Business Expert Senior Specialist

Job purpose:

We are seeking a skilled and proactive Business Expert to join our team and support critical applications used in the international branches of Commerzbank. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in ensuring the continuous availability, optimization, and enhancement of our business applications. As a key link between business and technical teams, you will work cross-functionally to ensure seamless communication and effective application lifecycle management.

Key activities

• Provide expert support for applications used across international branches of Commerzbank.
• Highly decisive and confident in making critical decisions independently, especially across multiple time zones where product owners (POs) may not always be accessible.
• Ensure the continuous availability of applications and identify opportunities for operational improvements.
• Address and troubleshoot software application issues to ensure production stability and smooth functionality.
• Perform structured analysis of applications, evaluate potential solutions, collaborate with business analysts, and document findings comprehensively.
• Manually intervene in automated processes as needed, based on product owners' requirements and agreements.
• Collaborate with product owners to structure, prioritize, and break down backlogs and create user stories.
• Assist development and testing teams throughout the application lifecycle to ensure quality deliverables.
• Act as a cross-functional bridge between development teams and business analysis to foster collaboration and understanding.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external standards, regulatory issues, reporting requirements, and auditing processes.
• Translate business requirements into functional specifications and collaborate with technical teams to implement them effectively.
• Conduct application testing and ensure quality assurance across all stages of development.
• Document key information, issues, and solutions into knowledgebase articles to support continuous improvement.

Formal education:

Senior Specialist:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Advanced certifications such as Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), or Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP).

Specialist knowledge (work experience, further qualification):

Senior Specialist:

• 5–8+ years of robust experience in roles such as business analysis, application support, or problem-solving in the banking or financial industry.
• Significant experience working in Agile environments, with the ability to lead Scrum ceremonies such as daily standups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
• Proven experience in identifying operational optimization opportunities, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving initiatives to fruition.
• Hands-on involvement in translating complex business requirements into detailed functional documentation and technical specifications.
• Advanced proficiency in tools like JIRA, Confluence, or equivalent Agile project management systems, with experience in backlog shaping and prioritization.
• In-depth understanding of financial regulations, compliance frameworks, and audit processes, with the ability to guide teams to adhere to standards.
• Highly skilled in delivering presentations, documentation, and analysis tailored to C-level executives, stakeholders, and IT teams.
• Exceptional communication skills in English – both verbal and written – with a customer-oriented mindset and the ability to collaborate and engage effectively with stakeholders, end users, and team members.
• Superior problem-solving capabilities, capable of diagnosing complex application issues, devising holistic solutions, and ensuring long-term operational stability.
• Demonstrated ability to structure and lead informative, concise, and well-organized presentations or workshops.
• Deep knowledge of Agile methodologies, with a preference for Scrum, and demonstrated ability to implement and refine Agile processes across teams.
• Strong leadership and mentoring qualities, capable of guiding junior team members and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate potential challenges or opportunities and develop proactive responses.
• Knowledge in International Corporate Banking (Payment Transaction, Financing, Trade Finance)