Associate Business Analyst

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Home Office Digital designs, builds and develops services for the rest of the department and for government. Every year our systems support up to 3 million visa applications, checks on 100 million border crossings, up to 8 million passport applications and deliver 140 million police checks on people, vehicles and property.

An Associate Business Analyst is responsible for, and carries out, tasks to support the understanding and development of a product and/or service under direction and guidance from more senior Business Analysts.

This junior role enables the Associate Business Analyst to start to gain the skills and experience and/or understanding in business analysis methods and techniques, utilise relevant tooling and deliver outputs to the required standard before progressing to undertake business analysis activities for which they are fully tasked and responsible.

Job description

Migration and Borders Digital is part of the Home Office Digital Directorate in the Home Office. M&B Digital is a Portfolio of around 3,500 dedicated professionals made up of civil servants and suppliers working together to develop some of the most challenging and transformative technology products, supporting critical programmes within the Migration and Borders system. Working closely with colleagues in the Migration and Borders mission, we also support a number of the Home Office's capabilities such as Customer Services, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force. We jointly design services, build, run and sustain them to enable some of the government’s most important strategic outcomes, notably the legitimate movement of people and goods to support economic prosperity.

Key responsibilities

Your main day to day responsibilities could include gaining skills and experience in:

• Support and facilitate workshops to identify, clarify, and document business requirements.
• Model current (“As Is”) business processes and produce analysis artefacts such as process maps.
• Draft clear requirements and user stories to support feature delivery.
• Develop and apply scenario‑based acceptance criteria to support effective testing.
• Maintain traceability of requirements and user stories through epics or high‑level requirements.
• Gather and analyse evidence to inform business needs, priorities, business cases, and benefits realisation.
• Identify service and process improvement opportunities and support implementation of agreed solutions.
• Produce performance measures and support stakeholder engagement through analysis outputs (e.g. RACIs).

This on the job training will be provided through:

• Exposure to and utilising methodologies and tools used by Business Analysts within the Home Office.
• Building up experience in the role by supporting more senior Business Analysts in their day to day work.
• Receiving career mentoring and coaching across Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession.

Working pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 5 days / 28 hours per week due to business requirements.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required to other work locations within the UK according to business needs. All related costs will be reimbursed in line with Home Office policy.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

We are looking for someone with the motivation to learn and develop as a Business Analyst. To support this, you will demonstrate the following:

• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret information accurately and critically.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, tailored to a range of audiences.
• A logical and objective approach to problem‑solving, with curiosity and attention to detail.
• The ability to build positive working relationships and engage confidently with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• An organised and reliable approach to managing your workload, delivering quality outputs with appropriate guidance and support.
• Personal responsibility for your work, showing willingness to learn, reflect, and continuously improve.
• Confidence using digital tools such as Microsoft Word and Excel (or equivalent), with a readiness to develop technical skills further.

The essential criteria listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- Use the levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills expected after one year in your role:

Change and Transformation

• Business Change Management
• Business Situation Analysis (BUSA) – Level 2
• Business Modelling (BSMO) – Level 2
• Requirements Definition and Management (REQM) – Level 2

Development and Implementation

• User Experience
• Feasibility Assessment (FEAS) – Level 2

Relationships and Engagement

• Stakeholder Management
• Stakeholder Relationships Management (RLMT) – Level 2

Desirable Criteria

Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in:

• Experience working collaboratively within a project or delivery environment, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively.
• Familiarity with digital delivery and collaboration tools such as PowerPoint, Confluence, and/or Jira.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Stakeholder Relationships Management (RLMT) – Level 2
• Business Modelling (BSMO) – Level 2
• Business Situation Analysis (BUSA) – Level 2

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• This role has access to a Digital Capability-Based Allowance – Recruitment and Retention Allowance. Applicants who are successful at interview will be invited to complete a Capability and Skills Assessment post-interview. Any allowance awarded will be based on the assessment of your capability against the six skills advertised for this role. Please see the Home Office Digital Recruitment and Retention Allowance Careers page for more information.
• The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time.
• For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 27th May 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – from 29th May 2026

The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (CV). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – from 19th June 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Technical Skills based questions.

The interview will take place via video using MS Teams.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the SFIA 8 framework - SFIA 8 — English.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The presentation will be assessed against 'Experience' on the 'Success Profiles' and will be assessed against the 'Essential Criteria' as listed in the job advertisement.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The technical skills, experience have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamHSGPSGandMBG@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate_Information_v17_April_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)