Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Consultant - Finance

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for assisting clients in implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems for a large and complex transit agencies. The work typically involves assessing current systems supporting ERP needs, developing business processes, defining functional and technical requirements, developing procurement documentation, evaluating and selecting viable ERP systems that adequately address current and future ERP needs of transit agencies. Subsequently, the implementation phase of an ERP project involves supporting business functions such as financial management and accounting (A/P, A/R, GL), budgeting, grants, project costing, procurement and purchasing and public sector reporting, often led by a major ERP Systems Integrators. During this phase, the selected candidate will participate in the project as the primary representative of the agency’s financial management functions/Office of CFO and will represent their interests to ensure that all enterprise-level requirements are met. This includes communicating and clarifying requirements, ensuring that the design is consistent with enterprise-level needs, validating that requirements are met, resolving issues, coordinating the involvement of other department staff (HR, O&M, Transit Operations, etc.), and monitoring and reporting project status.

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Understanding and interpreting enterprise-level financial policies, procedures, objectives, and processes that are pertinent to ERP systems.
• Identifying and communicating enterprise-level requirements, standards, guidance, and preferences relating to ERP system requirements, including applicable regulatory requirements (GASB, etc.).
• Assessing current technology systems supporting ERP functions and conducting gap analysis.
• Developing ERP business processes, ERP functional and technical requirements in support of an agency’s procurement of ERP systems.
• Planning and managing the ERP systems implementation phase of the project.
• Ensuring that functional and technical requirements are appropriately included in the ERP system implementation. This also includes standardizing business processes and procedures throughout the agency and applying best practice processes where appropriate.
• Participating in the functional design, reviewing design documents, and ensuring the enterprise-level requirements are met. Examples include chart of accounts re-design, interfaces between finance and other enterprise systems (HR/HCM, EAM, EPM, etc.), regulatory reporting, compliance with standards.
• Participating in the effort to convert existing enterprise financial data into the new ERP system. In particular, lead the effort to convert the existing financial management database(s), and to ensure that all data is loaded appropriately into the new ERP system.
• Participating in other system implementation phases and activities and coordinate the participation of other financial management staff, such as design, configuration, testing, training, go-live and post-go-live support.
• Monitoring project progress by tracking activity; resolving problems; publishing progress reports; and recommending actions as relevant to the interests of enterprise-level financial management.
• Serving as a resource to other participating departments and project personnel as needed to provide guidance, analysis, recommendations, and advice regarding the comprehensive and consistent application of public sector financial management best practice and organizational policy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Expertise in analyzing and documenting ERP business processes, developing requirements, conducting ERP systems options/alternatives analysis, and identifying viable ERP solutions.
• Experience supporting ERP Systems implementation projects in support of transit agencies that build, operate and maintain Bus Transit, Rail Transit, Paratransit, Facilities, Equipment, and other Transit Systems
• Expertise in ERP applications and their integration with other applications is required.
• Knowledge of financial management processes and supporting data management is required. Knowledge of ERP within public transit and/or transportation, including regulatory requirements is highly desired.
• Experience in all phases of information systems development and implementation methodologies, including analysis, design, development/ package fit-gap, validation/testing, implementation, and support is required.
• Ability to analyze business user requirements and propose system solutions is required.
• Functional expertise in public sector financial management functions is desired, such as, planning and budget, grants management and billing, chart of accounts redesign, project costing, accrued vs. actual expenditures and reconciliation, etc..
• Leadership, change management, collaborative, and project management abilities is required.
• Knowledge of system integration requirements and design between enterprise systems and the software development lifecycle methodology is desired.
• Excellent communication skills, including experience with presentations and strength in facilitation is required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Preferably, bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration or a related field or equivalent related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and implementation of financial management policies and procedures for public sector agencies.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in financial management processes and ERP systems.