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Laura has led projects related to information systems design and implementation research administration processes and compliance. She has focused on managing and reviewing implementations of enterprise resource planning software particularly PeopleSoft Financials in higher education environments.
Professional Experience
Representative examples of Laura's engagement experience include:
Managed the Grants Team on a PeopleSoft 8.9 Grants Suite implementation for a six campus system upgrading Financials in the same timeline. Modules included Grants Projects Contracts Billing and Accounts Receivable. Organized representatives from each campus and the centralized system support center to work together toward a goal of finding system-wide solutions to address unique campus requirements. Complexities stemmed from autonomous campuses operations largely different sponsor funding profiles and inconsistent business processes. Physical separation of team members across the state required enhanced communication methods. Conversion also presented a unique challenge with twelve legacy systems and paper files serving as source data.
Managed a comprehensive implementation of the PeopleSoft 8.4 Grants Suite through newly merging business units at a large public university. Created and reviewed templates decision documents functional designs and test plans. Designed and tested system modifications reports queries and process schedules. Coordinated with integration conversion and other Financials module leads. Addressed HR issues related to Grants integration. Redesigned business processes to minimize system modifications. Participated in the development review and execution of training documentation presentations and curriculum.
Performed a review of an Oracle Financials implementation at a large private university one year into production. Assessed distributed user issues and concerns. Evaluated the university's plan for system and related improvements. Made recommendations to enhance the plan and increase the probability of its successful execution. Documented and presented findings to the President Provost and CFO.
Led the planning phase of a Grants Suite 8.4 implementation at a large research university and medical school. Reviewed implementation impact to existing modifications reports and delivered functionality. Evaluated Financials upgrade strategy resource constraints and university priorities. Created and gained approval of the business case phased implementation approach workplan and budget.
Advised a large public university and research center on all phases and modules of a PeopleSoft 7.5 Grants suite implementation. Performed system configuration for all modules. Analyzed fit issues and presented vanilla and custom solutions. Provided guidance on testing procedures cutover and conversion reports and queries and training.
Performed all phases of a PeopleSoft 7.5 Grants Suite implementation at a large private university. Conducted analysis and redesign of current business processes in the pre- and post-award areas instituting best practices and process changes needed for a vanilla implementation.
Functional consultant for PeopleSoft's 8.4 and 7.5 Grants development teams. Tested the complete grant lifecycle.
Performed a compliance assessment and review of the relationship between a large academic medical center separate biomedical research company state and federal departments.
Performed an assessment of the financial management and compliance risks of a large research institution managing an entity funded by a Federally-sponsored program.
Performed a reconciliation of financial records in the grants administration office of a large academic medical center. Assisted Principal Investigators and administrators through post-award management including budget compliance and close out of their research grants.
Education & Certifications
Bachelor of Business Administration Finance Certificate in International Business University of Wisconsin at Madison
Speaking Engagements
Frequent speaker at the annual PeopleSoft Higher Education Users Group Conference and University Sponsored Business System Forum Meetings.
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