SAP Finance Process Improvement

Client

One of the world’s largest information technology (IT) management software companies, who’s products and services unify and simplifies the management of enterprise-wide IT.

Project Overview & Objectives

The North American Professional Services Finance division was preparing to implement SAP’s financial management software in late 2006. Both internal and external Sarbanes-Oxley controls compliance groups required that each department would have defined processes and controls documented and put into production at the same time as the new software. The customer did not have the personnel or defined approach to complete this requirement in the six weeks they had to complete the effort for the Billing department.

Our Involvement

Synaptitude managed a small team that rapidly mapped existing processes in the Billing department, analyzed the proposed functionality being delivered with the SAP implementation, performed a gap analysis, and developed new processes to be executed with the new software. The new processes and controls were required to go through a review put into production. This effort included the planning of how to depict each control and process, developing the expected results, documentation of the process and control evidence, and executing the walkthrough with the processes owners to the internal controls group and external auditors. Additionally, we developed a strategic plan to improve communication, establish organizational structure, develop performance measurements, and create a comprehensive management tool in order to optimize resources for the billing department as pilot program for the entire division.

Results and Benefits

All of the Billing processes were reengineered and documented according to the design and proposed functionality of configured SAP system. The process owner delivered a walkthrough of the new processes and controls that was well received by the internal control compliance group and the external auditors. The delivery of this effort led to additional work being contracted with the client.