Technology & Software Company
Growing a Confident Workday Financials Team
SERVICES:
- Application Managed Services AMS
- Time and Materials On Demand Services
The Situation
Striving for Independence
When Ministry Brands went live on Workday Financials, the organization entered a foundational phase focused on adoption and stabilization. The team was early in its Workday journey, balancing day-to-day financial operations alongside the rollout of a new system. Natural transitions within accounting and project management increased the importance of having structured guidance during this stage, particularly as the organization worked toward building long-term internal ownership of Workday.
The early stages of support reflected the breadth of Workday adoption across the finance function. Support requests during their first phases on Workday spanned nearly every functional area, including reporting, reconciliations, supplier invoices, journal entries, customer accounts, and period close. Many financial processes still relied on spreadsheets or external tools as the team worked to fully operationalize Workday Financials.
Ministry Brands recognized that achieving long-term success would require more than post-production support. They needed a support team who could help them understand Workday, strengthen their processes, and build an internal foundation that would allow them to become independent.
Services Logistics
Ministry Brands began their contract with Syssero using our AMS service. AMS provided ongoing support for daily tickets, issue resolution, optimization work, and hands-on training. Through AMS, the client received continuous functional guidance and dedicated expertise while their internal team learned how to manage Workday Financials more effectively.
As Ministry Brands matured and their Workday administrator became more confident, they transitioned into an on demand services arrangement. This serves as the natural progression from AMS. It is designed for clients who have achieved a level of stability and self-sufficiency but still benefit from occasional expert support. Under this service agreement, Ministry Brands used only small amounts of time when needed, reinforcing their internal ownership while maintaining access to specialized guidance.
This move was a clear indication of growth and readiness. It reflected not only improved system stability but also the development of a capable internal Workday leader who could manage most financial operations independently.
The Outcome
A Strong and Stable Workday Foundation
Syssero focused first on stability. We resolved foundational break and fix items, corrected reporting issues, strengthened reconciliation processes, addressed supplier invoice posting errors, improved AP workflows, and delivered reporting enhancements that removed reliance on manual spreadsheets. The finance and accounting teams gained predictable reporting, cleaner reconciliations, and improved visibility across accounts, assets, and cash.
Across the three-year relationship, the team submitted more than 300 Workday Financials support requests. Early support activity reflected foundational setup and stabilization, with most requests centered on reporting, reconciliations, and AP-related tasks. Over time, the types of requests shifted from urgent and foundational to occasional enhancements and strategic questions. This shift reflected Ministry Brands’ increasing capability.
Transforming a New Workday Administrator into an Internal Expert
A major turning point came when Ministry Brands hired a new Workday administrator who was new to Workday. Syssero built a long-term training program that used real scenarios, real tickets, and hands-on guidance. We delivered one-on-one coaching, documentation, recorded sessions, and structured walkthroughs tailored to their financial processes.
Her progression was reflected clearly in the nature of the support requests. Early questions focused on basics such as supplier activity, customer accounts, period close, and navigation. Later tickets dealt with configuration decisions, complex reconciliations, reporting enhancements, and strategic improvements. By the end of the service agreement, she was a confident Workday owner capable of supporting her internal team without external assistance.
A Support Model Aligned with Client Maturity
Ministry Brands began with a large AMS support package to help stabilize their environment. As the internal team grew more confident, their package was reduced to reflect their evolving needs. Eventually, they shifted into an on-demand support model where they used only a small number of hours. Their final year included minimal activity, often going months without a single request.
This reduction in support consumption was intentional. Syssero’s approach is built on strengthening clients rather than keeping them dependent. Ministry Brands’ decision to step away from ongoing support was the clearest indicator that the relationship had achieved its intended outcome.
An Internal Team Ready to Lead Workday
By early 2025, Ministry Brands had fully taken ownership of Workday Financials. Their reporting was reliable. Their reconciliations were streamlined. Their processes were stable. Their Workday administrator had become a trusted expert within the organization.
The improvements made during the service contract will continue to support the business long after the conclusion of Syssero involvement.
Overview
Ministry Brands is a leading faith-based software company supporting churches and nonprofits nationwide. After deploying Workday Financials, the organization recognized the need for a partner who could support post-deployment stabilization, reinforce financial processes, and help the internal team grow into confident Workday owners. Syssero entered at the end of implementation and partnered with the team for more than three years.
From the very beginning, Syssero provided structure, clarity, and hands-on expertise. We stabilized their Workday Financials tenant, resolved issues across reporting, reconciliations, and financial operations, and trained their new internal Workday administrator until she could confidently lead the system herself. By early 2025, Ministry Brands was fully self-sufficient.
Ministry Brands’ journey reflects the heart of Syssero’s mission. We stabilized their Workday Financials environment, improved the accuracy and reliability of their financial operations, and developed a strong internal Workday owner who could lead with confidence.
The Impacts
- Reduced Workday Financials issues by a significant margin over three years as the system stabilized and internal capability grew
- Strengthened financial accuracy through major improvements in reporting, reconciliations, AP processes, and asset accounting
- Enabled Ministry Brands to rely on fewer support hours each year, ultimately reaching a level of independence where ongoing services were no longer needed
- Developed an internal Workday administrator who became fully capable of owning and managing Workday Financials
Conclusion
Ministry Brands’ Workday journey demonstrates the impact of steady partnership, clear process design, and intentional knowledge transfer. Through stabilization, optimization, and hands-on training, the organization built a reliable Workday Financials environment alongside the internal confidence needed to sustain it.
By early 2025, Ministry Brands had reached true independence. Their financial processes were stable, reporting was trusted, and their internal Workday administrator had grown into a capable leader. The improvements made during the partnership continue to support the organization well beyond the conclusion of ongoing services.
At Syssero, we measure success by our clients’ ability to stand confidently on their own. Ministry Brands’ transition from supported growth to full ownership reflects that philosophy in action and demonstrates what is possible when organizations invest not just in technology, but in their people and processes alongside it.
After several successful years leveraging the AMS support from Syssero, our internal Workday FIN team has matured significantly. We’ve built a robust foundation, thanks in large part to the comprehensive documentation and knowledge transfer provided by your team. Transitioning to the on demand service allows us the flexibility to utilize your expertise as needed, ensuring continued support while empowering our growing internal capabilities.