Business Analyst - Legal Services

Are you ready to use your analytical skills to shape the future of local government legal services? This is a key role at the heart of our Legal Services Department, where you’ll help shape strategy, enhance operational efficiency, support financial oversight, and lead a small team to deliver high-impact results.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

About Us:
Now is the perfect time to be part of our journey. We’re building one of the best places to work in local government law — close to our customers, attracting top talent, using cutting-edge legal technology, and expanding our services to new partners.

You’ll join a highly regarded Legal Services team, hosting the Joint Legal Team for all Berkshire councils and a Corporate Legal Team supporting the Council’s wide-ranging needs.

Reading’s Legal Service provides the Council and its partners with the highest quality professional legal advice and representation which allows them to run their organisations well, and to serve our community.

We host a Joint Legal Team, a long-standing shared legal service for all the Berkshire councils and a recognised centre of excellence for childcare, adults and education law. As well as leading a highly regarded internal Corporate Legal Team, serving the needs of the Council across a wide range of functions.

About the Role:
While this is not a practising legal role, your analytical and operational expertise will be essential in supporting our highly regarded Legal Services Team.

As a Business Analyst, you will be responsible for conducting in-depth analysis, producing insightful reports, and identifying trends to support decision-making at all levels. You will work closely with senior leaders, finance teams, and legal service managers to improve efficiency, optimise processes, and ensure financial sustainability

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead the analysis of performance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
• Drive financial planning, reporting and forecasting for Legal Services
• Support strategic planning and business development initiatives
• Implement and optimise legal technology and operational processes
• Manage and develop a small, talented team, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement
• Collaborate with colleagues across legal and corporate services to deliver measurable results

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong experience in operations, business analysis, financial management and people management
• Proven ability to lead and manage staff effectively
• Excellent data analysis and reporting skills
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach to problem-solving
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience in local government or legal services is desirable but not essential

About You:
We are looking for a highly analytical, detail-oriented professional with experience in financial analysis, data reporting, and process improvement and ideally within a legal or corporate services environment. You should have strong skills in working with financial and case management systems and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Harjit Bains, Legal Operations Manager - Harjit.bains@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 17th August 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.