My background is predominately in Business Intelligence (BI). Business intelligence is a broad category of applications and technologies for gathering, storing, analyzing, and providing access to data to help enterprise users make better business decisions. BI applications include the activities of decision support systems, query and reporting, online analytical processing (OLAP), statistical analysis, forecasting, and data mining.

I have worked with Crystal Reports, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services as well as a variety of querying tools.  SQR is another program I have used. Types of reports I have created include, but not limited to, cross-tab, conditional, drill-down, top n, summary, OLAP, charts/graphs, scorecards, dashboards.  I have even created books of reports which include hyper-linkable table of contents. The reports can be paper, views, PDF, Excel files, Word documents, files for use by other systems (EDI) or email attachments.  I lost count but I wouldn’t be surprised if I developed over 1000 reports in my lifetime.

I bring an additional skill that most other programmers do not have. As a former Accountant, I understand user requirements very clearly because I have been in their shoes. I have the ability to work alongside the user to help them define the best possible solution by discussing the need and asking questions in their language. Sometimes I can help them expand on the requirements and make them even more meaningful or efficient.

I understand the need for accurate data which must be reconcilable to something. Working with the users, we determine the end result of the report and what it should equal. Reconciliations can be direct or by analysis. Direct reconciliation is where the data matches something that is readily available. And an analysis reconciliation requires that a mutually agreeable subset of data or formula be matched up, as in the case of a spreadsheet or another report. Testing plans are then developed around this.

The dynamics of the delivery and presentation of data is another area I am proficient in. Time spent in executing, collating, printing, emailing as attachments, etc. can be better utilized by developing solutions to automate these processes. In addition, these processes can occur during off-peak hours to minimize the effect on performance. And the information can be made available at precisely when the user expects it.

If you would like to know more about what I bring to the table, here are links to my resumes (will open in a new window). My email address is on them or please contact me using the Contact page. Thank you.

• Resume of Sam Spritzer – IT centric

• Resume of Sam Spritzer – Accounting centric

• Resume of Sam Spritzer – Accounting Addendum (pre 1997)