Advanced Business Systems Analyst - Hybrid at Compass Solutions

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Effectively manages inquiries about software usage, deployment, license availability and external vendor license audit report requests in a timely manner;
• Tracks, validates and manages software purchase orders as appropriate in line with County policy;
• Maintains records relating to the issuing of license keys;
• Identifies candidates for harvesting licenses from retired or repurposed assets;
• Designs, develops, and generates SAM reports to communicate and monitor compliance, liability and budgetary data;
• Using Software Asset Management software and/or the assistance of professional services, determines the optimal licensing structure for the enterprise and identifies opportunities for new enterprise agreements;
• Communicates software installation rules to ensure installation is consistent with software entitlement;
• Coordinates with IT operations teams to plan for replacement of sun-setting software;
• Provides critical data to support the software renewal process by ensuring payments are justified and in line with contractual commitments;
• Identifies areas for cost savings through the identification of alternative support options, license recycling and optimal licensing practices;
• Proactively monitors software vendor product updates as they impact licensing structures and costs;
• Conducts periodic quality assurance audits in accordance with organizational policy, identify discrepancies in the SAM database and resolve/escalate them as appropriate;
• Analyzes exception data to identify potential breaches of policy and their causes, investigating and reporting on license compliance issues and remediation options;
• Maintains a posture of audit readiness through consistent reconciliation and validation of software licenses to installed assets;
• Manages activities and acts as liaison for vendor-initiated license compliance audits;
• Assists with the development and implementation of software asset processes and policy across the County as appropriate through communication with and education of stakeholders;

Education and Requirements:

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, Information Technology, or other related field, or
• Seven (7) years of experience in IT asset management, financial or data analysis, IT contract management, IT technical support or related experience. Two (2) years of this experience must be at the level comparable to the County's IT Asset Manager.
• Training and experience equivalent to the possession of a Bachelor's degree. Relevant analytical, administrative, lead, supervisory or management experience that includes interpreting rules and regulations, gathering data and formulating recommendations, and report writing can substitute for education on a year-for-year basis
• The following certifications are desirable but not required: CSAM, CHAMP or CITAM

Knowledge of:

• The IT environment, including knowledge of hardware and software commonly used by office staff/business professionals;
  
  
• Metrics and related data sources to enable data-driven decision-making;
  
  
• Software asset inventory tools;
  ITAM Best Practices;
• All aspects of the software life-cycle – from licensing to purchasing to deployment to decommissioning;
  
  
• Software license management and related procurement practices or specialized knowledge of a single vendors software licensing models (e.g.;, Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe);
  
  
• Experience collecting, analyzing and presenting data;
  
  
• Principles of inventory control; asset purchase order and receipt tracking;
  
  
• Software and hardware asset management;
  
  
• Database of entitlements for software contracts;
  
  
• Proper disposal of obsolete products.

Ability to:

• Identify asset management strategies to reduce security and financial risks, improve customer service and drive towards cost optimization;
  
  
• Use Software Asset Management software;
  
  
• Manage the strategic planning, development and coordination of software licensing review and auditing programs;
  
  
• Establish and oversee the implementation of audit and response processes for software licenses;
  
  
• Reconcile and validate software licenses;
  
  
• Monitor software vendor product updates as they impact licensing structures and costs;
  
  
• Collect, analyze and utilize data for decision-making;
  
  
• Advise departments about software products with moderately complex licensing structures including installation rules and other contractual requirements;
  
  
• Communicate effectively;
  
  
• Develop, implement and communicate agency policies related to IT asset management;
  
  
• Maintain databases for software and relevant software contracts;
  
  
• Coordinate work among operation teams.