Melanie Rankin
Ennis,TX
Summary
Seasoned HCM solutions professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in UKG systems consulting, implementation, and client advisory within HRIS and HCM platforms. Proven success in supporting sales teams and closing UKG system launches and projects of all sizes, leading discovery sessions, developing tailored solutions, and optimizing system integrations for large enterprise clients. Expertise in collaborating with Services and Sales teams to meet and exceed sales objectives, driving client success and strategic growth. Prepared to contribute as a Principal/Pre-Sales Consultant, leveraging a proven track record to enhance client relationships and deliver impactful solutions.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Pre-Sales Solutions Consultant
Ascend (ATS-HRMS Merger)
Remote, TX
01.2025 - Current
- Collaborate with the Services team to design and maintain pre-sales discovery questionnaires for UKG systems and Ascend services.
- Support pre-sales efforts by providing expert input for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and gathering responses from delivery managers for specialized service requests and non-standard functionalities.
- Led discovery calls with Sales and prospective clients to collect essential information for precise estimates of pricing, resources, and timelines across various initiatives, including UKG Pro Launch, WFM Launch (Leave, Attendance, Advanced Scheduler, etc.), Mergers & Acquisitions, Rec/ONB, Performance & Compensation, Benefit Administration/Classic Benefits, Doc Manager, Data Conversion, custom and UKG Marketplace vendor APIs, Integration Requirements, Ready HR/PR, Ready Time, Managed Payroll, Post-Implementation Projects, BI/People Analytics, as well as subscription and client-side services.
- Participated in executive-level discussions and contributed to developing business cases that demonstrate how UKG solutions can deliver value and align with clients’ strategic objectives.
- Prepare and review Work Orders, Statements of Work (SOWs), Service Agreements, and Contracts to ensure completed documentation prior to handoff to services.
- Facilitate optimization workshops with existing UKG customers to analyze system usage, identify improvement opportunities, and recommend best practices to enhance processes, products, and services for increased efficiency and scalable growth.
- Attend onsite and remote sales meetings to present Service delivery approaches, including UKG methodology, project tools, team roles, testing strategies, and escalation/resolution processes.
Sr. HCM Solutions Advisor
HRMS (Pre-Merger)
Remote, TX
11.2022 - 01.2024
- Acted as a trusted advisor to UKG Pro consultants and clients, offering in-depth expertise in system functionality and best practices across diverse industries in the US, Canada, and international markets.
- Supported internal service teams in UKG Launch, Post-live, Client-Side, Managed payroll and subscription support services.
- Designed and conducted 20+ comprehensive Enablement Sessions focused on UKG Pro features, consulting skills and best practice recommendations, driving increased team knowledge and client success.
- Managed the end-to-end implementation of global HR projects with various payroll vendors, including UKG OneView, ActivPay, Grupo Uno, and ADP Celergo, ensuring smooth integrations and client satisfaction.
- Led project teams through complex HR-only, Payroll-only and Full Suite implementations, addressing data flow, integration challenges, and developing effective strategies for data conversion and testing across all UKG systems/modules.
- Provided mentorship to consultants on post-live projects such as mergers and acquisitions, General Ledger/ERP system and account changes, pay frequency changes, Backoffice-to-Web payroll migrations, security and ESS/MSS conditional workflow rollouts, tax reconciliation and adjustments, ACA reporting, Certified Payroll reporting, FLSA/Coefficient overtime requirements and Platform Configuration functionality.
- Stayed current with UKG Pro updates and releases, proactively training consultants on new features and enhancements to maximize system value and client support.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams—including sales, project management, technical consultants, and change management—to deliver tailored solutions that meet and exceed customer expectations.
Principal Solutions Advisor
UKG, Inc. (Ultimate-Kronos Merger)
Remote, TX
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Solutions Advisor to UKG’s Enterprise-Premier accounts, Customers with more than 10k employees across multiple countries with complex integrations to multiple HCM and ERP systems.
- Work with SCs to understand how all UKG Products integrate to each other including but not limited to REC, ONB, Core HR/PR, Comp Management, Performance Management, UTA, Dimensions and other time systems.
- Assistance the Change Management team with more than a dozen 3P Engagements with an average of 40-60 optimization recommendations per customer. Engagements lead to additional post-live consulting assignments and additional module activations.
- Perform SQL Uploads/Updates as well as validation scripts to ensure accuracy in Pro Configuration and Employee data.
- Provide training sessions and documentation for System Consultants including UKG Pro functionality and consulting skills.
- Custom Optimization write-ups for more than 12 large enterprise customers included but not limited to: Six Flags, Toyota, Kimberly Clark, Unilever, AR Department of Transportation, APL Logistics and Toshiba.
- Expert in UKG Pro General Ledger functionality, NetSuite and other 3rd party ERP integrations, Assisting the integration team with logic for month-end Salary accruals, intercompany transactions, fringe benefit calculations and other journal entries not included in the standard Pro GL allocation.
System Architect/Strategist
Ultimate Software Group
Remote, TX
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Assisted Pro Consulting teams across US and Canada with custom solution workshops and design documentation
- Acted as a mentor and advisor to Pro system consultant with Requirements gathering, configuration and testing on Full Suite Pro implementations as well as HR only and Payroll Only accounts.
- Floater within the Solutions team to fill in when other solution and system consultants were out of the office
System Consultant
Ultimate Software Group
Remote, TX
01.2006 - 01.2015
- 60+ HR/PR implementations complete
- Implemented Core HR/Payroll, Web Payroll/Self-Service, ASP & .NET Open Enrollment/Life Events, Position Management, PEO Billing, Compensation Management, eRelations, Performance Management and Certified payroll processing
- Working knowledge of integration with core UltiPro to Recruitment, Onboarding, UTM and UTA
- Preformed 20+ Strategic Process Reviews for post-live customers to discuss and analyze their current use of the UltiPro Software and make recommendations on where and how to utilize features/systems currently not in use, and/or how to optimize the system and processes currently in place
- Lead Consultant on several mergers/acquisitions for post-live customers bringing on additional business
- Various import/export builds, including working knowledge of expression builder
- Upload/update tables via SQL
HRIS Analyst/Administrative Manager
Southern Star Concrete
Irving, TX
01.2002 - 01.2006
- Completed implementation from JDEdwards to Great Plains HR/Payroll System
- Handled Benefits administration for all insurance plans, including enrollments, billing and reporting
- Implemented automated uploads of employee data changes in Great Plains
- Created Crystal reports for all departments as needed
HR/Payroll Assistant
Hanson Building Materials
Dallas, TX
01.1996 - 01.2002
- Assisted Compensation Director with Compensation planning/salary increases
- Assisted Payroll with time entries, reporting and payroll processing
- Handled Benefits claims including life insurance and disability filings
- Various filing, typing, reporting as needed
Education
BA - Communications and Business Administration
Dallas Baptist University
Skills
- UKG Pro HR/PR systems expert
- Requirements gathering
- Solution Design and Documentation
- Software configuration and validation
- Issue resolution
- Optimization workshops
- Services Selling
- Proposal development
- Pricing quotes
- Executive presentation design
- Contracts Review
Certification
- UKG Pro Certified Consultant, 2022-Present
- Professional Human Resources Certification, 2006
Timeline
Pre-Sales Solutions Consultant
Ascend (ATS-HRMS Merger)
01.2025 - Current
Sr. HCM Solutions Advisor
HRMS (Pre-Merger)
11.2022 - 01.2024
Principal Solutions Advisor
UKG, Inc. (Ultimate-Kronos Merger)
01.2020 - 01.2022
System Architect/Strategist
Ultimate Software Group
01.2015 - 01.2020
System Consultant
Ultimate Software Group
01.2006 - 01.2015
HRIS Analyst/Administrative Manager
Southern Star Concrete
01.2002 - 01.2006
HR/Payroll Assistant
Hanson Building Materials
01.1996 - 01.2002
BA - Communications and Business Administration
Dallas Baptist University
Certifications
UKG Pro Certified Consultant, 2022-Present
Professional Human Resources Certification, 2006