Working as part of a multi-functional Business Analysis and Systems team. The role is a hybrid of a true Business Analyst and a subject matter expert, covering multiple disciplines (Salesforce, Maytas, BI development etc.). Ambidextrously working on business change projects and an influx of “smaller” tasks that come through the team’s worklist. “Smaller” tasks normally included Salesforce training for new staff and minor customisations, BI and MI reporting, Maytas development and other BAU exercises.Key Projects and Achievements• Coordination and delivery of work streams surrounding the multi-million pound Implementation project of the Apprenticeships business line into the University, enabling the OU to tap into the new apprenticeships levy scheme worth around £1.4bn; Maytas LMS customisation and deployment, Salesforce CRM development and configuration, business process development, systems architecture scoping and review, etc.• GDPR ready project, encompassing the International Student Requisitions business line to prevent breaches and a potential fine of €20 million, or 4% of the OU’s annual global turnover; Review and overhaul of the current international prospect pool, marketing activities, systems integration (inc contact preference mapping) and business process development.• Analytics and Analysis Project - Business Value Driver and Performance Dashboards Development and Deployment, implementing quality enhancement measures when using Salesforce, holistically tracking business performance and looking for ways to enrich key revenue generation exercises.

This role allowed me to cut a more technical path in my career so far. Main responsibilities included system development, SQL server administration, web development (inc. using a CMS), Salesforce CRM customisation, SAS programming, Tableau dashboard development and server administration, Exact Abacus (Sales Ledger) customisation, Server maintenance, equipment procurement.Key Projects and Achievements• Procurement and introduce of a new international traveller phone contract to save the Business Development Unit circa £15k a year.• Exact Abacus update roll out; set up and configuration, working with Central IT and 3rd party consultants to deploy the new system onto vanilla windows servers.• Tableau Server roll out; working with Tableau consultants to update our instance of Tableau server to 10.1, ensuring the benefits encapsulated in the new release can be realised by the wider business.• Decommissioning the OU Worldwide’s web shop; reverse engineering processes surrounding the web shop and decommissioning all aspects/system touch points without any negative user experiences or loss of service. The original scope of this project was to seek and procure an alternative SaaS/cloud based e-commercial system, until the strategic focus changed after some of my recommendations (the operating costs far outweighed the revenue generated from the out-of-date products on offer).

A set of projects (based on the IT enterprise strategy) were assigned to me quarterly to manage, resolve and close. As an analyst I was not only expected to manage the project throughout its lifecycle but under major financial and resource constraints. This included: Needs analysis, Project Initiation, Requirements Engineering, As-Is Process Capture, Business Process improvement, Change Control Documentation, System and User Interface Design, System Configuration, Alpha Testing, UAT, Training, Project Handover and Closure. Within each project I would also assist other areas of the business if any queries arose relating to CRM, Tablet Applications, Process clarification etc. Key Projects and Achievements• Integrating all functions within the B2B Commercial Lighting function onto our Dynamics CRM system; Highlight - Full design of a brand new, fully bespoke Delivery Entity on the CRM System, tracking information post sale completion.• Incorporation of the B2C SPV Residential operations on the Energy Mark 4 Application; This included ensuring all data was captured to meet MCS compliance regulations and FIT registration could be completed prior to install and commissioning. Also, creating collaboration using legacy systems via API’s to ensure a data handshake, to vitally reduce the resource burden. • Incorporating the Commercial Credit Check Process within all commercial B2B schemes on Microsoft Dynamics CRM.• SunEdison O&M Implementation; working with SunEdison staff from the UK, US and Spain to facilitate O&M operations within the UK. Vitally improving customer service levels and CSR awareness.