Darren Stone Email & Phone Number

Fleet, Gb

Fleet, Gb

Chertsey, Surrey, Gb

Leading SAP S/4 Hana Upgrade project from version 1909 to 2309, overseeing technical and functional consultants.Managing technical remediation and testing to ensure a smooth transition to the upgraded system with go-live scheduled for Apr 24.Directing local business resources in regression test planning and execution activities for successful project completion.

Chertsey, Surrey, Gb

Responsible for the overall delivery of S/4 HANA and related Applications for Compass Group Germany, as part of a global template deployment across Europe.

Chertsey, Surrey, Gb

Responsible for the overall delivery of SAP S/4 HANA roll out within the French business. Responsible for the delivery of special projects including the implementation of SAP Cloud for Customer Payments. Responsible for the successful delivery and adoption of OpenText Vendor Invoice Management within the French and Swiss business.

Chertsey, Surrey, Gb

Leading Global Roll out of SAP S/4 HANA Finance on the Matrix Programme. Solution Owner for the delivery of a greenfield implementation of SAP into France. Responsible for 4 direct reports and for managing the relationship with the SI and French business. Reporting directly to the Director of Business Services, I`m also responsible to the creation of the future SAP Centre of Excellence and support function.

Basingstoke, Hampshire, Gb

Completed successful S/4 HANA proof of concept and move to Microsoft Azure Cloud. Now working on S/4 HANA Upgrade business case and S/4 HANA Readiness programme. Currently IT Technical / Functional Lead / Architect on the SAP Ariba P2P project (including SAP ECC Integration).Leading a SAP Archiving project to address a legacy build of data, storage and performance issues in preparation for GDPR legislation.Successfully run a proof of concept project to migrate copies of The AA SAP ERP Development, SAP BW Development and S/4 HANA Proof of concept system to the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform.

Basingstoke, Hampshire, Gb

After the successful implementation of FS-CD, my role changed into a more traditional architecture role that encompasses all corporate systems, with my main focus on SAP. I now report to the Head of Enterprise Architecture. Currently leading a proof of Concept project for the migration to S/4 Hana Cloud (including S/4 Hana Finance). Actively involved in setting up a trial S/4 Hana system on the MS Azure cloud and have attended OpenSAP S/4 Hana training courses.Over the past year I have helped to secure funding and implement Success Factors (Employee Central), Concur Cloud Expenses and BPC HR Workforce planning. I have also been involved on proof of concept and requirement gathering projects for Ariba (SRM & P2P) with a view to helping to build business cases throughout 2017 for potential implementation in 2018.Due to the sale of The AA Ireland business in 2016, I was seconded to the project team to separate AA Ireland from the UK SAP system. This involved frequent visits to Dublin to attend project meetings and workshops, that resulted in the implementation of SAP Business One on HANA. I supported the design, transition, testing and data migration to the new system.As I now formally sit within the AAIT architecture team, I have begun to formally document the SAP capability and landscape in Avolution Abacus Software. The Abacus tool is used for modelling and road mapping The AA`s digital transformation supported by a TOGAF methodology.As part of the digital transformation within The AA IT department, I have also been heavily involved in the restructuring of the existing internal SAP support teams and outsourcing to offshore 3rd party partners.In addition to my SAP Architecture responsibilities I have been covering the role of SAP service delivery manager, this involves co-ordination of SAP change and support across the all the SAP teams.

Basingstoke, Hampshire, Gb

After working closely with The AA Internal SAP Support Teams (FI/CO, HCM, Basis and ABAP) on previous projects, I had a permanent SAP Solution Architect Role created for me to focus on how SAP could be more utilised across the AA`s business.Reporting directly to The AA`s IT Director I was tasked with my first major project in my new role of managing the Implementation of SAP FI/CO, SD, MM, HR and Payroll into The AA`s Southern Ireland business based in Dublin. The purpose of the project was to replace the entire legacy Finance, Procurement, HR & Payroll with SAP and to integrate key finance and HR processes into the UK Shared Service. I managed the whole end to end process from conducting requirements gathering workshops, writing the blueprint requirements documentation, managing the project plan through to data migration and project delivery. This project was managed in house with support from external SAP partners as and when required. My key tasks were co-ordinating the internal SAP teams and External SAP partners and also assisting with configuration as and when required. The project involved many visits to Dublin and went live on the planned go-live date. After successfully delivering the AA Ireland project, I was then tasked with leading a project to replace all financial processing from The AA`s Insurance and Road Membership front end policy legacy administration (TIA) into SAP using the Industry Solution for Insurance (SAP Collections and Disbursements Management – FSCD). I was the SAP Solution Architect and Functional Lead for this project. This project involved selecting an implementation partner, leading a team of 10 external consultants and a team of 12 internal employees over a 2-year period. This project involved integrating SAP FS-CD with a front end CRM / Policy administration system (PEGA 7).

Basingstoke, Hampshire, Gb

I joined The AA on a six-month contract to work closely with the SAP Systems Support Manager to help improve SAP Best Practices and processes within a large SAP Support team and Shared Service Centre.My responsibilities involved setting up Solution Manager for all current and future projects and implementing a framework for documentation. Introduced Testing Tools such as HP Quality Centre, HP Quick Test pro and integrated into Solution Manager. I implemented Solution Manager Service Desk, Document Management and Test Management. I implemented a newly acquired AA Auto windshields business onto SAP. I was also responsible for delivering a basic time and attendance solution using CATS & Project Systems for the purpose of tracking SAP Support team member’s time spent working on projects. I was then offered a contract extension working closely with The AA SAP Basis Lead to obtain funding for an SAP upgrade project from ECC 5 to ECC6 and BW 3.5 to 7.3. I then adopted the role of SAP Functional Lead and Architect for The Upgrade for all SAP Modules in use (FI/CO, HR & Payroll and BW). I also worked closely with The AA Financial Controller to provide an SAP solution to replace The AA`s Internal Legacy Business Planning and Consolidation system (Cognos). After working very closely with SAP (and SAP Partners), I then obtained funding and implemented SAP BPC V10 (Business Planning and Consolidation). I also obtained funding and personally configured and implemented SAP Financial Supply Chain Collections and Disputes Management (FS-CM) for the Finance Shares Service Department.After 2 years of contracting for The AA Shared Service Finance Function I was then offered a permanent SAP Solution Architect Role in IT working for the Director of IT.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, In

Customer Alere Inc - Pharma CoWorked on SAP Greenfield Implementation Project as my final assignment before leaving HCL Axon

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, In

Customer Vodafone - Newbury HQAfter implementing Travel Management, I progressed to Solution Lead for HCL-Axon for the Vodafone Group Services Holding Companies Implementation for the UK, Luxembourg and The Nederland’s. These companies were migrated onto Vodafone Global SAP System. I was responsible for the Analysis of all business requirements, System design to meet these requirements, overseeing the build of the system, testing, data migration and deployment. I was responsible for all modules of SAP in use, FI/CO (RTR), SD (OTC), MM(P2P), HR, BI, Portal, and TCM (Treasury). The companies were a collection of 136 entities that perform various different functions on behalf of Vodafone Group.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, In

Customer Vodafone - Newbury HQThe Vodafone EVO project involved the global roll out of a template SAP solution and the transition to a shared services function based in Hungary.I was brought into the existing project implementation team for phase 5 of the roll out to the group functions division of Vodafone. My first role involved the responsibility of implementing in House Cash and Treasury and Cash Management, Intercompany, AP (with P2P Integration) and AR (with SD Integration). The role involved overseeing two onshore FI/CO consultants. I was also tasked with the responsibility of integrating a newly acquired company into the Vodafone SAP landscape that was based in Romania and Sweden, this involved travelling to Sweden to gather business requirements and blueprinting the solution.Axon was successful in winning another piece of work to implement Travel Management and Expenses using SAP Travel Management. Due to my prior experience of SAP Travel Management, I was tasked by the Axon project manager to engage in business requirement workshops and recruit resources for this piece of work. I was subsequently offered the role of Travel Management and Lead with responsibility for gathering requirements, designing and building the solution, highlighting RICEF requirements and writing functional specifications. Responsible for overseeing one direct report. The solution went live for 10 company codes across 5 countries.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, In

Customer - Mouchel PlcI commenced this role at the beginning of a newly awarded Axon contract to replace all of the current Mouchel Business systems by implementing SAP FI/CO, Project Systems, HR, Travel Management, Payroll, Portal, ESS, MSS, C-Projects and BI (formally Business Warehouse). Responsible for a team of three SAP FICO consultants (2 onshore and 1 offshore resource). Responsible for the gathering of all finance requirements by facilitating workshops with the business and the creation of Blueprint Design Documents for all areas of Financial Processing. My team then created the functional specifications for any developments required in the finance area and data migration specifications. Once these specifications were complete we worked closely with the Axon ABAP development team for the creation of technical specifications and the subsequent build of each development.I was responsible for the FI and CO configuration (including new GL) and financial supply chain management (Collections and Disputes Management elements). My team were then responsible for the unit testing of all the configuration and system developments.I organised and co-ordinated all System Integration and User Acceptance Testing cycles with the creation of Test Scripts and scenarios using HP Quality Centre Software. I also oversaw the data migration and cut over test cycles in preparation for the 1st go-live. The new system accommodated approx. 450 finance users, 2500 project managers, and 12000 timesheet users over 54 company codes.

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, In

Customer - Barclays Bank PlcAxon Solutions Ltd - Working for Barclays Bank Plc on the Asset and Sales Finance (Business Transformation Project). Based in Basingstoke.I was responsible for integration between CRM and ECC, all GL set-up (including New GL) and integration of interfaces in and out of the GL from other business systems and into the Barclays Group Plc SAP GL. I was responsible for data migration from legacy systems and worked closely with the data migration teams detailing the migration plan and approach.My role encompassed working very closely with the Axon Finance Work Stream Lead. On many occasions I worked as the Finance Lead’s number two covering off meetings, workshops and queries in his absence.I was heavily involved in all the Blueprint design workshops and design papers (personally writing 5 Blueprint design papers and 13 functional specifications) for the new system for all the business processes. I also worked very closely with the ABAP Technical team assisting in the creation of Technical Specifications relating to enhancements that I was responsible for.Although I joined Axon as a Developing consultant I quickly got up to speed and became a key member of the team where I was happy to take on extra responsibility and after completion of my own deliverables I was then tasked with assisting and overseeing other members of the team. In recognition of my hard work at Barclays I was subsequently promoted to Senior Consultant (Mature).

Basingstoke, Hampshire, Gb

Initially recruited to help stabilise, advise and process improve the existing SAP Support Team following a de-merger of Accounts and Finance Systems from the previous AA Owner (Centrica PLC). My work with the Support Team also involved Configuration and Testing on the following modules, FI, CO, PA, AM, SD and MM.Part of this role was to integrate or replace legacy back office systems for areas of the business (such as AA Driving School, AA Publishing and AA Insurance) onto SAP. I was responsible for liaising with all stakeholders and understanding the requirement of each Business. Many of the solutions were designed and implemented by myself. Once this was blueprinted I worked very closely with in house SAP Support, IT Support and external consultants (Axon) to deliver the solutions on time and on budget. My next project was as functional lead on the upgrade of SAP ECC5 and BW 7.5. I was involved in the Invitation to Tender for the Contract to Upgrade SAP & BW and the Annual Maintenance Contract for second line SAP Technical Support. Once the ITT was completed we short listed 5 companies and invited them all in to present their tenders and run through all the commercial aspects. I was responsible for managing all aspects of the Upgrade involving co-ordinating Technical Validation, Unit, Regression and User Acceptance Testing, logging and correction of faults relating to upgrade and liaising with all SAP Users (approx. 480) for testing and Training. The next phase of the upgrade project was to migrate SAP new general ledger, this involved migration off all the current FI and PCA tables to the new flexible general ledger tables. The AA was the first company in the UK to upgrade to the new GL.I was involved in all configuration, testing and managing the migration of the AA`s accounts to the new Flexible General Ledger.I was also responsible for training all AA SAP users and promoting SAP awareness and user knowledge.

Piscataway, New Jersey, Us

In this role I worked as a contractor for the Electrical Manufacturing Division of Mars UK as a SAP Systems Accountant. I completed a full life cycle Implementation of SAP All in one. Responsible for production & testing of all FI/CO Test Scripts and integration in to other SAP Modules such as SD, MM & WM. Responsible for conversion of master data and Financial balances from existing SAP Financials to SAP All in one. After Go-live I was responsible for support and training to All UK Based users. Main point of contact between SAP Consultants, IT and Site Users both Financial and Non-Financial.Mars were using the Financial Accounting & Profitability Analysis (FI/CO) & Asset Management modules prior to moving to SAP all in one. I was the Key User and Functional Finance Expert for Roll out of SAP All in one (FI/CO-PA/SD & MM) across all of the European Business. I worked on the Swiss and US SAP Implementations.When I first joined Mars my main duties were for the reconciliation and conversion of information from the old bespoke In-House Legacy Finance Systems to the recently implemented SAP System.My additional tasks included the improvement and development of financial procedures and processes, development of the SAP System in terms of implementing new modules and improving reporting from the system. Tasked with overseeing and advising on conversion of all accounting processing functions from M.E. I`s Sisters company in Basingstoke to Winnersh. Responsible for recruitment and training of processing staff to undertake these converted functions.

Tampa, Florida, Us

I undertook a contract as an Interim Management Accountant for an I.T company in Basingstoke. My main duties were to cover the Management Accountant who was on long-term sickness running a busy accounts dept. for two divisions. I was also tasked with overseeing the company Audit and also for the Implementation of Lawson Financial ERP software from an old bespoke in house accounting system. I set up General Ledger, Cashbook, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and BACS Payments to Suppliers. I was responsible for a full reconciliation of all the accounts and transferring and agreeing balances to the new system in addition to monthly reporting to our group head office in the U.S., In addition I was also responsible for all the day to day running of the finance department and supervision of a finance assistant. This covered all round duties including Payroll, Sales and Purchase Ledger & statutory returns. I reported directly to the Chief Financial Officer for Europe.

Hook, Hampshire, Gb

Microsoft Great Plains System Accountant – Jan 2003to Aug 2003Due to my experience gained by using Great Plains I was subsequently offered a full time position working for the Great Plains Support Team. I worked in a team of three systems accountants whose main responsibilities are for the ongoing support and training of our existing users on the system (currently approximately 680 registered users). Divisional Finance Manager & Bid Analyst – Serco Integrated Transport – March 2001 to Dec 2002I commenced my role as a divisional finance manager setting up an accounts dept for a new division of Serco on Microsoft Great Plains. Finance Manager & Management Accountant – National Physical Laboratory - Sept 2000 to February 2001Senior Contract Accountant, Serco Ltd – Defence Support, Feb 1999 – Aug 2000Assistant Accountant, Serco Ltd – Defence Military, Jun 1998 – Jan 1999

Coventry, West Midlands, Gb

Cima, Accounting And Finance

Primary School

Gcse, Gcse