POSITION SUMMARY
The Business Systems Analyst (SAP Finance) is responsible for the ongoing support, optimization, and continuous improvement of the SAP system, financial processes, integrated systems, and financial reports/dashboards. This position ensures the effective design, configuration, and implementation of SAP FICO and integrations with PM, MM, RE and HCM modules and Salesforce to meet complex business requirements and align with the Corporation’s strategic objectives.
As a subject matter expert in systems analysis and design, this role facilitates comprehensive fact-finding and collaboration sessions to ensure that business needs are thoroughly understood and that technical solutions are properly specified and aligned with operational requirements. The position serves as a primary liaison between business clients and IT technical staff, fostering communication, addressing operational issues, and ensuring successful integration of financial systems with SAP.
This role includes leading and managing major systems projects, providing project management expertise from inception to delivery. Responsibilities involve defining scope, assigning resources, and scheduling deliverables, while also addressing change management, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement to ensure smooth transitions to new systems or processes. The incumbent will actively contribute to the Corporation's goals by driving innovation, supporting strategic initiatives, and maintaining the integrity and performance of the SAP system.
Through proactive problem-solving and functional expertise, the Business Systems Analyst (SAP Finance) acts as a subject matter expert, delivering guidance to Super Users, IT staff, and other stakeholders. This position is integral to promoting efficiency, enabling data-driven decision-making, and ensuring the SAP system remains a robust foundation for the Corporation's financial operations and future growth.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (not listed in order of priority)
1. Analyze and Document Business Systems: Study current processes, controls, policies, and information structures to identify bottlenecks and integration points. Document authorization, staffing, and technology issues that affect the efficiency and effectiveness of business functions.
2. Lead Stakeholder Fact-Finding Sessions: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover operational challenges, clarify new objectives, and explore potential solutions. Promote open communication and ensure alignment across business units.
3. Develop and Communicate System Specifications: Define and document data structures, business processes, and integration requirements for new or redesigned systems. Translate functional needs into technical specifications, ensuring clarity for both IT teams and stakeholders.
4. Ensure Data Confidentiality and Security: Uphold and enforce the confidentiality of corporate data, including financial, human resources, payroll, and health records, in accordance with internal policies and legislative requirements.
5. Research and Recommend IT Solutions: Investigate emerging hardware, software, databases, and network technologies to drive innovation, bolster strategic IT planning, and propose system improvements.
6. Develop Business Cases and Cost/Benefit Analyses: Present viable options and document associated risks, impacts, and anticipated returns on investment. Articulate clear benefits to stakeholders and leadership to support decision-making.
7. Serve as Liaison Between Business and IT: Act as the primary contact for bridging operational requirements with technical capabilities. Ensure that IT initiatives are aligned with business objectives and that project outcomes meet user needs.
8. Manage and Coordinate Projects: Oversee major project lifecycles, including developing project charters, schedules, budgets, tasks, and deliverables. Facilitate issue resolution, maintain stakeholder engagement, and ensure adherence to project methodologies.
9. Design and Execute Test Plans: Develop and conduct comprehensive testing strategies for new or modified business processes, applications, and SAP modules. Collaborate with development teams to resolve issues and validate functionality.
10. Create End-User Documentation and Training Materials: Prepare detailed guides, manuals, and job aids. Conduct workshops and training sessions to enable user adoption and effective system utilization.
11. Maintain Operational Knowledge of SAP and Integrated Systems: Stay current on the functionality of SAP FICO (GL, AP, AR, Fixed Assets, Controlling, Project Systems, Funds Management, etc.) and related modules. Provide ongoing support and proactively identify opportunities for optimization.
12. Configure and Support Financial Solutions: Design, customize, configure, and test SAP FICO modules, integrations within other SAP modules, Salesforce and other County financial systems/applications. Perform detailed analysis of complex business process requirements, identify and document business needs, and provide system solutions that align with organizational goals.
13. Proactively Improve SAP and Integrated Systems: Lead the continuous improvement of SAP financial processes, dashboards, and reports. Drive enhancements in financial systems’ functionality and integration to meet evolving business requirements.
14. Facilitate Data Integration and Reconciliation: Develop strategies for moving data to-and-from systems to SAP, ensuring accurate mapping and reconciliation. Identify and resolve discrepancies, master data and account mapping issues, and business process gaps.
15. Champion Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with Business Process Owners, Super Users, and County staff to gather feedback, identify redundancies, and refine system functionality. Work with leadership teams to prioritize projects and enhancements that align with strategic objectives and best practices.
16. Manage Access and Roles in SAP: Coordinate security roles and permissions with appropriate business approvals. Uphold segregation of duties principles and monitor user activities to maintain system integrity.
17. Monitor and Mitigate Risks: Identify, score, and document potential project or system risks. Develop mitigation strategies, escalate critical issues to leadership, and maintain thorough records of risk-related information.
18. Support Procurement and Vendor Management: Participate in the procurement process by preparing terms of reference, defining scoring criteria, and evaluating vendor submissions. Collaborate with third-party vendors on project deliverables and issue resolution.
19. Collaborate with External Agencies and Municipal Partners: Establish and maintain relationships with external organizations and municipal partners to share information, identify opportunities for systems integration, and enhance interoperability of financial and operational data across platforms.
20. Participate in Committees and Working Groups: Contribute expertise to cross-functional initiatives, working groups, and strategic forums. Share best practices, propose improvements, and support multi-departmental collaboration.
21. Lead and Support Change Management Activities: Drive change management strategies and initiatives related to financial systems, SAP system implementations and process improvements. Conduct impact assessments, develop change readiness plans, and lead stakeholder engagement to facilitate adoption of new systems and processes.
22. Provide Financial System Support and Expertise: Act as a subject matter expert for County Financial Systems, including SAP FICO modules Salesforce and integrations, offering functional advice and guidance to Super Users, IT staff, and other stakeholders. Address inquiries, investigate and resolve system issues, and ensure timely resolution of operational challenges.
23. Perform Other Assigned Duties and Comply with Safety Standards: Fulfill additional responsibilities as needed in line with departmental, divisional, and corporate objectives. Adhere to all relevant occupational health and safety regulations, policies, and procedures, while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with governing privacy acts.
24. Adherence to Confidentiality & Compliance:
Comply with provincial and County occupational health and safety legislation, regulations, policies and procedures.
25. Maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
CORPORATE COMPETENCIES
Has knowledge of and demonstrated ability in our corporate competencies:
• Acts with the Customer in Mind
• Ensures Accountability
• Continuously Seeks to Improve Work Processes
• Collaborates
• Communicates with Impact
• Is Resilient
• Plans and Directs Work
EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION
• A university degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Accounting or Business Administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience. This job may be considered for educational equivalency in accordance with County Policy.
• SAP Certifications from an accredited association, organization and/or institution are a benefit
• SAP S/4 HANA FICO certification would be considered an asset
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), Certified Business Analysis Certification) preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of systems analysis methodologies including techniques to facilitate stakeholder participation, gather process and data specifications, document results, design solutions, and communicate findings.
• Understanding of software applications, databases, and communications technology, with the ability to translate business specifications into appropriate technology components.
• Problem solving and critical thinking skills to diagnose problems and determine steps necessary to achieve an effective solution.
• Leadership skills required to manage multiple projects and lead / facilitate cross-departmental project teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively to users with varying levels of computer understanding. Ability to translate complicated technical language into layperson terms.
• Ability to work effectively with constant interruptions; ability to work simultaneously on several projects independently and to use good judgment in determining priorities.
• Exceptional business analysis, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on customer service and ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and senior level management
• Excellent technical writing skills required to document systems procedures and prepare reports.
• Valid G class driver’s license and access to reliable vehicle.
• Criminal records check that is less than 6 months old at time of hire.
EXPERIENCE
• Five (5) years progressive experience in an information technology related field with at least three (3) years in a Technical Business Analyst / Project Management role.
• Minimum 3 years of SAP FICO functional and implementation experience with SAP ECC 6.0 and/or SAP S/4HANA
• Extensive background in Microsoft (MS) applications and database environment is essential; experience with SAP, SAP FICO, Asset Management Systems, Financial Forecasting/Budgeting Systems, MS Project, MS Planner, ESRI, Salesforce, SharePoint and similar Enterprise Systems preferred.
• Formal training in Project management, and Project Management experience with PMP or ACP accreditation preferred.
• Experience working in a large, complex technical environment with a wide range of business processes.
• Experience with working with testing automation tools or Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools would be considered an asset (Worksoft or similar tool)
• Experience in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence environments; experience with Microsoft SSRS, SSAS, Power BI, PowerPivot, Power Query, Power Platform preferred or similar Data Analytic / Business Intelligence (BI) toolset (i.e. Tableau, Qlik, etc.)
• Canadian Municipal experience would be an asset.
EFFORT
• Significant mental effort required for conducting analyses of business processes, developing and documenting systems specifications, and conducting researching various technologies.
• Visual and mental effort required when doing system design, strategy development, resolving issues in SAP.
• Management of multiple tasks and meeting deadlines.
• May be exposed to some stressful situations from time to time
WORKING CONDITIONS
• Regular office environment.
• May be required to work outside of business hours from time to time.
• Ability to work remotely if required.
