Syed Kashif Abbas

Email:adi9gc@r.postjobfree.com

Phone: 609-***-****

Professional Summary:

CSM / Business Analyst with 14+ years of experience in the areas of Business Analysis, Requirements Gathering, Design, Quality Assurance Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT) & Training.

Experience and Domain knowledge in Banking and Finance, Retail and E-commerce applications.

Analyzed and synthesized results from Joint Application Development (JAD) session proposed alternative tasks and transform those into Business Requirement Document and Functional Requirement Document.

Strong working experience in Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) using various methodologies including RUP, Agile, SCRUM and Waterfall.

Experience in interacting with stakeholders, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and end-users to understand, analyze, communicate and validate requirements using Joint Application Design (JAD) sessions and Joint Application Review (JAR) sessions.

Skilled in developing Use Case diagrams, Sequence diagrams, State Chart diagrams, work flow diagram, Flow chart using different tools.

Created various documents like Business Requirements Document (BRD), Functional Requirement Document (FRD), System Design Specification (SDS), Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM).

Experience in modeling AS IS and TO BE software applications.

Ability to gather business and technical requirements from both formal and informal sessions and format them into formal documents by utilizing various software tools.

Expert knowledge in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Projects, Power Point, MS Visio for documentation and analysis reports.

Used RUP and SDLC methodology and managed the iterative cycles through an effective project plan created using MS Project.

Skilled in performing business processes, identifying risks, impact analysis, creating UML Diagrams, work flow diagrams and flow chart diagrams using Microsoft Visio.

Experience in writing SQL query for Data Analysis and QA report testing.

Involved in Test Planning, Test Preparation, Test Execution, Issue Resolution and Report Generation to assure that all aspects of a Project are in Compliance with the Business Requirements.

Responsible to Track, Document, Capture, Manage and Communicate the Requirements using Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM) in controlling numerous artifacts produced by the teams across the deliverables for a project.

Experience in performing Gap Analysis, Feasibility Analysis and SWOT Analysis to check the compatibility of the existing system infrastructure with new business requirements.

Experience with different testing techniques such as System testing, Regression Testing and User Acceptance Testing.

Experience working with Data Mapping for data element mapping between two distinct data models.

Experienced in Business analysis, Risk analysis, GAP analysis and Project Planning.

Experience in developing mock-up screens and wire frames using Snag It and Axure Pro.

Facilitated Change Management across entire process from Project conceptualization to Testing through Project Delivery, Software Development and Implementation Management in diverse Business and Technical Environments.

Experienced in using Reporting tools like SAP Business Object-Web Intelligence and Crystal Reports.

Technical Skills:

Business Skills

Business Definition Requirements, Business Process Analysis, Gap Analysis, Use Case Modeling & Analysis, Market Research Analysis.

Modeling & Designing Tools

MS Visio, SnagIt, Axure-Pro., UML,BPMN ( Business Process Markup Notation)

Testing Tools and Clients

Jira, TFS, HP Quality Center(QC)

SDLC Methodologies

RUP, Waterfall, Agile,SCRUM

Operating Systems

Windows XP/NT, VISTA.

Languages

HTML, XML, CSS, Java Script

MS Office

Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS-Projects

Databases

Oracle 8i/9i/10g, SQL Server 7.0 & 2000, Access 2000, MySQL

DB Tools and Editors

Toad, Squirrel,Text pad, First Object

Reporting Tools

SAP BO -Web Intelligence, Crystal Reports

Professional Experience:

American Water, Camden, NJ April 2018 – Current Sr. Scrum Master

American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to customers.

The Project was to build new customer portal to sunset the existing WSS portal that was built using Java spring framework which has become obsolete. Customer portal product was built primarily to provide users with a single platform to manage their self-service functions like Make a Payment, Billing & payments summary, Real-time Usage consumption data, Usage projection, Move-In/Move-out service, Auto-pay, and Paperless billing. This new portal will provide customers with a rich and intuitive UI experience. Customer portal will predict and send notifications to customers real-time via multiple channels like phone, text, and email on their High usage and leak alerts on their premises. Along with this project I am also part of 2 other projects Investor Relations (IR) and Alerts1view.

Responsibilities:

Organized and facilitated daily stand-up meetings, backlog grooming sessions, sprint review, retrospectives, sprint release planning, demos, and other Scrum-related meetings. Ensuring successful delivery and feedback for further sprints

Extensively used JIRA and Confluence for Sprint planning, progress tracking and documentation

Worked collaboratively with Product Owners, cross-functional development teams, and Project Managers to support development and software delivery

Assisted the Product Owner in user story creation/prioritization and product Backlog grooming via emergent requirement elicitation while supporting overall organizational goals

Tracked and reported Scrum team velocity and manage Sprint capacity. Manage high-level budgeting and time tracking

Provided strategic thought leadership on impediments to accelerated delivery, and partner to develop, implement, and promote Agile best practices

Worked closely with Product Owner and BA to prioritize user stories and groom backlog to ensure readiness for sprints

Resolved or escalated blocking impediments as necessary. Coordinated dependencies between teams with other Scrum Masters

Worked with Development managers to manage team capacity. Ensured development team is working efficiently towards Sprint goals

Presented regular status updates to stakeholders at various levels showing velocity and progress of sprints and project

Worked with cross functional teams closely to ensure their deliverables align closely with Confidential Sprint schedule

Coached the development team and stakeholders on how to use Agile/Scrum practices

Ensured the development teams are practicing the core agile principles of collaboration, prioritization, team accountability, and visibility

Ensured cross functional coordination (analysts, developers and testers) is occurring early and often.

Recommended improvements and assist in changes to best practice. Adapt approach based on cultural shifts and regulatory requirements

Assisted with internal and external communication, improving transparency, and radiating information

Created an environment that empowers and energizes team members, with a focus on accountability, adaptability, and collaboration

Spencer Gifts, Egg Harbor, NJ Sep 2016 – April 2018 Sr. Scrum Master

Spencer Gifts is a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, and Canada. They sell goods primarily from gag gifts to great gifts, outrageous guy’s tees, funny tees and custom tees; you can get it all at Spencer's. The project was to migrate the 40-year-old application called SIRIS to MMS (Merchant Management Service) application. Alongside of this project I have also helped with various small side projects like "Store analyzer application, and Product catalog update for eCom.

Responsibilities:

Organized and facilitated daily stand-up meetings, reviews, retrospectives, sprint and release planning, demos and other Scrum-related meetings

Worked collaboratively with Product Owners, cross-functional development teams, and Project Managers to support development and software delivery

Assisted the Product Owner in user story creation/prioritization and product Backlog grooming via emergent requirement elicitation while supporting overall organizational goals

Tracked and reported Scrum team velocity and manage Sprint capacity. Manage high-level budgeting and time tracking

Resolved or escalated blocking impediments as necessary. Coordinated dependencies between teams with other Scrum Masters

Worked with Development managers to manage team capacity. Ensured development team is working efficiently towards Sprint goals

Coached the development team and stakeholders on how to use Agile/Scrum practices

Ensured the development teams are practicing the core agile principles of collaboration, prioritization, team accountability, and visibility

Ensured cross functional coordination (analysts, developers and testers) is occurring early and often.

Recommended improvements and assist in changes to best practice. Adapt approach based on cultural shifts and regulatory requirements

Assisted with internal and external communication, improving transparency, and radiating information

Created an environment that empowers and energizes team members, with a focus on accountability, adaptability, and collaboration

Created business requirements document (BRD) to derive the functional specifications document (FSD) and assisted in the preparation of System Requirement Specifications.

Responsible for gathering requirements from users and performing data mapping on the application and testing the application as per the specs.

Prepared Use Case scenarios for a clear understanding between the vision document and stakeholders using MS Visio.

Created Use Case Models and System Specification Document using Agile Methodology

Using GAP analysis, reviewed high level company processes, identified gaps that require operational change in order to optimize the proposed system solutions.

Handled quality control and delivery management.

Responsible for validating the defect fixes and new changes after Production implementation.

Maintained the Requirements Tractability Matrix (RTM).

Used the guidelines and artifacts of Rational Unified Process (RUP) to strategize the Implementation of Rational Unified Process effort in different iterations and phases of the SDLC.

Cybersecurity & Risk ITRIS Reporting & Metric, TIAA-CREF, NC Nov 2015 – Sep 2016 Scrum Master /Sr. Business Analyst

Responsibilities:

Created Cybersecurity score card. The cybersecurity scorecard reports how the cybersecurity services are performing as well as reporting risk indicators observed by the service.

Handle all the scrum meetings including daily standup meetings, sprint planning meeting, Product backlog review meeting, and Retrospective meetings.

Worked collaboratively with Product Owners, cross-functional development teams, and Project Managers to support development and software delivery

Assisted the Product Owner in user story creation/prioritization and product Backlog grooming via emergent requirement elicitation while supporting overall organizational goals

Tracked and reported Scrum team velocity and manage Sprint capacity. Manage high-level budgeting and time tracking

Resolved or escalated blocking impediments as necessary. Coordinated dependencies between teams with other Scrum Masters

Worked with Development managers to manage team capacity. Ensured development team is working efficiently towards Sprint goals

Coached the development team and stakeholders on how to use Agile/Scrum practices

Created business requirements document (BRD) to derive the functional specifications document (FSD) and assisted in the preparation of System Requirement Specifications.

Responsible for gathering requirements from users and performing data mapping on the application and testing the application as per the specs.

Prepared Use Case scenarios for a clear understanding between the vision document and stakeholders using MS Visio.

Created Use Case Models and System Specification Document using Agile Methodology

Using GAP analysis, reviewed high level company processes, identified gaps that require operational change in order to optimize the proposed system solutions.

Responsible for validating the defect fixes and new changes after Production implementation.

Maintained the Requirements Tractability Matrix (RTM).

Participating in Story sizing sessions to understand change in Business functionality and its impact for effort estimation

Generate and report various metrics of project to Program Management team

Responsible for Issue reporting and resolution.

1095-A, Cognosante, Mclean, VA Jan 2014 - Oct 2015 Scrum Master /Business Analyst

Facilitated and led group discussions to elicit requirements in Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions by communicating with various background and skills, documented Scope Definition, Functional Specifications, and Software Requirements Specification (SRS) and created User Interface Mockups/Prototypes.

Responsibilities:

Involved in mapping data for various partners and clients transmitting EDI 837, 835, 270/271.

Done claims processing, benefits, provider reimbursement, provider set, billing and accounts receivable.

Designing the Business Requirements Document and working with system developers to ensure that the requirements are effectively communicated and well understood.

Recognized as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for HIPAA, X12, trading partner management and healthcare related questions by internal team and clients (focused primarily on claims and acknowledgement transactions)

Analyzed business requirements into high level and low level Use Cases, Activity Diagrams, State chart Diagrams, Sequence and Robustness Diagrams using UML (IBM Rational Rose).

Worked as SCRUM Maters for the Team. Scheduled daily SCRUM meetings with team, updated Product backlogs and SPRINT backlogs and created SCRUM burn down charts for every SCRUM.

Worked collaboratively with Product Owners, cross-functional development teams, and Project Managers to support development and software delivery

Assisted the Product Owner in user story creation/prioritization and product Backlog grooming via emergent requirement elicitation while supporting overall organizational goals

Collaborate with EDI team on revenue cycle improvement opportunities

Provided assistance with monthly data extractions and imports utilizing Microsoft Access, Excel and SQL.

Involved in GAP analysis of 270 and 271 transactions from EDI X12 4010 to EDI X12 5010.

Developed translation programs for several EDI transactions (270/271, 276/277,834,820, 997)

Analyzed business requirements, developed detailed Test Plans and Test Cases.

Performed and coordinated System testing, Regression testing of various builds during integration, Performance and User acceptance testing using Rational Test.

Proficient in testing ANSI X12 version 4010 EDI transactions and Eligibility (270, 271, 276, 277, 278, 834, 820, 837 I/P, 837D, 835 remittances and NCPDP claims).

Supervised all pertinent project management processes: Business processes, User Acceptance Test, Test scripts, Test results, End user training, oversaw documentation; Established regularly scheduled project team meetings milestones.

Stored Vision Platform, Wells Fargo Bank May 2012- Dec 2013

Scrum Mater / Business Analyst

Wells Fargo is a provider of banking, mortgage, investing, credit card, insurance, and consumer and commercial financial services. Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world.

This project was aimed to address all the user requirement of Stored Vision Platform after the merger of two largest financial institutions Wells Fargo Bank and Wachovia Bank. There were different modules which I gathered requirements for. Some of them were Search module, Sale module, Deposit module, Credit Application module, Convenience Services module, Banker Tool Box module, Contact Events module, Referrals module and Administration module.

Responsibilities:

Organized and facilitated daily stand-up meetings, reviews, retrospectives, sprint and release planning, demos and other Scrum-related meetings

Worked collaboratively with Product Owners, cross-functional development teams, and Project Managers to support development and software delivery

Assisted the Product Owner in user story creation/prioritization and product Backlog grooming via emergent requirement elicitation while supporting overall organizational goals

Tracked and reported Scrum team velocity and manage Sprint capacity. Manage high-level budgeting and time tracking

Resolved or escalated blocking impediments as necessary. Coordinated dependencies between teams with other Scrum Masters

Worked with Development managers to manage team capacity. Ensured development team is working efficiently towards Sprint goals

Coached the development team and stakeholders on how to use Agile/Scrum practices

Ensured the development teams are practicing the core agile principles of collaboration, prioritization, team accountability, and visibility

Ensured cross functional coordination (analysts, developers and testers) is occurring early and often.

Recommended improvements and assist in changes to best practice. Adapt approach based on cultural shifts and regulatory requirements

Assisted with internal and external communication, improving transparency, and radiating information

Created an environment that empowers and energizes team members, with a focus on accountability, adaptability, and collaboration

Online Accounts and Services, Wells Fargo Bank May 2010- April 2012

Business Analyst/Scrum Master

This project was to handle online accounts services which included different modules for example : Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts and CDs, Debit and Prepaid Cards, Credit Cards, Global Remittance Services.

Responsibilities:

•Reviewed and analyzed the business requirements document (BRD) to derive the functional specifications document (FSD) and assisted in the preparation of System Requirement Specifications.

•Responsible for gathering requirements from users and performing data mapping on the application and testing the application as per the specs.

•Prepared Use Case scenarios for a clear understanding between the vision document and stakeholders using MS Visio.

•Created Use Case Models and System Specification Document using Agile Methodology

•Using GAP analysis, reviewed high level company processes, identified gaps that require operational change in order to optimize the proposed system solutions.

•Responsible for validating the defect fixes and new changes after Production implementation.

•Maintained the Requirements Tractability Matrix (RTM).

•Used the guidelines and artifacts of Rational Unified Process (RUP) to strategize the Implementation of Rational Unified Process effort in different iterations and phases of the SDLC and handled quality control and delivery management.

•Participating in Story sizing sessions to understand change in Business functionality and its impact for effort estimation

•Involved in Requirement gathering and Analysis using Technical Functional Specification Documents

Performed end-to-end testing on the release version of the software application and detected GUI bugs.

•Tracked bugs using Quality Center and performed regression testing of the entire application once the bugs are fixed.

•Generated various metrics of project to Program Management team and responsible for Issue reporting and resolution.

Bed Bath & Beyond, NJ Nov 2008 -April 2010

Business Analyst

Bed Bath & Beyond is a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Canada and Mexico. They sell goods primarily for the bedroom and bathroom, as well as kitchen and dining room. The project in which I work was QR Code Management System and website upgrade for all concepts means the Bed Bath & Beyond.

Responsibilities:

•Reviewed and gathered requirements from the Subject Matter Experts (SME) and Business Partners using various elicitation techniques and create Scope Management Documents, Business Requirements Document (BRD) and Functional Requirement Document (FRD).

•Created artifacts such as Use Cases, Prototypes, and Business Flows and Work Flow diagrams for effective plans.

•Gathered business requirements through open-ended discussions, brainstorming sessions and role-playing.

•Wrote requirements test plans shepherding e-Commerce platform through development.

•Loaded and managed the business, system and data requirements using Microsoft Office and RM Track.

•Execution of merchandising and marketing campaigns for our retail partners.

•Maintaining ecommerce promotion schedule and manage the implementation of promotions across the ecommerce sites.

•Responsibilities include hands on assisting and coordinating with delivery; business/process analysis, vendor management, proposal, activity definition, resource estimating, schedule development/control, cost estimating and control, budgeting, performance reporting, team management, and risk management.

•Performed business processes, identified risks, impact analysis, UML and flow charts diagrams using Visio.

•Performed in-depth GAP Analysis on the requirements, identified and documented the GAP Analysis.

•Managed changes in requirements using a Change Control process.

•Documented and analyzed defects using RTM Track.

•Wrote detailed requirement for System Enhancement and making high-level flow charts.

Merrill Lynch, Hopewell, NJ Jan 2004 – Aug 2007

Business Analyst

Responsibilities:

Performed overall business analysis and impact study to document the business lines and general functions to be supported by the project, enabling client to validate cost and resource assumptions regarding the system.

Supervised and managed projects from inception to implementation, ensuring that project management methodology is followed throughout the project lifecycle.

Worked with Business Systems Analysts, Managers, IT professionals and Senior Management to ensure that projects are properly defined and deliver expected efficiency gains, revenue enhancements, increased customer-service levels and/strategic advantages.

Participated in the development of project documents including: design specifications, use cases, project plans, status reports, etc. using established methodology deliverables.

Prepared detailed implementation plan for the Project, based on which defined roles, responsibilities and milestones.

Performed standard Management tasks including Performance Reviews, work assignment, and counselling.

Participated in meetings at the operational and project level, provide continuous feedback on project status; offering constructive options to ensure project tracks to original expectations.

Identified resources and scheduling conflicts; change in project scope; function as an escalation point to keep all parties aware of overall project impact, facilitating management decisions at the earliest possible time.

Assisted with the development of metric measurement and reporting to identify Change Management trends along with recommending plans to remedy trending issues.

Managed conflict and negotiate resolution by identifying business risk and recommend options to business stakeholders to make sound business decisions.

Translated Technology issues into business terms for higher management.

Developed overall aggregate planning to support aggressive growth targets.

Developed and implement streamlined processes and key KPIs to reduce cost and increase customer loyalty.

Worked with business clients and other infrastructure groups to resolve business and systems issues.

Environment: UML, Rational Rose, Rational Clear Case, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Visio.

Education: Bachelor’s in business administration from Punjab University, Pakistan

Scrum Certification from International Scrum Institute on 25th October 2014

NB: References can be provided on request.

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