SUMMARY:

• Senior Business Analyst with over twelve years of experience in systems design, testing and implementation to customer specifications in defined benefit, defined contribution/401K, accounting and ERP environments.
• Experienced in business process planning and reengineering, internal controls and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs, financial reporting, project documentation, and user acceptance testing and user group training.
• Highly successful in building team and business relationships that lead to positive and visible project results.

• Technical: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Sharepoint, Serena TeamTrack
• Significant experience working with functional analysts, developers, users and management in creating and optimizing system functionality
• Technical writing: Business Requirements Documents, System Maps and Process Maps, Statements of Work, RFP’s, documentation and user manuals, training and user guides, and test plans
• Demonstrated ability in defining areas of process improvement, envisioning goals, organizing project teams and executing projects from inception through implementation
• Seek and integrate collaborative viewpoints when conducting major work, drawing on the knowledge of other professionals
• Capable and trustworthy to timely complete assigned tasks

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Confidential, Lansing, MI

Senior Business Analyst

Responsibilities:

• Functional lead and liaison with Project SIGMA team. Responsible for interface mapping, design, testing and implementation in the Confidential ’s new ERP system
• Developed process documentation (policy, procedure, system map, process map and metrics) for major financial processes for the Office of Retirement Services (ORS) which will support succession planning, new employee training and transitional periods in the future
• Standardized documentation and processes used in gather and storing process documentation
• Created VISIO process flows and system maps for As - Is and To-Be processes
• Made recommendations and carried out process improvements
• Participated in JAD sessions for the rebuild of Clarety (an ERP system used by ORS) due to the pension reforms of 2012 and 2010
• Collaborated with resources to ensure system designs adequately reflect the defined business processes and fully support the functional business requirements
• Defined test cases for user acceptance testing of system enhancements
• Participated in gap analysis of business requirements and work flow processes
• Used SharePoint to maintain and share project documentation for collaboration with functional analysts, developers and users
• Facilitated user acceptance testing and regression testing for quality control of new releases of Clarety software
• Managed projects and reported to management with status meetings, presentations and timelines
• Reviewed Finance and Payments related Problem Incident Reports (PIRs), ensure issue documentation is complete and assist in the prioritization of work efforts for development
• Improved reconciliation method used in contribution rate setting process for the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) by considerably reducing complexity involved in the calculation
• Calculated benefit receivable collectible/uncollectible percentage and provided to Financial Services earlier than ever before, reducing labor time on this process by 6 ½ days
• Provided support to Employer Reporting for research requests and various ad hoc reporting regarding school district’s reporting and payment of retirement contributions
• Attained Confidential ’s SUITE Project Management Certification
• Presented retirement topics at Southwest Michigan School Business Officials and Michigan Community College Business Officers Association conferences

Confidential, Lansing, MI

Financial Specialist

• Configuration of grant programs and projects in EGrAMS that resulted in a 50% time savings for grantees, program and budget staff when compared with paper process
• Administered user acceptance testing, documented defects and followed through with defect resolution
• Defined test cases for user acceptance testing of system enhancements
• Developed user documentation and educational materials for accounting staff, program staff, and grantees
• Analyzed agency needs and presented actionable and timely solutions to management
• Managed projects and reported to management with status meetings, presentations and timelines
• Served as department’s liaison for comprehensive agreements with 45 local health departments and interdepartmental agreements
• Provided technical assistance for EGrAMS issues to 45 local health departments throughout the Confidential
• Maintained strong business relationships and became a trusted partner with financial staff from local health departments

Confidential, Lansing, MI

Senior Accountant

• Integral part of team that designed, tested and implemented ACH (electronic payment functionality) for the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) which is used to receipt $3 billion in contributions per year and reduced cashier time spent on MPSERS receipting by 90%
• Financial lead on team that designed, tested and implemented 1099-R functionality that resulted in 220,000 + 1099-Rs being mailed to retirees 3 weeks earlier than ever before
• Created pro forma financial statements in order to determine work project and encumbrance needs
• Participated in gap analysis of business requirements and work flow processes
• Designed, tested, and implemented the following functional areas in Clarety (an ERP system used by ORS): Pension Plus, monthly/daily pension payroll, refunds and general ledger
• Collaborated extensively with functional analyst, developers, users and management during Clarety development
• Developed test plans, test strategy and expected results
• Performed user acceptance testing and regression testing for quality control of new releases of Clarety software. Ensured that project assumptions, risks, constraints and issues were effectively identified, documented and managed throughout the project.
• Interfaced with business partners and users on problem determination and resolution
• Tracked program problems for management and team using Serena TeamTrack