Business Analyst/Product Owner

Duration: until EOY (unlikely for ext) Preferred Location: Prefer local to Buffalo. If remote travel to NY every 3-4 weeks Role Description We are seeking a Business Analyst who is looking to transition to a Product Owner role to support a critical banking transformation initiative targeting a November go-live. This is a contract role through the end of the year, focused on driving requirements, coordination, and delivery alignment for a complex historical data migration and conversion workstream. The ideal candidate will have experience supporting banking or financial services transformation programs, particularly those involving data migration, data conversion, or enterprise data transformation. This role is well-suited for an experienced Product Owner or a strong Business Analyst looking to transition into a Product Owner capacity within a fast-paced delivery environment. Key Responsibilities • Serve as Product Owner / Business Analyst for a banking transformation data migration initiative. • Partner with business stakeholders and delivery teams to define priorities and support execution. • Manage and refine backlogs, user stories, requirements, and acceptance criteria. • Support decision-making by clarifying and translating business requirements into actionable delivery items. • Drive alignment across business and technology teams for historical data migration and conversion activities. • Ensure business requirements are accurately reflected in data transformation and delivery outcomes. • Identify risks, dependencies, and issues and help drive resolution across teams. • Maintain alignment with aggressive project milestones and a targeted November go-live. • Facilitate clear communication and transparency across stakeholders regarding progress, risks, and dependencies. Requirements Required Qualifications • 7+ years of experience in Product Owner, Business Analyst, Product Management, or similar delivery-focused roles. • Experience supporting large-scale transformation programs within banking, financial services, or regulated industries. • Strong experience with data migration, data conversion, or data transformation initiatives. • Proven ability to work with complex stakeholder groups and support decision-making processes. • Strong requirements gathering, backlog management, and Agile delivery experience. • Excellent communication, facilitation, and organizational skills. Preferred Qualifications • Experience in banking profitability, finance transformation, or enterprise data programs. • Familiarity with historical data migration and reconciliation processes. • Experience working in cross-functional business and technology environments. • Prior experience supporting time-sensitive implementations and go-live delivery phases. • Exposure to Product Owner responsibilities or Agile product operating models.