Professional Experience

Confidential

Cognos Administrator/Developer

• Install, configure, and support the Cognos BI application architecture. Partner with project management teams to gather information and assist with development of project plans, analyzing requirements for data, workflow, logical processes, hardware and operating system environment, interfaces, and controls.
• Responsible for Cognos 10.2.1 upgrade including architecture, installation, configuration of multi-tenant BI application environment. Partnered with Systems Network and Database Administration teams to determine required hardware and operating system requirements. Monitored system performance 24 X 7 to achieve client SLA.
• Worked closely with Database Administration during data warehouse updates to insure minimum disruption to Cognos reporting services. Provided support for updating Cognos configuration in conjunction with Oracle LDAP and RAC change initiatives. Performed in-depth analysis to identify data related issues impacting Cognos reporting. Involvement in SQL tuning using Explain Plan for making recommendations when indexes needed to be created or rebuilt on specific tables.
• Troubleshoot BI application issues in support of BI Development team to insure report design and delivery requirements are met. Implemented, tested, and documented new and updated Cognos reporting packages to production. Administered Cognos security utilizing active directory, package, and report level to maintain strict security requirements within multi-tenant reporting environment.
• Provided support to report developers by identifying issues related to Cognos configuration and/or report SQL. Implemented improved best practice standards to ensure software quality assurance SQA standards were achieved. Work with Quality Assurance team for improvement of testing and release management controls.

Confidential

Senior Programmer/Analyst

• Gathered and documented customer requirements, created functional and project specifications, managed customer expectations, resolved issues, and delivered project status during development cycle. Core member of Cognos Business Intelligence team placing strong emphasis on SDLC. Designed, developed, tested, implemented, and maintained reporting/application software solutions. Performed upgrades, deployments, hot fixes, and production support for Cognos 8.1 through 8.4. Supported the team for application availability, reliability and stability 24 X 7. Conducted and/or facilitated root cause analysis on all in-scope incidents.
• Designed, developed, implemented, and maintained a national laboratory KPI reporting application having 30 multi-dimensional Cognos Analysis Studio reports. Application encompassed multiple PeopleSoft screens for end users to enter data. Automated Transformer 8.4 cube builds and daily report publishing to Cognos Connection.
• Awarded company's highest customer excellence award for having designed and implemented complex Oracle views that delivered lab operations data automatically to corporate Six Sigma operations excellence initiative
• Installed and configured Cognos 8.2 in multi-server environment. Customized Cognos Connection portal based on user specifications, and addressed all issues following upgrade through defect tracking process.
• Demonstrated strong understanding of lab business rules data delivery when resolving numerous reporting issues and communicating back to team members. Go-to person for identifying and resolving lab data issues on data warehouse/reporting side.
• Initiated best practices process used by our team for Sarbanes-Oxley audit documentation requirements.
• Provided technical guidance, and oversight for project tasks assigned to offshore consulting staff. Participated in consultant interviews and performance reviews.
• Supported team members and customers in performance tuning of new and existing SQL queries used for Cognos reporting
• Supported B.I. change management controls and validation process to ensure consistent and accurate delivery of information and reports
• Supported standard and customized report training to empower the customers to more effectively use the information and reporting tools available
• Contributed to group knowledge and best practices by sharing information through demonstrations, and training to technical staff and end users.

Senior Business Systems Analyst

• Collaborated with customer and programmers to review and understand business requirements. Documented business requirements, designed, tested, and implemented solutions for existing and new business processes. Researched and analyzed data processing practices and procedures to develop solutions and recommendations for improvement.
• Conducted system testing for all Y2K Epochs pertaining to bill-type transfers, adjustments and cash applications. Provided project management with detailed documentation on results and analysis explaining discrepancies.
• Created SQL application that simplified programmer's effort of data integrations for laboratories merges
• Enhanced problem log database making it more accessible for internal programmers and analysts
• Managed ad hoc data requests for the region staff as well as provide system support. Developed ad hoc SQL queries to expedite the integration of lab integration data files

Supervisor Unadjudicated Claims

• Supervised internal processes involving daily management of billings, collections, reconciliation, general ledger and month-end-closings for accounts receivable functions. Prepared performance reviews, work schedules, assignment of duties, and examined work for accuracy, neatness, and conformance to policies for 23 member team.
• Designed and implemented a custom reporting process that improved the department's ability to focus analysis on more critical issues, while also providing management with information necessary for measuring department goals and performance targets.
• Performed analysis on monthly write-offs, adjusting parameters to prevent unnecessary write-offs. Communicated analysis to Finance and relevant Billing Process teams that may be impacted by the adjustments.
• Provided management with data and analysis summarizing critical third party issues for use in the 180-Day Analysis and Third Party Collection Initiatives. Performed daily analysis to identify trends in carrier responses and billing process issues in order to reduce bad debt. Worked closely with Payer Relations and other billing processes to resolve critical billing issues.

Confidential

Accounts Receivable Supervisor

• Supervised internal processes involving daily management of billings, collections, reconciliation, general ledger and month-end-closings for accounts receivable functions.
• Developed and supervised a 12-member reimbursement staff focused on processing 3 million in monthly sales revenues for 80 different commercial payers and multi-state Medicare and Medicaid programs. Provided necessary support and direction on all phases of billing including cash applications, collections and customer satisfaction. Took essential steps towards resolving crucial pay or issues elevated beyond staff's capacity by interfacing with internal pay or groups and establishing valuable liaison within pay or management levels. Oversaw special project for resolving hard collection issues at the patient level. Exhausted all internal efforts before relinquishing to outside collection agency.

Technical Skills

• Reporting Tools: Cognos 8.4 BI - 10.2.1 Framework Manager, Report Studio, Analysis Studio, Workspace, Query Studio, Event Studio Cognos Series 7 - Architect, Cognos Query, Impromptu, PowerPlay Web, Transformer
• Cognos LifeCycle Manager
• ETL Tools: Informatica
• DBMS: Oracle 11g/10g/9i/8i, MS Access
• Programming Languages: SQL, Oracle PL/SQL, VB Script, Visual Basic, PeopleSoft
• Server: Windows 2003/2000/2008 NT
• Operating Systems: Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000/98/95/3.1, MS-DOSx
• Graphics: Adobe Photoshop
• Source Control: Visual SourceSafe
• Other: Microsoft Office Suite Visio and Project, HP/Peregrine ServiceCenter, Clarity