Senior Analyst, Accounting Products - Technical

The Fund and Accounting Operations Department is responsible for the provision of accounting services to Baillie Gifford's range of pooled funds, shareholders, and segregated clients. Key responsibilities include the production of unit prices/NAVs for our UK OEICs and Investment Trusts and the maintenance of an accounting book of record for our global Fund ranges and segregated clients. Our Accounting Products teams are an integral part of the Department, providing technical, operational and governance support for the firm's accounting systems; and leading change initiatives to ensure the service we provide is first class service to our clients and internal stakeholders.Purpose of Role Provide functionality and technical support for the Firms Accounting Products applications (Optima, Icon and NavQuest) and participate in projects to shape the applications to meet the Firms requirements and implement automated solutions in line with the Firms goals. The team provide business support 7am-5pm, and on-call support from 5pm to midnight Mon-Fri with occasional Saturday cover as required.Responsibilities

• Provide application in-depth analysis & solution delivery on a continuous basis.
• Work with Operational areas and colleagues in Information Systems to analyse and assess the best options for delivering functional business solutions, both ad hoc and as part of organisation wide projects.
• Work in partnership with vendors to shape the applications so they continually meet our current & future business requirements.
• Use application specific tools such as Report Writer to tailor the application to meet operational requirements.
• Maintain application servers, both in Production and Development, ensuring system integrity and availability.
• Deliver high quality documentation surrounding projects, system enhancements and functionality changes.
• Delivery of bespoke application training to end users.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of systems and production environments.
What success looks like:
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrates strong technical knowledge of Optima, Icon and NavQuest, independently resolving complex system issues and ensuring application stability, accuracy and reliability.
• Continuous Improvement: Successfully delivers system enhancements and automated solutions using tools such as PL/SQL, Report Writer and VBA, improving operational efficiency and supporting evolving business requirements.
• Collaboration and Delivery: Builds strong relationships with operational teams, Information Systems and vendors, proactively identifying solutions, delivering effective change and providing high-quality support, documentation and training to end users.
  In-depth knowledge and experience with Optima, Icon and NavQuest application functionality and maintenance.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with Icon Report Writer development.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with PL/SQL, VBA/Excel Macros.
• Demonstrable record of problem solving independently.
• Demonstrable ability to applying critical thinking to evaluate different approaches, selecting the most appropriate solution.
• Extensive experience in completing impact analysis and testing.
The type of candidate that we're looking for We are looking for someone who is proactive, analytical and methodical in their approach, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. You will have excellent customer service skills, a keen interest in technology and a willingness to learn and develop. You will bring in-depth knowledge and experience of Optima, Icon and NavQuest application functionality and maintenance, alongside expertise in Icon Report Writer development, PL/SQL, VBA and Excel Macros. You will also be adaptable, with the ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively and confidently shift focus as business needs change. Critical skills
• Data literacy
• Storytelling
• Adaptability
• Systems thinking
  At Baillie Gifford, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture in which each of our colleagues can thrive and develop. We believe that our clients are best served by a diverse workforce with the experiences, ideas and perspectives that this brings.