Principal SAP Business Analyst (HYBRID - MALVERN, PA OR RESTON, VA) - Ellucian

Ellucian is a global market leader in education technology. We power innovation for higher education, partnering with more than 2,900 customers across 50 countries and serving over 20 million students. Ellucian's AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, from student recruitment, enrollment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian's innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners, and user community of more than 45,000 provide best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.

Values Rooted in Purpose

We embrace the power to lead, the courage to innovate, and the determination to grow. At our core, we believe in humanizing our approach, recognizing that our people are our greatest strength. With a shared vision of transformation, we endeavor to shape a brighter future for higher education.

This is a hybrid role (2 days/week in office. Malvern, PA or Reston, VA)

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal SAP Business Analyst with strong business domain expertise in accounting, finance, and general business operations, complemented by a solid understanding of SAP's Order-to-Cash (O2C) functionality. This role will act as IT Business Partner to manage the analysis, design, and optimization of critical business processes, focusing on revenue recognition, taxation, billing, and financial compliance. Candidates with a CPA are highly preferred.

Where You Will Make an Impact

• Strategic Analysis and Design:
• Lead the analysis and design of end-to-end Order to Cash (O2C) and revenue recognition processes.
• Assess and map out current business processes and identify areas for improvement to enhance order management, invoicing, and revenue recognition.
• Good knowledge SAP Revenue and Billing processed in compliance with US GAAP accounting standards.
• Project Leadership:
• Manage project scopes, risks, and resources, and provide regular updates to senior management and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including Finance, Accounting, Sales, and IT to deliver effective solutions.
• Revenue Recognition Expertise:
• Develop and implement processes to ensure accurate revenue recognition in compliance with relevant accounting standards (e.g., ASC 606/IFRS 15).
• Work with finance teams to understand and address revenue recognition challenges and have good knowledge of SAP to ensure it is aligned as business evolves towards fully SaaS.
• Stakeholder Management:
• Act as a primary liaison between business units and the IT department for all G&A processes with special emphasis on Order to Cash.
• Facilitate workshops, requirements gathering sessions, and meetings to align business needs with SAP capabilities.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders to manage expectations and address concerns.
• System Configuration and Testing:
• Good knowledge of SAP S/4HANA to meet business requirements for O2C and revenue recognition processes.
• Develop and lead test plans, including system integration testing and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), to ensure solutions function as intended.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues arising from system configurations or business processes.
• Documentation and Training:
• Create comprehensive documentation including business process flows, system configurations, and revenue recognition procedures.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Stay informed about SAP S/4HANA updates, industry trends, and best practices to continuously enhance business processes.

What You Will Bring

Experience:

• 8–10 years of experience in accounting, finance, or business operations, with a strong understanding of SAP functionalities (preferably O2C and revenue recognition).
• Proven ability to lead complex projects and align technical solutions with business needs.
• Expertise in financial operations, including treasury, taxation, and compliance.

• Solid knowledge of SAP's Order-to-Cash processes and their application in business contexts.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a business-oriented approach.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)