Meet Espresso Tutorials Author Sydnie McConnell

Meet Espresso Tutorials author Sydnie McConnell. Sydnie is the co-author of First Steps in SAP and has a new book coming out with Espresso Tutorials in the fall of 2016 (stay tuned for upcoming announcements). 

How did you get your start with SAP?

I first heard of SAP at a temp job right out of college. After a couple of other non-SAP accounting jobs, I landed a cost accounting position at a manufacturer running SAP. I loved learning more about how the system worked, and I got to work with consultants and managers who taught me about configuration as we kicked off our global implementation. When a FICO analyst position opened up, I jumped at the opportunity to move into IT.

What are you most proud of in your SAP career?

My first book!

What are some of the most important trends that you see currently impacting SAP teams?

Keeping up with new developments – staying current on enhancement packs, getting started with S/4 HANA, the move to Simple Finance. There are constantly new technologies and new tools to work with. It can be challenging, but so rewarding, to “keep the lights on” while being able to pursue all of the new developments.

What professional organizations are you associated with?

ASUG

How do you stay up to date on SAP topics? What resources do you regularly use?

Conferences such as Controlling and Financials), ASUG events, webinars from various sources, lots of reading and research online.

Can you tell us more about your hobbies?

My favorite hobbies are sewing, running (slowly!), and my dogs (do they count as a hobby?). I have 3 dogs who love to hike, run, and lay on the couch with me – a 10-year-old Blue Heeler named Tillie, a 4-year-old tiny Yorkie mix, and a 6-month old Blue Heeler puppy named Daisy.

Sydnie McConnell is the lead SAP business systems analyst for a global manufacturing firm headquartered in Colorado. Sydnie has more than 15 years of experience with SAP Financials, both as a business user and a systems analyst. Her primary focus is on SAP Controlling, particularly product cost controlling and profitability analysis. She has worked on a variety of complex projects, including several global SAP ERP and BPC implementations and integrating multiple ERP systems into a single SAP general ledger.