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IT Decision-makers Tips & errors to avoid

The Case for Automation in Software Development

The Case for Automation in Software Development
The rapid growth of automation in software development is not only prompting significant media buzz around its promising capabilities...

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has made great strides in the enterprise world over the past few years. According to Gartner’s most recent study on the topic,  90% of robotic process automation (RPA) vendors will offer generative-AI-assisted automation by 2025. The rapid growth of automation (and here the case of automation in software development) is not only prompting significant media buzz around its promising capabilities, but also raising concerns about its long-term impact on overall employment.

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AI in the workplace: productivity gains and fears of trust

Surely, companies are increasingly relying on virtual employees — from chatbots to AI-powered personal assistants — to increase productivity and lessen the burden imposed on staff by time-consuming and repetitive tasks better left to machine learning algorithms. However, as it tends to be the case with artificial intelligence, there exists a generalised mistrust of synthetic agents and their overblown potential to replace humans.

As we have mentioned in the past, we should look at new technological developments from a more practical perspective rather than from a position of worry. Automation and artificial intelligence are tools that we can leverage to enhance the quality and speed of our work.

Embedded in the DevOps DNA

This is particularly true in a discipline like software engineering, which requires the full power of human ingenuity while also encompassing a series of tasks that burn through a lot of time and resources. Not surprisingly, automation is deeply ingrained within agile development methodologies and represents a big part of the day-to-day in DevOps.

In their effort to optimise software production pipelines, DevOps engineers take advantage of various automation tools that allow for faster, more robust development – although how much automation should exactly be involved in the process remains a cause of debate.

In any case, benefits of automation in software development are too great to ignore: speed, more resources and increased quality and security.   

Increased resource availability

Firstly, the continuous improvement and delivery (CI/CD) paradigm is an intensive process that involves many steps and requires increased collaboration between teams. Accordingly, automation has a great role to play to help with code testing, the updating of repositories and the integration of various software components.

Moreover, automation offers a possible solution for understaffed teams of developers. Skill and personnel shortages are a prevailing issue for the industry. Development teams can greatly benefit from eager bots and other automation tools tackling all those lower-level, time-consuming tasks.                                

Maintaining quality and app security together with speed

Given today’s accelerated and competitive product lifecycle and the need for companies to adapt to ever-changing markets, speed is key in the delivery of software solutions. However, it is hard to achieve optimum levels of speeds while preserving code integrity and ensuring security across your universe of solutions.  

Automation not only helps ensure the production of robust and quality code with fewer resources — it also leads to greater security standards by allowing developers to continuously monitor for vulnerabilities while maintaining the focus on higher-level aspects of software creation.

In fact, a recent report by Ponemon Institute and IBM revealed that organizations without security automation experienced in 2019 breach costs that were 95% higher than those companies with fully-deployed automation ($5.16 million average total cost of a breach without automation vs. $2.65 million for fully-deployed automation).

AI fuels innovation in business, but a shortage of qualified talent hampers its widespread adoption. To overcome the AI talent gap and gain a competitive edge, companies need effective strategies. Explore our infographic for the top 5 strategies to build a strong AI team.

Conclusion

This data underscores the ongoing significance of security automation in the contemporary cybersecurity landscape. As organizations grapple with evolving cyber threats and vulnerabilities, the adoption of automated security measures emerges as a key strategy for not only enhancing overall cybersecurity posture but also for minimizing the financial impact associated with data breaches. Therefore, as we progress into 2023, these insights serve as a compelling reminder for businesses to prioritize and invest in advanced security automation solutions to safeguard their digital assets and maintain resilience in the face of evolving cyber risks.

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Job Descriptions Web Developer

Swift Developer : Job Description

Swift Developer
The Swift Developer role was born together with Apple’s new programming language: Swif. Discover the role with Mission Control Center by Mindquest

Use our template to create a compelling and comprehensive Swift Dev job description to attract top talent.

The Swift developer role was born together with Apple’s new programming language: Swift. The language is specially designed to develop iOS, macOS, Apple TV and Apple Watch applications.

Also explore the role of the Android Developer

Swift was created to replace Objective-C, a ubiquitous language dating back to 1983 and not very flexible in use. Since its first appearance in 2014, the language has quickly gained momentum and popularity among developers for its ease of use and —well, as its name suggests — its speed.

Accordingly, Apple is banking big on Swift to propel its platform moving forward, and most applications being developed today are coded in this language. It’s, therefore, the future of Apple programming — a language you should add to your CV if you plan on working with or for the California company.

What is the role of a Swift developer?

The jobs reserved for a Swift developer are, then, the same as those of any Apple-specific developer. They simply use Swift as their main coding language.

Participate in the assessment of user needs

In order to design “tailor-made” computer programs, developers need to take part in the early stages of the application design process. They participate, thus, in the initial assessment of user needs, in the development and ultimately in the test phase of the prototype.

A good developer should be well informed of innovations via trade and social media, but also by going to industry shows and publisher conferences.

Follow the specifications to develop an application

Usually, the project manager, with whom the developer works closely, establishes the requirements for any development, with whom the developer works closely. The latter will follow these specifications during the creation, testing and updating of the application.

Adapt the software to your needs

Once the app is launched, changes are often necessary both in terms of maintenance and upgrades. Therefore, the Swift developer also supports the training of the software’s end can even help write the user guide in some cases.

Required skills

Excellent technical knowledge

Swift developers must obviously have a deep understanding of the Swift language, as well as possess  complementary capabilities in XHTML, PHP, etc. They must know the Apple universe very well and understand its issues and constraints, both for desktop and for mobile. Knowledge of Objective-C language may also be required.

A strong team spirit

The developer’s job is largely dependent on teamwork. Beyond direct and almost permanent contact with the project manager and other developers, a developer often has also to work with graphic designers, UX experts and the clients themselves.

An analytical mind and rigour

A Swift developer needs to be a good analyst to pinpoint user needs and devise solutions. They must also be rigorous and very well organized to produce quality code and deliver proper software performance.

Within the industry

Formerly outsourced, the developer role has become a real strategic job within companies. Development skills are now key differentiators for teams looking to streamline the software production pipeline and increase the agility of IT operations in general.

Salary of the Swift Developer

The salaries of Swift developers, of course, varies a lot depending on the level of experience, but, for example, the daily rate of a swift contractor tends to oscillate between €350 and €800.

Training of the Swift Developer

Although there is no specific academic path that one must follow to become a Swift Developer, a degree in computer engineering is usually required. However, as it is becoming more and more common in tech, experience and practical know-how take preference over diplomas. At the end of the day, what employers want is that you can demonstrate expertise in Swift language and projects.

Looking to get your feet wet with Swift? Apple’s popular Swift Playgrounds app for iOS and macOS is a great – and free – platform to get you started.

Discover all the web development programming skills and professions

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Press review Tech Magazine

Weekly News Digest #9

IT news digest

In the wake of International Women’s Day, the creator of the world wide web, Tim Berners-Lee, has issued a warning in an open letter marking the web’s 31st birthday.

“The world has made important progress on gender equality thanks to the unceasing drive of committed champions everywhere. But I am seriously concerned that online harms facing women and girls – especially those of colour, from LGBTQ+ communities and other marginalised groups – threaten that progress.”

Berners-Lee makes this warning just a year after launching the Contract for the Web, an action plan to prevent the world from turning into a “digital dystopia.” 

Remember when Amazon started testing its cashierless technology in Seattle?

If you don’t, don’t worry. It’s easy to get the gist —  You walk into the store, grab whatever you need, put it in the bag and simply walk out. The tech takes care of all the rest. 

While we all thought the move spelt doom for other retailers, as of this week, the company is selling the solution to competitors. 

Interesting strategy for market penetration. 

Finally, the UK will be rolling out in April a new digital services tax aimed at US tech giants.

The measure will impose a 2% levy on British revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces. It is expected to raise up to £280m in its first year.

With this tax, the UK follows the lead of France, which implemented similar measures last year. 

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Hiring an IT consultant IT Decision-makers

S/4HANA’s Growing Momentum

S4/HANA momentum

German ERP vendor SAP has kick-started the new decade with renewed strength. After undergoing a series of leadership changes in the past year, the company appears set on re-examining its product and strategy roadmaps based on customer feedback and more realistic self-assessment. Not surprisingly, it is S/4HANA – the new iteration of SAP’s core ERP system — the one leading the charge.

The firm was originally scheduled to discontinue support for its current ECC Business Suite in 2025, hoping the deadline would prompt a critical mass of its customers to transition to S/4HANA. However, after sluggish early adoption rates and mounting stakeholder pressure, the new leadership team decided back in February to give customers a much-needed extension.

Under the new roadmap, SAP ensures first-party support for ECC until 2030 – albeit free, general-access maintenance will be discontinued in 2027. At the same time, the company is future-proofing its customers’ investment in S/4HANA by promising platform support until the end of 2040.  

Although it is still early to tell the extent to which this new policy will impact adoption in the coming months, the measures have been well-received among the community. Additionally, the migration to S/4HANA is only poised to keep gaining momentum as digital transformation initiatives across the globe enter a more mature phase.  

Accelerating S/4HANA adoption

A few factors have been holding up widespread adoption of S/4HANA. First of all, there seems to be a generalised confusion around the benefits and specifics capabilities of S/4HANA. A recent study by Resulting IT revealed that SAP consultants are only marginally more knowledgeable in the platform than their clients.

The insight is pretty telling and suggests that SAP could have failed in its past efforts to communicate with its stakeholders and manage change. Thankfully, that problem has a relatively easy solution. The latest changes in leadership and the extension of ECC support signal the company’s awareness of this issue and increase confidence that it will be addressed.

Understanding S/4HANA is crucial for its adoption. This might sound like an obvious requirement for buying into a new product, but it is especially important in S/4HANA. This is not a simple software update that can be installed over the weekend. The next-generation ERP suite implies a profound redesign in terms of architecture that requires companies to invest a lot of resources and re-evaluate internal processes to carry out the migration. On top of that, existing customers who have already invested a lot of money in ECC customizations will have to start from scratch.

Therefore, it is paramount that the decision to embark on a migration project stems from a solid business case if it wants to succeed. It is never easy to convince entire teams and organisations to change their processes, but trying to do so without strong arguments and a clear roadmap can be dangerous. Moving to S/4HANA is not exclusively an IT call. It requires that business leaders across the organisation are involved in the decision-making and willing to implement changes.

Time will tell how SAP’s renewed focus on S/4HANA translates into client adoption. However, recent announcements make us think the company is on the right track and the S/4HANA will only gain momentum from now on.

Is your company planning to move to S/4HANA but is still not sure when? You might want to hurry things up.

If you are a specialist in SAP technologies but still haven’t gotten your feet wet with S/4HANA, here is why and how you should do it.      

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IT Decision-makers Talent strategy

Industry Snapshot – IT Staffing

Industry Snapshot – IT Staffing
The staffing as a whole is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation. But what about the IT staffing sector? IT staffing enjoys all the benefits...

The staffing as a whole is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation brought about by technological disruption, a generational shift in the workforce and new economic trends. A €416-billion industry by 2018 global estimates, the sector is expected to grow by 3% in 20201 and will only increase in importance as the needs and challenges of a fast-evolving job market make it an essential part of the talent acquisition process. But what about the IT staffing sector in particular? One could say IT staffing enjoys all the benefits of the industry’s current situation while avoiding most of its downsides.  

The irruption of technology 

From job boards and professional networking platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn, to new corporate administrative tools such as vendor management systems (VMS), technology is shaking up the industry from head to tail. While some see this as a threat to the traditional staffing business model, 87% of recruitment professionals believe agencies should embrace digital transformation to remain competitive. Simultaneously, 55% of staffing firms expect their technology investments to increase in 2020.

There are many ways in which technology can help recruiters do a better job. For instance, artificial intelligence and networking platforms facilitate and accelerate the sourcing of candidates, which represents a major advantage in a field of work in which winning the race against the clock is a key factor of success.

IT staffing: Demand outweighs supply 

Skill obsolescence is a well-known side effect of progress. However, with new technologies emerging at a growing pace and changing the way businesses operate, the skill gap is rapidly widening. Not surprisingly, 77% of staffing professionals cite skills shortage as their top challenge. That is especially true for IT staffing.

In 2018, in fact, 49% of S&P 100 job postings were for only 39 roles. Most of these were vacancies for IT-related positions like software developers and computer systems engineers. As a critical function to businesses in the age of digital transformation, IT is one of the most understaffed and contested labour sectors.  

Moreover, the constant evolution of technology and its business applications ads a layer of complexity to the generalised and persistent shortage of skills experienced by the staffing industry. The newer the technology, the fewer qualified professionals available. The demand for expertise in fields like data science and cloud architecture, for instance, is impossible to meet.

As a result, many companies look to IT staffing agencies for help in identifying and securing tech talent. Another solution to the skills shortage is leaning on the burgeoning freelance community to supplement internal capabilities.

The importance of soft skills 

As it happens with more and more jobs, the IT sector is increasingly in need of professionals that can complement their technical knowledge with abilities like adaptability and interpersonal communication. Commonly referred to as soft skills, these capabilities have become crucial in a time of rapid and sudden business transformation. This is particularly true of IT professionals, who were traditionally judged by their technical skills and now need to demonstrate greater social and change-management competences. 

Knowing what each side needs 

The talent supply gap and the importance of freelancers offer, of course, a great opportunity for IT staffing companies. However, IT recruitment is a crowded space, with many companies and agencies often competing for the same candidates and positions. Thus, it becomes essential for agencies to have a deep understanding of the needs of both candidates to differentiate themselves from competitors and be able to deliver solutions quickly.  

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Press review Tech Magazine

Weekly News Digest #8

Weekly news digest

You heard it right, Timmy. No more “abc123.”

Scary news this week – and not only regarding COVID-19.

On Wednesday, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) — the UK’s cyber-defence organ – warned the public about the ease with which baby monitors and other smart devices can be (and have been) hacked. 

The usual culprit? Weak default passwords.

In one of the creepiest reported episodes, the attacker spoke to a young girl in Tennessee pretending to be ‘Father Christmas.’

Terrifying. And a good reminder for security experts to take the dangers of human oversight seriously, both at home and at work. 

Meanwhile, tech conferences all over the world are being cancelled or going virtual over global infection fears. Oh, dear. This is shaping up to be another one of those coronavirus specials… 

Facebook’s F8, Microsoft’s MVP Global Summit and Google I/O are among the affected events. 

The latter two companies also announced that they’ll be making their professional conferencing tools available for free as a growing number of firms are encouraging their employees to work remotely.

You know what they say — If life gives you lemons, start promoting your products.

Still haven’t had enough coronavirus? Check out this story on how AI and robotics are helping fight the virus. 

Faith in humanity (and robots) restored ?

—

And, speaking of robots… 

Researchers at Google have created a robot that taught itself how to walk using reinforcement-learning algorithms.

It took the robot just a few hours to do what we humans need an average of a year to learn. A promising milestone for artificial intelligence. 

So cute. 

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Press review Tech Magazine

Weekly News Digest #7

IT News Digest

Into mystery movies? Beware of spoilers.

Opening scenes of a crime thriller.

The protagonist, a beat detective with a good amount of personal problems, examines the room where the murder took place. One by one, the film introduces the various characters in the story, and the question inevitably pops up into your head:

Who’s done it?

Well… Knives Out and Star Wars director Rian Johnson might have ruined the fun for all of us. According to the filmmaker, Apple doesn’t let bad guys use an iPhone on screen for branding purposes.

There you go. Now you can start ruling suspects out.

A week in retrospect

Speaking of crime…

A new study on cloud security published this week revealed that only 57% of all business-sensitive data stored in the cloud is protected by encryption. This is particularly worrisome considering that 47% of businesses report having suffered a breach or failed a security test in the past year.

Is your data at risk? This article might help you figure it out.

Stop pointing that at me.

The debate around the use of facial recognition to fight crime is heating up. In response to mounting criticism, London’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick tried to calm down the public by highlighting the benefits of the technology.

There seems to be a general misunderstanding, as the system currently being employed in the UK doesn’t store the data it captures. It simply compares faces against a data base of known offenders, in real time.

The images we post on Facebook and Instagram do much more to endanger our biometric privacy, assures the Met’s chief.

Meanwhile, a global report from communications firm Edelman revealed that 60% of people feels tech is advancing too fast…

And, speaking of advances…

The MIT Technology Review has published its annual list of technological innovations poised to have a big impact on solving the world’s problems. Here are the contenders:

  • Unhackable internet
  • Hyper-personalized medicine
  • Digital money
  • Anti-aging drugs
  • AI-discovered molecules
  • Satellite mega-constellations
  • Quantum supremacy
  • Tiny AI
  • Differential privacy
  • Climate change attribution

Would you add or change anything?

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Hiring an IT consultant IT Decision-makers

The rise of tech freelancers

The rise of tech freelancers
Independent IT workers make up a significant part of the workforce with the rise of tech freelancers. And their numbers are growing exponentially.

Not that long ago, freelancing was a somewhat mysterious concept reserved for a few lucky ones and the creative types. Nowadays, independent workers make up a significant part of the workforce with the rise of tech freelancers. And their numbers are growing exponentially. This is especially true in IT, where skill shortages and the constant need for IT professionals across all industries provide the perfect conditions for a freelance lifestyle.   

We take a look at the factors propelling (and hindering) this transformation.  

A new office environment

This rise in freelancing is in large part due to the generational shift in the workplace.

By the end of 2020, millennials will have caught up with Generation X, with each making up 35% of the world’s labour. At the same time, those born after 1997 (Gen Z) will have established a solid foothold in the workplace with 25% of the total.

A recent survey of more than 7,000 freelancers in over 150 countries revealed that a staggering 70% of independent workers are under the age of 35. Those younger than 25 represent 21% of the total.   

This new workforce configuration is introducing important changes, from corporate culture to salary expectations or how teams operate. Considering that, by 2025, millennials will represent three-quarters of all employees and many of them will be in managerial positions, these new standards will have a big impact on recruitment moving forward. Concepts like flexible schedules, hypermobility and freelancing are becoming more ubiquitous and sought after.

Want to become an IT freelancer/contractor?

>>> Careers in Tech and IT: Towards a Freelancisation of Permanent Positions?

>>> IT Job Hunting Done Well: A Step-by-Step Guide

A freelance-friendly scene

Albeit often accompanied by controversy, the emergence of the so-called gig economy has too contributed to the normalisation of the freelance life. While some tout the benefits of this labour model, such as greater flexibility or financial freedom, others consider it a source of precarious employment. Whereas that could be argued when it comes to very specific sectors, the reality is that tech freelancers generally enjoy an advantageous position in comparison to their in-house counterparts.

Yes. Independent workers must deal with limited social protections, fluctuating activity and internal red tape. However, the average daily rate of tech freelancers fluctuates between €350 and €800 – well above the average rate of salaried employees in most countries. They also express a 4-out-of-5 satisfaction with their lifestyle.

Programming and IT make up 29% of the global freelance workforce, sharing the top three with web and graphic design. The fit between IT and a freelance lifestyle is clear. A highly coveted skillset that is relevant to almost all industries gives IT professionals the flexibility and bargaining power required to go independent. IT contractors are also among the best-paid freelancers.

A new regulatory landscape with the rise of tech freelancers

But freelancing faces some roadblocks too. All around the world, new regulations on temporary employment are being put in place in an effort to avoid precariousness and reduce the disparity between permanent and short-term positions. Nonetheless, some of these well-meaning measures can end up doing more damage than good.

A good example of this problem is the UK’s IR35. Set to kick in on April of this year, this piece of legislation plans to increase employment tax costs for those companies who consider a contractor as an employee in all but name. Although the law is intended to discourage companies from abusing temporary contracts for tax-saving purposes, what it could mean in practice is that companies would steer clear of contractors altogether.

Both the freelance community and businesses are pressing for the legislation to be re-examined.  

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Cybersecurity Tech Magazine

Data security : Is your cloud data secure?

Data security: Is your cloud data secure?
How is your data security? Around 50% of all business data is already stored in the cloud, while 48% of this data can be considered sensitive in nature.

Digital transformation is well underway. An estimated 50% of all business data is already stored in the cloud; while 48% of this data can be considered sensitive in nature. These figures, which were reported on Monday in a global study by Thales and IDC, paint a promising future for the enterprise cloud industry. They also seem to signal growing confidence in the technology’s security and privacy capabilities. So, regarding data security, is your cloud data secure?

Data security: number and perception

The same survey revealed that only 57% of all cloud-stored sensitive data is protected by encryption, whereas 100% of respondents admit to having at least some unencrypted sensitive data in the cloud. One could think this constitutes further proof of the enterprise’s sense of data security. In reality, the number of respondents that feel their data is vulnerable to cyberthreats (86%) has increased considerably since last year’s report (67%). Furthermore, 47% of businesses report having been breached or failed a security test in the past year.  

There is thus a clear disconnect between the perceived levels of data security and the actual measures being put in place. Many decision-makers are not paying enough attention to their own danger alerts, and that is dangerous.

So — how can you tell if this happening in your organization? There are a few telltale signs.

Choosing the right multi-cloud partners

Achieving optimum levels of data protection is becoming increasingly difficult as more and more companies turn to different cloud providers to meet their various business needs. The vast majority of businesses (81%) report using more than one infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) vendor. Meanwhile, 72% of organisations state they use between 11 and 100 software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications — That’s a lot of potentially breachable data living in the cloud.

Data security: how to implement a proper strategy

These multi-cloud environments add a layer of complexity on top of the already complicated world of cybersecurity. In turn, survey respondents identify complexity as the top barrier to implementing a proper data security strategy.

To protect data integrity, organisations must leverage the appropriate set of tools across platforms and partner with those vendors offering solutions that fit within their ecosystem. Ideally, your various security tools and protocols should cover both on-premises and cloud-based data and be compatible with one another.  

If that’s not the case, it might be time to review your security architecture. Putting together the right team has also become essential for multi-cloud success. Consider hiring a cloud security specialist if you haven’t done so yet.

Data vs network security

Despite 83% of organisations planning to either maintain or increase their security spending in 2020, the portion of the security budget destined to data security remains marginal at 15.5%. Comparatively, companies spend much more on network security. This seems to be due to another important disconnect — that between the major perceived security threats and the reality behind most data breaches.  

While more than half of businesses are worried about cybercriminals, terrorists and corporate espionage; everyday issues that tend to pose greater challenges to data integrity are often less cause for concern. Just in the UK alone, 90% of data breaches experienced in 2019 originated from a human error. Employee communications, system misconfigurations and privileged users with access to sensitive resources are all potential risks that network security cannot mitigate.

Data security: accesses and permissions

A great focus on data security is, therefore, highly recommended. Re-examine and restrict your access protocols and permissions, encrypt greater amounts of data and make sure to store and safeguard the keys properly. Moreover, invest in data recovery and backup tools.

Also, do not rely too much on your providers to protect your data. Sure, the cloud is fundamentally a shared responsibility environment. However, there are many proactive measures that you can implement internally to safeguard this data.

Remember – if there is a breach, it will be the company’s reputation the one to take the biggest hit, not the provider’s.   

The threat of emerging tech

Although most experts do not see widespread quantum computing entering the scene until 15 or 20 years from now. The security risks this emerging technology represents are already in the minds of business leaders. Around 72%% of companies believe quantum computers will start disrupting their encryption efforts within 5 years.

Quantum computations can potentially decipher most cryptographic key systems used today. However, the technology is still in its infancy, and companies shouldn’t worry too much about its security implications just yet. But, if you’d like to start future-proofing your system, there are several vendors out there already working with quantum cryptography methods.

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ERP & SAP Job Descriptions

SAP FICO Consultant : Job Description

SAP FICO Consultant
SAP FICO is a functional component of SAP ERP, used in many large companies to manage financial statements. Explore the role of the SAP FICO Consultant

Use our template to create a compelling and comprehensive SAP FICO Consultant job description to attract top talent.

The SAP FICO consultant is responsible for developing and implementing SAP-based ERP solutions, focusing on the finance and controlling areas. They work closely with the client’s finance team to analyze and design SAP FI/CO solutions, perform testing and ensure the stability of the solution.

The SAP FICO module is one of the most widely used SAP modules and includes SAP FICO configuration and usage. Therefore, aspiring SAP FICO consultants should have a strong foundation in all aspects of the SAP FICO module to succeed in their role.

Find SAP FICO Consultant missions on our freelance and permanent IT recruitment platform, or join Mindquest so you don’t miss out on any SAP assignments!

What is SAP FICO?

SAP FICO is a functional component of SAP ERP, used in many large companies to generate and manage financial statements. It is used for reporting, but also for analysis for decision-making. Explore the role of the SAP FICO Consultant

Learn more about SAP careers from this SAP project management expert. You might also want to explore the role of the Salesforce Consultant

Above all, we are talking about two modules: SAP FI (Financial Accounting) for the Finance part and SAP CO (Controlling) for the Management control part:

  • The SAP FI module allows companies to generate financial statements such as balance sheets or profit and loss reports. It is itself made up of secondary modules dedicated to specific accounting processes: Customer Accounting (FI-AR), Fixed Asset Accounting (FI-AA), General Ledger (FI-GL)…
  • The SAP CO module manages the planning, reporting and supervision of operational costs. A determining module to improve the profitability of a company, it is also composed of secondary modules: Cost control by product (SAP CO-PC), Accounting (SAP CO-OM-CEL), Analysis of the income statement ( SAP CO-PA)…

As a consequence, the SAP FICO consultant is an expert on these specific modules. Before installing the software, their primary role is to analyze and define the needs of the company. They can then have an advisory or support role.

What is the role of the SAP FICO Consultant?

Analyze and assess user needs

Before installing the solution, the SAP FI / CO consultant must analyze and understand user needs. As a result, they will be able to precisely define which functionalities to configure.

Solution and functionality development

Once the assessment is completed, the role of the consultant is to implement the solution. His knowledge of business case allows him to develop tailor-made functionalities to fully cover the needs of the company.

Train future users

After installing the solution, the SAP FICO consultant must ensure that future users can handle the software. They then train future users and play a support role in the event of any problems.

To help companies achieve a successful SAP implementation, this whitepaper explains SAP implementation best practices. It also presents a case study from the global leader sportwear company ADIDAS as an example of successful SAP implementation.

Whether you are a business leader, IT professional, or project manager, this whitepaper will help you understand how to plan, execute, and manage a successful SAP implementation that delivers tangible benefits and ROI.

SAP Implementation Best Practices: ADIDAS case study

Required skills of the SAP FICO Consultant

How to become a SAP FICO consultant? Here is a list of the skills needed to succeed in this career.

Technical expertise

Technical skills

As an expert, mastery of the SAP FICO modules is obviously essential. The consultant must have very good technical knowledge in order to be able to fully meet the client’s needs and to develop suitable functionalities. But also to validate and document the project requirements.

Knowledge of accounting, corporate finance & management control

SAP FICO Skills

Firstly, business knowledge is essential for the FICO consultant: they must master and understand the end user’s problems, as well as the business processes involved, to set up suitable workflows in the information system.

A good analytical mind

SAP FICO Skills

Soft skills are also essential the SAP FICO consultant must be able to better analyze the processes and business lines of the company, to determine if the necessary functionalities fall under a standard use of SAP FICO or if they require custom development. They also often act as an intermediary between technical teams and trades.

Listening skills and pedagogy

SAP FICO Skills

Then, to better understand the needs of the company, the SAP FICO consultant must have good interpersonal skills and always remain attentive to their client and future users to assess their needs. Likewise, once the solution has been implemented, the consultant will have to provide training for future users: being a good communicator and teacher is therefore very useful.

Also read the 5 key benefits of hiring a SAP FICO Consultant

Context

SAP FICO consultants can work either in-house or externally.

In-house consultants work for the organization during and after the implementation phase, while external consultants are only involved in the implementation.

Moreover, consultants are responsible for system configuration and execution, based on business requirements, GAAP analysis, process improvement, and identifying new opportunities or products. Thus, their role is more significant than that of end/power clients since they are accountable for successful execution of the system. Becoming an SAP FICO consultant is a major career advancement.

In addition, the SAP FICO consultant plays an important role during a digital transition. It is usually the large companies that use this type of profile. Recently, some SMEs have integrated this tool into their activity to gain competitiveness. Today, the needs of companies in SAP FICO expertise are numerous.

Salary of the SAP FICO Consultant

How much does a SAP FICO Consultant make?

The salary of a SAP FICO Consultant can also vary depending on several factors such as location, years of experience, industry, and company size. According to Payscale, the average salary for a SAP FICO Consultant in Europe is around €61,000 per year, with the range typically falling between €40,000 to €89,000 per year.

While according to Glassdoor, the average salary for a SAP FICO Consultant in the United States is around $97,000 per year, with the range typically falling between $75,000 to $120,000 per year.

However, the actual salary can differ based on the country and specific location within that country.

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Training of the SAP FICO Consultant

The FICO functional consultant can come from a business school with a finance option, an engineering school, or even from an accounting background. However, it is generally necessary to pass the various SAP certifications concerning the SAP FI and SAP CO modules, as well as to have several years of experience in the implementation and support projects.

In conclusion, a SAP FICO consultant typically evolves by taking on increasingly important integration missions and supervising a team. As they gain more experience and expertise in the field, they may be entrusted with critical integration projects that have a significant impact on the organization’s financial systems and operations. Thus, this offers opportunities for growth and advancement in the field of finance and technology.

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of SAP

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