Business Analyst Machine Learning

Akshita Pallala

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(***) -403-4153 https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshita-pallela-216076190/

summary

Accomplished Business Analyst with expertise in financial forecasting, strategic decision-making, agile product development and complex data analysis. Proven ability to deliver actionable insights by collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve business performance and shape long-term financial trajectories. Proficient in SQL, regulatory reporting, and market risk analysis, with experience interacting with senior leaders and delivering data-driven recommendations for growth and operational improvements.

education

Syracuse University, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Syracuse, NY August 2022 - May 2024

Master of Science, Business Analytics

Specialized in Data-Driven Decision Making, Visual Analytics Dashboards, Data Science, and Database Management, with further expertise in Machine Learning in Business, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Research and Financial Analytics, Management Science, Value Investing, and Scripting in Python, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Data Analysis.

MVGR College of Engineering, India June 2017 - August 2021

Bachelor of Technology, Engineering

Specialized in AI and Machine Learning, complemented by coursework in Supply chain management, Product Lifecycle, Manufacturing processes, Design Engineering, Engineering Management, and Managerial Economics and Financial Analysis.

technical skills

experience

Research Assistant / Syracuse University December 2023 - September 2024

• Conducted in-depth quantitative and qualitative research to support ongoing projects, utilizing statistical tools R and Python for data analysis and visualization, leading to publication of research findings in academic journals.

• Developed data models for predicting market trends, contributing to university-wide projects aimed at improving operations and engagement. Created system-level diagrams to visualize research findings and ensure data accuracy.

• Created data-driven models for understanding consumer behaviour in lending, providing actionable insights that informed strategic product development and marketing decisions.

• Directed in development of data-driven models to predict market trends and behavior, delivering actionable insights informed strategic decision-making. Also utilized window functions for analytics and crafted scripts for ETL processes.

Business Analyst Intern / UpMerch January 2023 - May 2023

• Established and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders, utilized effective communication strategies to identify needs, evaluate business solutions, and support project management efforts for optimal outcomes.

• Facilitated key Scrum ceremonies (Backlog Grooming, Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-up, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective) for collaboration, transparency, and iterative development in alignment with Agile principles.

• Utilized SQL querying and data visualization tools to create reports for marketing strategies in financial products, enabling data-driven decision-making for leadership.

• Worked with the QA team to create comprehensive end-to-end test strategies, defining test parameters, environments, and inclusive coverage.

• Leveraged Excel and tableau to create detailed data-driven visualizations and presentations, facilitating informed decision-making in marketing strategies. Used story mapping techniques to break down larger user stories into smaller, manageable pieces.

• Participated in daily stand-up meetings and provided updates on progress and collaborated with the team to overcome challenges.

Business Analyst / Cognizant January 2020 - July 2022

• Spearheaded development of SQL-based interactive reports and dashboards within Salesforce, enabling real-time visualization of key metrics, drove a 35% improvement in cycle time. Utilized advanced analytics to influence strategic business decisions, contributing to enhanced ROI and customer satisfaction.

• Performed smoke testing and collaborated with testing team for Progression and Regression Tests for new Guidewire functionalities. Developed an in-depth understanding of application functionality and the business processes supported by these applications, particularly in Property & Casualty insurance and policy administration.

• Led strategic projects boosted system capabilities and user satisfaction. Mentored team members, overseeing project scopes and deliverables. Formulated the ER diagrams of Property and Casualty data and data flow diagrams to interact with database developers.

• Led a project for a major auto lending client to develop predictive models for customer credit risk and income statement forecasting. Collaborated with finance teams to assess financial implications and streamline lending processes, which improved loan approval time by 20%.

• Excelled in identifying trends, variances, and key performance indicators, delivered well-organized presentations and spearheaded training. Strong grasp of SDLC.

• Guided project teams in resolving issues and risks while collaborating with Product Owners to design and maintain user stories.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to refine business requirements and convert into functional stories for agile development.

• Conducted complex financial analysis using Python, Excel and SQL to predict market trends, supporting projects related to income statement forecasting and stress testing, resulting in improved accuracy of financial projections.

• Facilitated Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions, expediting requirement gathering process and ensuring alignment with business objectives. Managed and prioritized product backlogs, driving 35% improvement in development cycle time through effective sprint planning and backlog refinement.

• Built system flow diagrams, process maps, and both current and future state diagrams using MS Visio to support strategic decision-making. Wrote SQL queries for data filtering and integration between policies and billing, managing defects using JIRA.

• Led integration of agile methodologies, coordinated Scrum ceremonies (Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Planning, and Retrospectives), and resolved impediments for project teams.

• Devised metrics - driven dashboards in Salesforce for real-time reporting, influencing key business decisions and contributing to higher customer satisfaction.

certifications

• Microsoft Business Analysis certification, Business Analyst and Project Manager Collaboration, Agile Foundation Requirements, Business Benefits Realization, Process Modelling, Requirements Elicitation and Analysis.

leadership

• Co-President and Marketing officer for Whitman Women in Business club and financial analysis workshops.

• Research Assistant, Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University.

• Promoted and organized international conferences, boosting student participation and engagement by 30%.

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