Jennifer Hughes

Versatile Business Analyst with background in payroll management and deep knowledge of all facets of payroll operations and migrations.

Resourceful and detail-oriented in analyzing market trends to translate user needs into functional product features in payroll and HCM applications. Driven to apply insightful approach and analytical thinking to effectively pinpoint technical requirements to elevate product design and further ongoing development.

FigBytes | Hamilton, ON |April 2022 – Present
Senior Business Analyst and Team Lead 
Leading the initiative to install a functional Product and Engineering relationship, build processes, documentation, and define best practices while also supporting executive leadership to transform the North American and offshore development teams to an Agile framework.

• Defined applicable processes and standards for the Product team to partner with other areas of the business including Engineering, Training, Customer Experience
•  Provide leadership, mentorship and support to a team of Business Analysts to standardize practices across scrum teams and deliver on the roadmap.

Ceridian | Toronto, ON | Apr. 2014 – Feb. 2022
Senior Business Systems Analyst, Dayforce Payroll Product Jun. 2018 – Feb. 2022
Partnered with cross-functional teams in Product Management and Development, Technical, and Compliance to translate market requirements into actionable solutions and system designs aligned with product development strategy and direction. Supported user acceptance testing processes to ensure product requirements were fully satisfied.
 

• Played key role in ensuring specific product requirements meet Canadian standards and product functionality aligns with COVID-19 initiatives at Federal and Provincial levels, enabling quick updates to support customers.
• Acted as Payroll Product Lead to engage in procurement process and pilot delivery of NextGen software solutions for Government of Canada; proposed high-level solution to determine roadmap planning.
• Assessed risks and impacts of integrating new functions on existing system and identified potential technical problems or design flaws to carry out preventive actions accordingly.
• Prepared release communications as coordinator; organized, hosted, and facilitated product information webinars and training sessions on new adaptations for internal users and external audiences at trade shows.
• Designed content for COVID-19 response program training to highlight relevant employer features; delivered subsequent information session at INSIGHTS 2020 conference with well-received feedback.
• Created SOP manual for business analysts by studying and compiling details of team processes; documentation adapted by P&T leadership as training tool across all product teams.
• Transitioned division of development team by becoming Product Owner-Proxy for branched out “Commit Services” team for payroll application; seamlessly aligned priorities and changes to preserve accuracy of features tracking and timely delivery of activities.
• Reduced aged Client Found Bug (CFB) backlog by 50% and established best practices and regular cadence as follow-up to monitor status on an ongoing basis.
   

Business Systems Analyst, MyMove Tools Feb. 2017 – Jun. 2018
Partnered with Data Migration consultants to set up requirements and initiate enhancements for primary data transformation tool.

• Established direction for product features improvement to allow for implementation success.
• Defined default mapping for data transformation to migrate clients from Redwood Freedom to Dayforce.
• Supported new implementation tool “Activate” by designing specific templates to transform legacy data using existing tool CADIE to fill requirements.

Associate Project Manager, Managed Services Apr. 2014 – Feb. 2017
Served as primary contributor in executing Dayforce software implementation lifecycle for large enterprise-sized client.

• Defined applicable processes and standards for Managed Services to serve large enterprise clients on planning, discovery, design, and configuration. 
• Mapped current legacy process to manage adaptation of outsourced payroll model for Labatt with attention to maintaining accuracy of employees’ payment schedules.
• Executed multiple phases of gradual transition to utilize Dayforce for payroll processes; executed incremental changes to avoid major disruptions to employees and trained payroll administrators on use of new application.

Labatt Breweries of Canada | Toronto, ON | Nov. 2012 – Apr. 2014
Payroll Management Consultant
Delivered compliant year end processing, ensured ongoing legislative compliance, and built and nurtured relationships within various local and global business units.
 

• Redefined payroll processes for employees and government agencies, and recovered majority of monies due to business closure of payroll provider; successfully accomplished complete compliance with zero penalties.
• Transformed payroll management processes to in-house model to gain better control of internal workflows and respond faster to arising changes; selected appropriate software vendor based on company needs.
   

Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP)  Canadian Payroll Association (CPA)
Leadership Skills Certification  Ontario Management Development Program (OMDP)
Continuing Education in Human Resources  Sheridan College  Oakville, ON