Operations Strategy Analyst

Location: The centre of Southampton, with occasional travel to our London office and flexibility to work from home following the probation period

Reports to: Head of Operations Analytics

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We are seeking a strategic and data-driven Operations Strategy Analyst to join our Operations Analytics team within a fast-paced financial services company focused on personal loans. This role is pivotal in driving operational efficiency, improving customer experience, and supporting data-driven decision-making across the business.

You will work closely with cross-functional teams including Underwriting, Servicing, Collections, and Marketing to uncover insights, optimise processes, and deliver actionable recommendations that enhance performance and reduce risk.

What is the Role?

This role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the optimisation of our personal loan processes, customer experience, and operational efficiency through data-driven insights.

Responsibilities include:

Data Analysis & Reporting

Analyse large datasets to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities across the loan lifecycle.
Develop dashboards and reports to monitor KPIs such as loan processing times, staffing metrics, and customer satisfaction.
Conduct root cause analysis on operational issues and recommend data-driven solutions.

Modeling & Forecasting

Build predictive models to forecast volumes, staffing needs, and service levels.
Support capacity planning and workforce optimisation using historical and real-time data.

Collaboration & Communication

Translate complex data findings into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
Collaborate with Data Engineering to ensure data availability, accuracy and accessibility.

Compliance & Risk

Monitor operational compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
Identify and escalate potential risks based on data patterns and anomalies.

Tool Development

Help build and maintain analytical tools using SQL, Python, and BI platforms (e.g., Quicksight, Power BI, Tableau).

What Are We Looking For?

Essential:

A degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science).
2+ years of experience in data analytics, preferably in financial services or lending operations.
Strong proficiency in SQL, Python or R, and data visualization tools (e.g. Quicksight, Tableau, Power BI).
Experience with operational metrics, process optimization and forecasting models.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management and presentation skills.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Desirable:

Familiarity with personal loan products and servicing workflows.
Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., AWS, Snowflake).
Knowledge of regulatory requirements in consumer lending (e.g., FCA).

Why Join Us?

Exposure to real-world business problems and decision-making.
Enjoy cross-functional exposure and make an impact across our entire Operations function.
A collaborative and inclusive work environment.
Thrive in a supportive, family-like culture where relationships matter and people genuinely care about each other.
Be part of a business that puts customers and outcomes at the centre of everything.

What are the Benefits?

Bonus Scheme: Discretionary annual bonus.
25 Days Holiday plus bank holidays: Increases with each year of service up to max of 28 days (including the original 25 day entitlement).
Life Cover: 4x basic salary.
Dental Scheme: reimbursement of pre-agreed limits (up to family level).
Cycle to Work Scheme.
Pension Scheme: salary sacrifice scheme, 5% company’s contribution.
Perk Box: 100’s of discounts on well-known brands and lots more.
Help @ Hand: Access to free GP & counselling support services.
Private Medical Insurance: Provided by Bupa, up to a family level.
Income Protection.
Generous Family Leave.
Optional Paid Volunteering Time: Join our Charities Committee in supporting our local charities.
Casual Dress: Wear what makes you comfortable to deliver an excellent customer experience.
Socials: Our Social Committee work hard all year round to provide lots of events including summer parties, quiz nights, team building events, and Summer and Winter parties.