IT Portfolio Analyst

The IT Portfolio Analyst performs analysis activities that support the decision making regarding matching data solutions (platform selection, configuration, development) with business, user(s), and functional needs from stakeholders. This involves conducting market research, functional comparisons, and staying abreast of what is being done at other law firms and professional services firms. The Analyst will also gather requirements, document procedures, and review the data management and data governance methods of the current processes across portfolios.

The IT Portfolio Analyst partners with the appropriate business stakeholders and the Senior IT Portfolio Manager to prioritize and create a project roadmap for their assigned area, in this case the area of Accounting and Finance Management (Payroll, Accounting & Reporting, and Procurement). With the business and IT teams, they maintain a set of institutional knowledge of what is working well across the firm and what needs improvement.

• Partner with business stakeholders to understand and prioritize their needs, creating a roadmap of projects for their assigned area.
• Monitor and perform work related to incoming requests from business stakeholders for changes, updates, and other technical issues
• Seek input of user experience and document current procedures and processes to determine potential improvements to their assigned products.
• Stay abreast of best practices being done at other firms and technology developments that may affect the areas.  Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and the IT Portfolio Managers to influence the technology decisions for the areas based on this knowledge.
• Analyze and consolidate all perspectives on the project – business needs, requirements, user experience, security, training, risk, time, cost, technology architecture, procurement/vendor management, operational considerations, etc. – to help the Firm reach the best technology decisions.
• Manage the lifecycle of their assigned products, from inception to implementation, throughout production until retirement / upgrade.
• Gather business requirements from project stakeholders to further define the goals and objectives.
• Drives projects and business teams toward achieving intended business results within a specified time and budget.
• Perform risk analyses to identify and resolve critical path issues.
• Prepare and analyze program / project related data.
• Review and report on program / project status.
• Prepare materials for briefings and presentations to large size groups of key decision makers at the executive level.
• Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below.  The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources). 

Education and/or Experience: 

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Proficiency with MS Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)

Preferred:

• Experience with Accounting or Finance applications, or related business areas
• Experience with database administration or relational databases and tables
• Experience with creating and maintaining Functional and Technical Specification documents, wireframe mockups/diagrams, test cases/plans, and defect/bug fix management
• Experience in current technology trends
• Jira, Service Now, and Software Development Life Cycle knowledge
• Law firm experience

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer