t fully align with my own moral compass due to my environmental concerns. Although I wasn’t in a rush to move, I knew that I had to eventually.

I saw the job advertised on LinkedIn and applied - I went through the interview process and was offered a job the following day. The role of Business Analyst at PDMS also provided me with a progression opportunity so it was a no brainer!

Do you mainly work from home or in the office?

I mainly work from home. I am very fortunate that PDMS allows me to have the opportunity to work remotely. It would make little difference if I were to work in the office as the nature of my job means that I am communicating with clients from all over the world.

What does a typical day look like for you working as an Analyst at PDMS?

For me, a typical day would involve writing up requirements and reports, meeting with clients, talking to colleagues to share ideas and lots and lots of coffee! However, my work at PDMS can be extremely varied. Sometimes I can have a day scheduled with projects and reports, however urgent work can come in which needs to be completed straight away. This leads to very dynamic and interesting days. Also, with working across five different projects there is always a range of things to be doing for different clients.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career as an Analyst?

Find a specialty that interests you. For me that was working with software as I was keen to work alongside developers. However, for others it may be business processes, working with a specific product or even running workshops. By finding an organisation that delivers a product that you are interested in, you will be rewarded by making a change to people’s lives.

How do you think working as a Business Analyst will change in the future?

I believe that Business Analysts will have a role in business and continue to deliver value to organisations for many years to come. The role will adapt as the world changes towards more automated technologies and businesses will have to change how services are offered to align with this. I think that it’s an interesting time to be a Business Analyst.

Visit our careers page if you'd like to join Ellis and the rest of the PDMS team