Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for MDG Functional Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

The MDG Functional Analyst is a cornerstone of our data governance strategy, acting as the crucial liaison between business stakeholders and the technical development team. This role is responsible for interpreting business needs and translating them into effective, scalable solutions within the SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) platform. You will own the functional design, configuration, and continuous improvement of our master data processes, ensuring the highest levels of data quality, integrity, and consistency for critical data objects like Customer, Vendor, Material, and Finance. Success in this position means empowering the business with reliable data that drives efficient operations and strategic decision-making.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

SAP Functional Analyst (e.g., MM, SD, FI)
Data Steward / Senior Data Analyst
Business Systems Analyst with SAP experience

Advancement To:

Senior/Lead MDG Functional Analyst
MDG Solution Architect
Data Governance Manager

Lateral Moves:

SAP Data Migration Consultant
Information Steward

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Act as the primary functional expert for SAP MDG, leading the design, configuration, and implementation of master data solutions across various domains (Customer, Vendor, Material, Finance).
Conduct detailed requirement-gathering workshops with business leaders and subject matter experts to understand and document data governance needs and process pain points.
Translate complex business requirements into comprehensive functional specification documents for custom developments (WRICEF objects), ensuring clarity for the technical team.
Perform hands-on configuration of the SAP MDG system, including data models, UI modeling (Floorplans), process modeling, and change request (CR) types.
Design, build, and maintain complex rule-based workflows and validations using Business Rules Framework plus (BRF+) to enforce data standards and automate data enrichment.
Configure and manage the Data Replication Framework (DRF) to ensure timely and accurate distribution of master data to connected SAP and non-SAP systems.
Lead the functional setup and ongoing support of the Customer/Vendor Integration (CVI) framework within an S/4HANA environment.
Collaborate closely with ABAP developers by providing clear functional logic for BAdI implementations, custom UIs, and other technical enhancements.
Develop and execute detailed test plans, including unit testing, system integration testing (SIT), and user acceptance testing (UAT), and manage defect resolution.
Serve as the go-to subject matter expert for troubleshooting and resolving complex production issues related to MDG configuration, workflows, and data replication.
Guide and support data migration activities, including defining cleansing and transformation rules, and overseeing the load of data into the MDG hub.
Create and maintain thorough documentation for all MDG configurations, processes, and design decisions to ensure system knowledge is preserved and shared.
Develop and deliver training materials and sessions for business users and data stewards to drive adoption and ensure proper use of the MDG platform.
Analyze the end-to-end impact of proposed system changes on the MDG solution and its integration points with other enterprise applications.
Champion data governance principles and ensure that all MDG solutions align with the organization's broader data strategy and policies.
Manage the promotion of MDG configuration changes through the system landscape (Development, QA, Production) using SAP Transport Management.
Define and implement data quality metrics and dashboards in collaboration with the business to monitor the health of master data.
Facilitate the creation and maintenance of the enterprise data dictionary and business glossary for master data domains.
Provide post-go-live hypercare support, ensuring a smooth transition for business users and rapid resolution of any initial issues.
Continuously evaluate SAP MDG capabilities and industry best practices to recommend and implement improvements to the existing solution.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to provide insights to business stakeholders.
Contribute to the organization's long-term data strategy and technology roadmap.
Collaborate with various business units to translate their evolving data needs into actionable engineering and process requirements.
Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies within the project team.
Evaluate new SAP features and industry trends to continuously improve the MDG solution.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep configuration expertise in SAP Master Data Governance (MDG) on S/4HANA, covering multiple data domains like MDG-M, MDG-S, MDG-C, and MDG-F.
Strong functional understanding of MDG architecture, including data modeling, UI modeling (Fiori/Web Dynpro), process modeling, and governance scope.
Proven hands-on experience developing and maintaining business logic and workflows using BRF+ for data validation, derivation, and enrichment.
Proficiency in configuring the Data Replication Framework (DRF), including outbound implementations, filters, and monitoring.
In-depth experience with S/4HANA Customer/Vendor Integration (CVI) configuration, synchronization, and troubleshooting.
Solid knowledge of core master data objects and processes within underlying SAP modules (e.g., Materials Management, Sales & Distribution, Finance).
Experience with data migration tools and methodologies (e.g., LSMW, SAP Migration Cockpit, SAP Data Services).
Ability to read and debug ABAP code to effectively troubleshoot issues and collaborate with developers is a significant advantage.

Soft Skills

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Superior analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a meticulous attention to detail and a methodical approach to troubleshooting.
A demonstrated ability to translate abstract business challenges into concrete, well-defined functional specifications and technical requirements.
Strong workshop facilitation and presentation skills, capable of leading discussions and driving consensus among diverse groups.
A highly collaborative and team-oriented mindset, with a proven track record of working effectively in cross-functional project environments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree or relevant SAP certifications (e.g., C_MDG_1909 - SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP Master Data Governance)

Relevant Fields of Study:

Information Systems / Technology / Computer Science
Business Administration / Management Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-8 years

Preferred: 7+ years of dedicated experience in SAP, including hands-on involvement in at least 3 full-cycle SAP MDG implementations.