Walter J. Pointner

SAP Consultant FI / CO / RE Specialist

ABAP Programmer

/ 6 Juliana Court
Toronto, Ont., M6S 2R2
(416) 761 1636
www3.sympatico.ca/pointner
Background / Qualifications
With 20 years of progressive experience in developing and implementing financial software solutions, I offer a breadth of knowledge on how to get things done right. For the passed nine years I have been working extensively in SAP R/3 environments, splitting my time between FI/CO/RE functional configurationand ABAP development.
I offer a solid background in systems development, enhancement, and implementation with considerable experience as a well-rounded solution provider. I am a creative thinker, often building upon delivered SAP functionality to solve business process problems. I am a strong financials consultant; among my skills are General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Controlling (Cost Centres, Profit Centres, Overhead Allocations, and Profitability Analysis), Real Estate, Assets and overall financial reporting. I have experience on projects with versions 3.1I, 4.0B and 4.6C.
I also offer the rare combination of being an excellent ABAP developer with experience in complex screen development, data loads via BDC sessions, data extracts, ABAP Objects, reporting (ABAP and Drilldown Reportwriter), and program customization. I have written code for over 10 different modules.
My experience working in “end-user” environments has given me a keen understanding of what users expect from both their systems and the software tools they use to access, analyse, and present information. I have a thorough understanding of most financial applications, both operational and EIS.

Education

/ Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)1984DalhousieUniversity
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours Economics)1981DalhousieUniversity

SAP Related Skills

Implementation / ASAP Methodology, Gathering Business Requirements, Business Blueprinting, Gap Analysis, Design of Decision Support Applications
Configuration / FI-GL, CO-CCA, CO-PCA, CO-PA, CO-OM, RE
SAP Development / ABAP Workbench and programming, RFC, ABAP Objects, SAP Automation, ABAP-QERY, Report Painter, Drill-down Report Painter, BDC Sessions, Customer Enhancements, Business Add-ins, ABAP List Viewer, SAPScript, CATT
Training / Course Design, Classroom Training, Documentation
Module Experience / FI (GL, AP, Assets), CO (CCA, PCA, Orders, PA), Real Estate, Assets, HR, Projects, Purchasing, Business Trips, Plant Maintenance, Workflow

Hardware/Software Experience

Hardware / Windows/Intel Compatible PCs, SUN Solaris, IBM mainframes
Oper. Sys. / Windows, UNIX, MVS, TSO/ISPF, VM/CMS, OS/JCL
Data access / DB2, ORACLE, Access, MaxDB, O/JDBC, VSAM, IMS DL/1
Programming / ABAP, Visual Basic, JAVA, JSP, C++, SQL, COBOL2, HTML
PC software / Microsoft Excel, Access, Cognos PowerPlay, GQL, Micro Focus Workbench
TP Monitors / CICS, TCP/IP, Novelle
Utilities / SAP Automation, QMF, INTERTEST, Cobtest, Expediter, SPUFI, Endeavour, Data-Expert

SAP R3 Customisation Experience

SAP
3.1I
& 4.6C /

FI/CO Team Lead on projects installing SAP 31I & 4.6C.
Configuration of GL, CCA, PCA, CO-PA, CO-OM, RE
RE (Real estate) configuration consultant
ABAP development in all of above modules plus FI-BV, PS, AA, HR
FI-TV (Business Trips) implementation technical team member
End-user training in FI and CO modules
Report Painter and Drilldown Report Painter experience in PCA, CCA, CO-OM and RE

CO / PA /

Designed and implemented a Product Profitability Model reporting on revenues and direct product costs, with various sales and costing quantities/statistics.
Built an Excel-based Product Revenue/Cost Planning Module that validates entered data and produces a formatted output file that can be imported to PA via External Data Transfer.
Coded PA data extract that to sends files to Cognos/Powerplay for OLAP reporting and query.
Define numerous allocation cycles and coded user exits as needed

CO / CCA /

Established and maintained org structure, cost element groups, stat key figures.
Defined and maintained allocation cycles as required by end users.
Helped design and implement "head count" transfer of active employees from HR to statistical key figures by cost centre and employee type for reporting and cost allocation.
Designed and implemented an Excel-based planning tool that extracts employee salary and pay scale info from H/R. Table driven rates calculated budgeted salary expense, payroll taxes, benefits, increases, per employee costs, and head count were automatically ploaded to SAP.
Implemented rental expense per employee charge-out to cost centre based actual data in HR.
Coded various user exits for CO line item report enhancements and data validation.
Coded automated Cost Centre Manager's name from HR org unit to the CCA and PCA master data.

CO / PCA /

Configured PA module for mutli-compamy, single controlling area reporting environment.
Coded user exits as needed for validation and calculation purposes.
Performed all system maintenance and configuration functions including support for master data and organisation hierarchies. Coded custom Reportpainter reports.

FI /

Functional consultant on several projects - including implementation, mergers, and CCAA re-structuring.
Developed and coded account reconciliation tracking module to assist in maintaining reconciliation status of all balance sheet account.
Coded several validation exits to improve the overall quality of input data.
Provided primary user support for FI/GL module including maintenance of all GL master data.
Wrote several ABAP reports/extracts to assist with account analysis and/or reconciliation.

AM /

Analysis, design and coding for Asset Retirement Obligation sub-module built into the Asset module. Added user fields, custom screen modules, programs, reports, and tables to support the calculation and processing required to meeting the FASB/CICA requirements for accretion of Asset Retirement Obligations.

RE /

Configuration of RE module and provided a number of key solutions to customize SAP to meet business requirements.
Designed and built an add-in module to analize year-end adjustments received from retail landlords.
Built Excel-based planning module that uploads directly to RE objects via remote Call Transaction.
Coded HR extract program to add “head count” load building as a stat key figure.
Designed and coded custom ABAP/ALV reports for contracts to enable more concise reporting and more flexible data selection – with extract to Excel.Built several other custom Reportpainter reports.
Acted as internal consultant in support role after “Go Live”. Researched problems via SAPNet interacted with SAP support, applied Notes as needed.
Coded RE Master Data loads for Buildings, Rental Units, General Contracts, and Rental Agreements
Implememented a retail space year-end adjustment review and audit module and reporting sytems as a customer add-on to the General Contract Lease-in functionality.

HR /

Coded user exist to perform Work Location address validation by providing a pull-down list of valid building addresses from the RE module.
Defined new relationship (“Is Personnel Admin for”) to assign Admin’s to high-level Organization Units and coded an ABAP to assign the Admin to all employees in that part of the Organization.

PM /

Code Functional Location re-org program that uploaded changes to the Plant Maintenance hierarchy and applied changes via BDC session.

Business Trips /

Developed and coded Excel-based front-end for Employee Travel and Expense module. Features expense type, cost centre, and WBS validation; email routing for approval and submission; and direct upload to SAP to eliminate re-keying (processes over 800 expense reports monthly).
Wrote several ABAP reports to meet user reporting requirements.
Assisted with configuration issues and SAP Note research during implementation.

Workflow /

Developed and coded workflow notification process in VB that makes an RFC call to a customized ABAP function which returns a list of users with items in SAP inbox and then sends an email notification (with pertinent details) to their Outlook inbox. Mail sent via MAPI or SMTP.

Application Experience
G/L (SAP, Walker, DBS) / Cost Controlling (SAP) / A/P (SAP, Walker, Woods/Gordon)
Real Estate (SAP) / Information Warehouse / Procurement (SAP, NORAMPAC)
Inventory (SAP, NORAMPAC) / Fixed Assets, A/R (SAP, CARMS) / Project Systems (SAP, Custom built)
H/R (SAP) / Order Entry/Order Processing, Sales / Customer Information
SAP Courses taken
SAP01- R/3 Overview (4.6C) / AC415 - Overhead Orders (4.6C)
AC040 - Cost Management and Controlling 4.6C / AC010 - Financial Accounting and Reporting
AC410 - CostCenter Accounting / ACNA02 - General Ledger Configuration Workshop
CA705 - Basics of the Report Painter/Report Writer / AC290 - Real Estate Management (4.6C)
AC412 - CostCenter Accounting: Extended Functionality
Professional Training Courses taken
Object Oriented Systems Analysis and Design / Structured Systems Analysis and Design
Data Modelling Concepts and Practices / CICS for Programmers
SQL for Programmers / CICS for Programmers
DB2 Overview / MVS JCL
Making Effective Presentations / Practising Assertiveness
Work Experience

RE Consultant / ABAP

Bell Distribution Inc

Sept 2004 – Present

Employed to function both as an RE Consultant and ABAP Programmer on an implementation of the SAP RE Module.Participated infull review of user requirements and related SAP configuration.Provided many creative solutions to processing and reporting problems to meet business requirements of implementation – sometimes with configuration changes; sometimeswith ABAP programming. Responsible for data loads ABAP programs and interfaces. Added complex user data tables in General Contract, custom validations, and extended authorizations. Designed and built an add-in module to analize retail lease year-end adjustments (CAM) received from retail landlords. This included several cutoms sceens and reports to assist with the audit of landlord calculations and claims.

SAP Consultant / ABAP

Allstream Communications

Sept 2003 – Aug 2004

Brought in to work on the implementation of Asset Retirement Obligations as specified in FASB 143 and the CICA Handbook. Based on these documents and the analysis of Allstream specific requirements, made the recommendation of extending the SAP Asset Module. This SAP extension was implemented using SAP user exists on Asset Master data and several new transactions and reports as required.
Developed several complex ABAP transactions and screens to capture the required Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) data, changed Asset configuration to add a user tab to the main Asset Master record maintenance screen, changed Projects configuration to allow for full life cycle tracking of ARO from Projects through to Asset Settlement. In all 8 new transactions were added to SAP to support ARO requirements.
Followed project through full implementation cycle – from requirements gathering through coding and testing, and production implementation.

SAP Consultant / ABAP

Allstream Communications

Dec 2002 – Jun 2003

Assisted with a major re-structuring of the corporation as it came out of “Fresh Start” accounting project as the company came put of CCAA. Provided SAP consultation on impact of major re-org. Assisted with analysis of various alternative approaches from an SAP perspective. Assisted with the development of a 3-month project plan. Performed SAP FI and COconfiguration changes as required. Developed several ABAP reports and programs to facilitate conversion of FI and CO data.

SAP Consultant / ABAP

TorontoDistrictSchool Board

May 2002 – Nov 2003

Began as an ABAP developer / SAP Consultant for 40B Real Estate Module implementation. As such, developed RE Master Data loads for Business Entities, Buildings, Rental Units, and Rental Agreements using BDC Sessions. Reviewed customization settings. Developed several custom ABAP reports, including a generalized rental income forecasting report. Also built several Drilldown Reportpainter reports based on user requirements.
Retained after “Go Live” as an ABAP developer / SAP Consultant on an extensive upgrade to 46C. In this roll I review customer modifications to SAP code re-applying to the new version as needed, checked custom programs for validity and apply SAP Support Notes as required, assisted with configuration in various modules.
Developed several Plant Maintenance conversion programs, code several user validations in Projects and PM.

SAP Consultant / ABAPer

ATT Canada Inc

Sep 2000 – Apr 2002

In the upgrade to SAP 4.6C, I took on the role as CO team lead and then filled the role of internal SAP configuration consultant on the Real Estate Module implementation. Provided many creative solutions to processing and reporting problems to assist with a very smooth implementation – sometimes with configuration changes, sometime with ABAP programming.
Retained after “Go Live” as in-house SAP expert. Continued in role as primary support FI/CO/RE and assisting with SAP problems in other modules.
Design logical view of Information Cubes for PA, CCA, PCA, and FI for implementation in Cognos/Powerplay. Designed and coded data extracts. Ran full UAT on views. Trained end users on use of PowerPlay. Developed several canned Excel/PowerPlay reports.

SAP Consultant / ABAPer

ATT Canada Inc

Feb 1997 – Jun 2000

Initially, worked as the FI/CO configuration consultant on the Accounting Team as part of a substantial implementation of SAP R3 – including 9 modules using the ASAP Methodology to successfully implement.
As both a functional and technical resource, configured the modules to meet our business process requirements, prepared relevant data for master data initialisation, and wrote ABAP and Visual Basic programs for specialized reporting, data validation, and up-front processing and preparation. My understanding of accounting business processes and insight into how SAP works was an important ingredient to a successful implementation.
After “Go Live”, retained as the in-house SAP expert, primarily supporting FI/CO, but assisting with the support and enhancement of all modules then in production (including HR, MM, & Projects). Researched all sorts of system problems, finding and applying SAP Notes as required.
Joined Business Trips implementation team. Assisted with Configuration. Wrote Excel-based Expense form with full validation of Master Data, e-mail capabilities, and upload to SAP. Application ran on over a thousand PC’s and processed 800 expense claims per month. Coded custom ABAP reports.

Financial Software Consultant

CP Rail

Aug 1996 - Jan 1997

Walker expert resource on project to upgrade Walker's F/A and G/L to release 16.2 (CICS/DB2/MVS). Implemented new release of the software migrating all previous changes to the software into the new release. Responsible for the development and delivery of Walker product customisation, interfaces to existing systems, testing, migration to production, and establishing production support.
Coded extensively in Cobol2 and Walkers proprietary coding language (TGS Code) to provide improved user productivity, and better system reporting.

Senior Technical Analyst

CIBC

Jan 1996 - Jul 1996

Worked closely with Business Analysts throughout a business process re-engineering exercise. All the bank’s Management Accounting processes were being re-engineered and moved to a new technology. My role was to define and document the technical requirements required to enable the new processes. This required me to gain a good understanding of the business processes including Internal Funds Accounting, Capital Attribution, Loan Loss Provisioning, and Expense and Revenue Allocations.
Specific tasks included defining a logical data model for the processes, developing an application architecture for each process, and providing the process teams with advice on the relative benefits of mainframe verses client/server technology for each potential solution. I also participated in a software evaluation effort that involved scanning the market for Management Accounting software, determining a vendor short list, and assisting the process teams in evaluating the relative strengths of each software package.

Financial Software Consultant

Ministry of Health

Jan 1995 - Dec 1995

Designed and implemented a Commitment Accounting module the functioned as a custom add-on to the existing Walker A/P and G/L Systems. Wrote several new Walker application modules using Micro-Focus COBOL. Built query functions using TGS Code, and Object Dialogue Processor.
Consulted on upgrade and enhancement of Walker's A/P and G/L. Implemented new release of the software (release 16.52) migrating all previous changes to the software into the new release. I designed coded and implemented new Travel Advance sub-system as an add-on to the existing Walker System. My work on the Travel Advance sub-system was done entirely using Walker development tools. I coded and implemented several custom features resulting in improved inquiry capabilities, simplified on-line cheque processing, and simplified invoice processing.
Information Technology Consultant / Unitel Communications Inc. / Oct. 1994 - Dec 1994
Reporting to the system owner of an Information Warehouse project as a technology specialist assigned to review the current state of the phase I implementation and to assist in making recommendations for subsequent phases in order to provide richer functionality to a broad user base. Also, assigned the task of reviewing current data gathering procedures in the Performance Measurement group and to guide the transition to the use of ODBC drivers to extract data from the Information Warehouse directly into Excel using SQL and Visual Basic, and directly into Access via ODBC connectivity.
Designed and implemented a Visual Basic prototype for inquiry into the Information Warehouse by Account Executives. The software executed SQL queries against the warehouse and loaded the results into Excel reports using OLE 2.0.

Financial Software Consultant

Unitel Communications Inc.

Oct 1994 - Dec 1994

Lead Project to upgrade Walker's A/P and G/L to release 16.2 (CICS/DB2/MVS). Acted as System Administrator, working in the Corporate Accounting Department. Chiefly responsible for documenting all user requirements for G/L and A/P, developing all G/L enhancements for batch reports and on-line transactions. Acted as consultant to all projects requiring interfaces to the G/L and A/P systems.
Acted as technology consultant to the Corporate Accounting Department advising on availability and use of PC technology. Made numerous recommendations to improve business practices resulting in substantial productivity gains. Specified, designed and implemented a PC to mainframe interface to allow for upload of budgets developed by Budget Officers in spreadsheet. Consulted and trained staff on use of PC software including Excel, Access, and Windows.

Financial Software Consultant

Mazda Canada Inc.

Oct 1992 - June 1993

Participated in the installation of Walker's A/P, G/L, and CARMS(Release 16.2 CICS/VSAM/MVS) as a Business Analyst & Walker Tools Expert. Chiefly responsible for Accounts Payable, as a Business Analyst, I provided specifications for solutions to meet business requirements, co-ordinated the system test, helped plan and co-ordinate A/P deliverables. As a Walker Tools Expert, coded new transactions, tailored screens, developed new reports, modified G/L interface to meet requirements, and worked with Walker Customer Support to resolve various problems. Responsibilities included assisting with project management/administration, user training, client relations, and regular status reporting.
For General Ledger, acted as a consultant to Business Analyst overseeing installation, provided technical and functional advice for design and implementation decisions. As a Walker Tools Expert, coded reports, modified Drill down Transaction Stream, re-wrote several reports to improve performance and functionality. For CARMS, coded several ageing reports.

Senior Systems Developer