SAP FICO

SAP FICO End User – Roles, Responsibilities & Career

SAP End Users are responsible for operating day-to-day transactions after the SAP project Go Live. In the case of Finance, an SAP FICO End User does activities like posting an invoice, collections, Purchase orders, Goods receipts, etc.

What does an SAP FICO End User does daily?

Posting invoice into the system
Posting customer Collections entries
Recoding collections from customers
Creating Purchase Orders
Creating Goods Receipts
Raising tickets for errors
Vendor Payment
Depreciation Posting
Periodic voucher posting
Preparing Vendor ageing repost
Preparing Customer ageing report
General Ledger posting

Users’ responsibilities are different as per different SAP modules. For example, the Sales Order creation, outbound delivery, and Sales Invoice are the responsibility of Logistics end users. The collection from the customer is the Finance end user’s responsibility.

Is there any difference in responsibilities between End users of ”SAP FICO” and ”S/4HANA Finance”?

Technically No. There is no major difference in the roles of the SAP S/4HANA Finance (Simple Finance) End-User and SAP FICO End User. It is just that they both use different platforms to work.

While the SAP Simple Finance End-User works on the HANA application, the FICO End User works on ECC. However, the basic roles and responsibilities are still the same.

1. SAP FICO End User Duties Vs. an SAP Consultant’s role

The SAP consultant’s role is to develop the system and make the necessary changes for the end users.

Whereas an SAP FICO End User only uses the SAP system.

So, SAP end-users use the final product for operating a different business process.

The connection between SAP FICO End-User and a FICO Consultant

Although an SAP FICO End-User works differently, they are still connected to SAP FICO consultants. They both works on a similar platform, i.e., SAP Application. Be it ECC or S/4HANA.

The SAP FICO End-Users need the help of Support Consultants in their day-to-day work lives.

How do they coordinate with each other?

Suppose there is an error during the business transaction. Then the end-user will raise the ticket. This ticket is assigned to a Support SAP consultant to resolve the issue.

E.g., While posting one expenditure voucher, the user wants a default cost center that should be assigned with GL Master. So that every time an End-User need not select the Document Center while posting the expenditure.

Now, you can automate this to system configuration, which is the responsibility of an SAP FICO Consultant.

Likewise, it is similar to SAP S/4HANA Finance End-Users and Consultants.

2. Is it good to start a career as an SAP End-User?

Yes, starting your career in SAP FICO as an end-user is perfectly ok if you are a fresher. The end user role is your first step to becoming an SAP Finance consultant.

You need to understand the following points:-

Firstly, having experience as an SAP End-user helps you to get the consultant job faster.
Secondly, you are already familiar with the SAP system application. Thus it makes you adapt to the SAP environment easily.
Third, when you take consultant-level training in SAP Finance, this experience will surely help you.
Fourth, being knowledgeable of the technology in advance will keep you ahead of the competition while looking for jobs.

Finally, you can add this domain experience to your CV, making your profile more desirable.

Do remember that most companies hire experienced people in consultants roles. For that, the end-user experience is the best career step.

Read: Top 20 Questions on SAP FICO Interview for Beginners

3. Growth chart of an SAP FICO End-user – Towards the consultant’s path

First, understand that End-users do the basic data entries in the system. The Associate Consultants do backend configuration/development, and the Support consultants resolve the users’ issues.

So, suppose you join an IT company after getting equipped with configuration knowledge. In that case, you may join there as an associate consultant. And get the implementation and support projects. Else you may become a support consultant by joining a core company. Further growth chart goes as similar to an SAP Consultant if you become one.

For Experienced Professionals: SAP Central Finance Training on S/4HANA

4. How much knowledge of SAP FICO or S4 HANA Finance is required for the End-Users

Prior knowledge of the concerned module helps you familiarize yourself with the system. It would also help you adapt to the SAP application faster and more easily. Thus, it is always a good decision to learn SAP S/4HANA Finance or FICO beforehand.

However, an end-user generally does basic general entries into the SAP system. Such as posting an invoice, collections, Purchase orders, Goods receipts, etc. To do this work, they generally get basic training in their company, where they join as end-user. An SAP support consultant or a senior in the team does this job. But they usually limit the level of knowledge to the requirement of data entry.

However, many companies now prefer candidates with prior knowledge of Accounting processes such as P2P and O2C and familiarity with the SAP ERP system.

This clearly shows they expect you to have a bit of know-how of the SAP system.

Thus, prior training in FICO or S/4HANA Finance will help you achieve your long-term goal of becoming a consultant

5. Is prior knowledge and experience required to get a job as an SAP FICO End User?

Experience is not required as such. But yes, as mentioned above, a decent amount of prior knowledge would help you get a better job faster. This will also help you to perform well on the job.

However, since many companies hire complete freshers also end-users roles, you may try finding such jobs and can apply for them as a beginner.

Also Read: How to get a job in SAP FICO.

What kind of knowledge is good to have for SAP FICO end users?

Knowledge depends on the module you choose.

In a Finance or SAP FICO End User’sUser’s role, you do Vendor payment, depreciation posting, periodical voucher posting, etc. So a prior knowledge of Accounts, Finance, and SAP FICO is best. It will be an added advantage if you have learned SAP FICO basics.

Many types of user profiles are available, such as Logistics, HR, ABAP, etc., other than Finance. Each module’s end-users are also different.

E.g., The Logistics end-users or Data entry users create purchased orders, Goods Received, vendor invoices, Etc.

There are Super Users or Power Users, too, above End Users.

Super Users or power users have more rights to master data access and opening-closing of posting periods. Thus, a company generally prefers to hire people with prior knowledge and experience in these positions.

6. How much is the demand for an SAP Finance End-User in the job market?

There is a huge demand for SAP End Users in the job market, mainly in Finance.

Almost more than 70% of companies now work on SAP applications. They need End-Users in huge numbers. Thus, the job market is the best in SAP and keeps growing. You can say that the future in the SAP sector is really good, even in the end-user role.

Since End-users are the entry-level staff, who feed the data into the system for business processing, they are in bulk demand.

7. What kind of industries hire SAP End Users?

Any core company that manufactures goods (SAP enabled) or any service company that works outsourced work (ITES industries) hires the end-user profile staff.

You can look them up for vacancies on job sites. Else you can directly apply to their hiring box as and when they post them.

These companies are good in numbers, thanks to the growing demand for SAP software.

8. How long should I work as SAP FICO End-user before applying for a Consultant’sConsultant’s role?

If you aim to become an SAP consultant, in the long run, you should work up to 1.5 to 2 years to gain decent experience. In the meantime, don’t forget to learn SAP S/4HANA Finance configuration. You are already in the environment. So the learning will have its best.

Companies that are hiring for consultant roles prefer experienced candidates. So after 2 years, you should start working towards future job roles. These are consultants, super users, Sr. Executives, Managers, etc.

To conclude, a maximum of 2 years of experience is ok to stay in the role of an end-user before you choose to become an SAP FICO or S/4HANA Finance consultant.

9. Expected Salary for an SAP End-User

If you are a fresher or a beginner, you should be flexible and not very rigid for the package at this stage of your career. Once you gain experience, you will be in a situation to negotiate or choose.

The offers depend on the company you are applying to. Generally, a decent-level company offers 2.5-3 Lacs p.a. to a fresher for the End-User role.

Please note that this data differs from company to company. It also depends on your academic profile. The numbers I gave are just tentative.

You may be interested: Top 50 SAP FICO Interview Questions for Freshers.

Conclusion

And then your aim is to become an SAP consultant in the long run, so go ahead gradually. There is a good demand for good SAP S4 HANA Finance consultants. So strive to gain as much knowledge as possible being an end-user.

Try to understand the SAP system well. Get in touch with the support consultants and keep analyzing their work methodology. Your interest in the system and your work will surely be observed by management.

Then most importantly, don’t stop your studies. Continue learning SAP side by side. This way, when the right opportunity comes your way, you will be fully ready to grab it. Either in the same company or somewhere outside. I hope I have answered many questions of SAP Finance aspirants on how to start a career in SAP S/4HANA Finance smoothly. All the best.

Related Video: SAP FI Organizational Structure

Pradeep