I am one of those people who gets the WHOLE picture. And that’s what you need when your processes just aren't working: someone who can relate enough to dig out details that others have missed; someone who sees the effects of an issue on other parts of the business, pulling everyone involved into the discussion to find the best solution; someone who isn’t quick to blame and just gets in there and fixes it. My past experience includes setting up Shared Service Business Processing: Order to Cash, Procure to Pay and Record to Report. I have worked with ERP Implementation teams on several different systems, and have the ability to quickly learn any application, including home-grown ones. Among my roles have been Project Manager, Business Analyst, Data and Change Manager. My work has led me to be called “The Fixer”, as lately I’ve been involved in post-implementation clean-ups. I don’t particularly like that role, as I would prefer to be on the front end where I can prevent the mess from happening in the first place, but lessons learned, right? I am very hands-on, as I feel getting down into the details draws respect and cooperation. How did I get where I am today? First, I learned accounting. Accounting is so important and I have often stressed the need to understand it to non-accountants, especially project managers. I then learned ERP implementation through a role in a software company, which involved managing project timelines and resources, mapping processes, writing specifications, manipulating setups to get the right reporting perspective, creating documentation, training and promoting change, coddling the Customer and peering over the shoulder of the developers. From there, I moved to managing a Shared Service division, where I learned to relate to a myriad of personalities. Suddenly realizing that you are a mentor to so many eager minds is euphoric, and I will never underestimate the importance of every staff member.