Working in SAP

Meet Cian O'Sullivan, Director, SAP

Can you describe a typical day in the job?

A typical day involves the commute to work in the morning. I have a good relationship with my client so I also have the option to work from home a few days a week. Each morning is usually spent catching up on emails from overnight and planning out the days tasks. I work with a team who are based in the US and India so my mornings are spent catching up on work before I jump between video and teleconferences all afternoon. These conferences are an opportunity for us all to talk, collaborate and progress each of these tasks as we move through the difference phases of the project.

What type of projects do you work on?

I work on a wide breadth of SAP projects spanning the Life Sciences, Retail and Manufacturing Industries. These projects can involve the implementation of SAP to part/all of the clients company both within Ireland and across the globe.

What skills do you use on a daily basis?

Time management is critical as well as knowing what to prioritise. Managing a team means you are constantly trying to ensure everyone is working on the right tasks, to the right timelines and are happy in their jobs. Being a Manager also means you have to manage upwards, keeping your Management up to date on progress and activity during the project so knowing what to prioritise and how to tick off all your tasks is very important.

Attention to detail is also a very important skill to use every day. Clients choose Deloitte because of our professionalism, our people and our quality of work. Attention to detail is the backbone of this success and ensures we are constantly delivering at a high level.

What is the hardest part of your day?

Waking up is never easy, I tend to stay up late to make the most of my evenings. I am either running, or visiting friends or making use of all of these TV subscriptions you tend to accumulate!

Do you have any productivity tips that help you through the working day?

Lists, lists and more lists. I live by structure in my life and this carries through in my job. Recording every task and item on a list allows me to keep track of what I need to do as well as showing me the progress I make each day as I tick off the boxes.

When you first started this job, what were you most surprised to learn was important in the role?

Your ability to have an actual conversation. In consulting, networking is vital. But it is the type of networking we do every day – saying “Hello”, having a friendly chat about the week or what people do in their spare time. These genuine conversations with both your team members and the client are the ones that allow you to settle into a project and build up a good rapport.

How has this role changed as this sector has grown and evolved?

SAP Projects attract people from all backgrounds and lifestyles now which was not necessarily the case 6 or 7 years ago. What might have once been seen as a traditional “IT” type role is no longer the case. I work with people with Engineering, Science, Sports, Medical and Business Backgrounds who have all developed very successful careers in SAP. We encourage diversity as it has proven that a multi-functional team leads to the greatest success.

What do you enjoy most about the job?

The people, the team and the culture. Deloitte has a vibe that is hard to describe. It’s a sense of satisfaction almost, knowing that you are working with the best team and people and everyone is in it together. Everyone looks out for one another inside and outside of work. These are people you are happy to spend a weekend with completely away from a work setting which is very unique and definitely promotes a joy that makes every day that bit easier.