أرسلان قريشي

Managing IT projects portfolio for Corporate Banking, that includes technology projects for Transactional Banking, Trade Finance, B2B and POS & eCommerce businesses.
• Maintained budgetary control on projects ranging from $100k to $7m, working with project teams to track costs and control expenditures.
• Conducted product/vendor selection activities by organizing RFP process.
• Reduced project costs by negotiating implementation and license agreements strategically.
• Utilized management tools, including PPM Pro for disseminating project status reports and providing dashboard presentations to stakeholders.
• Led Open Banking Initiative, focusing on revamping corporate B2B integration services, by using latest technologies such as Google APIgee, Confluent Kafka, OpenShift and others for having seamless and Agile development lifecycle.
• Delivered greenfield implementation of Trade Finance online portal (Finastra Corp Connect) allowing corporate customers easy and digital access to trade transactions.
• Led changes for application enhancements and business process improvements, such as introduction of workflows, and SLAs for Trade Operations in Finastra TI-Plus application, thereby shortening processing time by 20%.
• Implemented changes mandated by SAMA, such as LGs initiative, Esal Payments, and VAT implementation across Corporate Portfolio.
• Managed and delivered projects for bank's online Transactional Banking portal (Finacle e-Banking). This included revamping it to latest technology and helping in projecting it as go-to digital platform for corporate customers for conducting payments and payroll transactions.
• Delivered POS and e-Commerce BPR projects that included enhancement of POS fee modules, revamping of merchant registration process and implementation of APEX Reconciliation System for managing e-Commerce transactions settlement and chargeback.
• Lead project team on up to 20 individuals, spread over different departments that included IT Development, Application Support, System Admins, Business Analysts, vendor consultants, information security officers, application testers and business users.
• Conducted SIT, Performance Testing, Penetration testing and code review, SOC Testing, H/W OS hardening, and UATs along with release and deployment of changes.

Worked as Application Support Manager, in capacity of Deputy Application Support Head.
• Ensured availability of 80+ banking applications and data to internal and external customers as per agreed SLA. Maintained system availability at 93%+.
• Assisted in conducting Information & Cyber Security compliance reviews as custodian of applications. Closely liaised with Information Security department in executing Internal & External Penetration testing, PCI audits and certification. Continuously performed closure/mitigation of Information Security vulnerabilities.
• Performed periodic user access reviews and created application security matrices.
• Conducted periodic DRC fail-over activities for 30+ mission critical applications.
• Implemented issue management & monitoring tools, that enabled preventive resolution of major issues and assisted in providing control over service delivery KPIs.
• Managed relationships with business areas such as Central Operations, Corporate Banking, Treasury and Asset Management domains.
• Coordinated with IT Governance and Compliance in preparing and enforcing best governance practices. Created and ensured compliance to SLAs, procedures and processes.
• Managed team of 30+ individuals. Performed recruiting, training and mentoring activities for staff as well as performed measuring and monitoring of performance.
• Liaised and maintained relationships with system vendors. Ensured adequate L1/L2/L3 support is obtained for resolution of issues, closure of security and audit vulnerabilities, and delivery of changes.
• Negotiated support and licenses contracts. Performed cost reduction activity by renegotiating contracts, reducing cost by 10-15%.
• Managed number of applications, database, OS upgrade projects.
• Successfully rolled out Windows 7 upgrade for 1200+ ATMs on ANB network. Bank-wide rollout of Windows 7 desktop image on 7000+ client PCs/Laptops/HP Blade clients/KIOSKS. Conducted test for compatibility of 90+ applications used bank-wide.
• Delivered major upgrade of Treasury Deal System, namely Murex, from ver. 3.1.19 to 3.1.32. Implemented TARFs products and focused on performance improvement.

Working in the IT department of a startup investment house for the implementation of Information Systems, IT Governance policies & procedures and development/support of applications.
Project Manager
• Involved in the project planning, execution, monitoring and resource balancing for the implementation of iMal (back office and asset management), Aswaq (Front office brokerage - Order Management System)
• Developed scope, time & budget, quality, human resources, risk, communication and procurement management plans.
• Performed Risk Identification and devised risk mitigating strategies.
• Developed WBS, network and activity diagrams.
• Conducted business analysis and requirements gathering.
• Prepared Business Requirement and Functional Specification Documents.
• Managed communications and acted as the key liaison between the sponsor, business users, IT, HR and Vendors.

IT Governance / IS Security
• Maintained and negotiated SLAs and contracts with vendors.
• Introduced PMBOK Framework and Project Management Office.
• Implemented Change & Configuration Management Methodologies.
• Contributed towards improvement in IT Operational efficiency and IS security policies and procedures.
• Ensured Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability of Information Systems and financial data.
o SonicWall email gateway; Cisco PIX 501 Firewall; Core and Access switches, V-LANs; Servers OS Hardening; Access Management; Group Policies; ISA for internet security.
• Participated in the set up of data center & DR sites.

Applications Support / Development
• Facilitated the installation, parameterization, training and support for HR & Payroll, CRM, Core Accounting, Fixed Assets, Asset Management and Brokerage systems.
• Conducted User Acceptance Testing; Developed Test Cases.
• Performed data migration from legacy systems to the new systems.
• Integrated systems.
• Participated in the Tadawul certification of the OMS.
• Managed the analysis & development of MIS.

Worked in the Professional Services department for the implementation and support of core banking application namely iMAL.
On-Site Project Manager
• Planned, executed and monitored implementation activities along with stakeholder relationship management.
• Led a team of up to 7 individuals on projects worth more than US$ 1.5 million.
• Managed timelines, resources, communications, customer needs and budgets.
• Prepared project documentation and presented progress reports to clients, internal management & PMO.
• Supervised different levels of User Acceptance Testing.
• Liaised with staff at various levels of client organization by maintaining cordial relationship.

Technical / Business Consulting
• Analyzed and gathered requirements for optimizing business process with increased quality, efficiency and satisfied customer service. Parameterized and set up the modules of Customer Service Management (CRM - front office Teller system), SWIFT messaging, Trade Finance, Accounting, Investment, Asset Management and Security & User Admin.
• Performed data migration and multiple systems integration including SWIFT, CRM, Clearing and CBAs.
• Conducted extensive classroom trainings and supervised end-users during the implementations.
• Extensively used various DB tools for Oracle and Sybase. Performed DB Administration & developed in PLSQL.
• Performed ATM integration with switching middle-wares such as Phoenix and Rendezvous.
• Developed Applications and MIS reports.
• Provided onsite & offsite support for technical and business issues.

Business Development and Sales
• Identified potential clients to build contacts, presented demonstrations to clients as well as potential clients.
• Organized seminars on the product in Pakistan for the marketing of the software.
• Participated in software exhibitions in Pakistan as the representative of the company.
• Coordinated and worked vigorously with the Regional Sales Manager for the marketing of the product.

Worked in United Bank in the IT department as Software Engineer/Analyst with responsibilities such as analysis, development and modifications for the core banking application.
• Involved in Analysis, Design, Development, Testing, and Modification of the core banking application. Developed applications adhering to SDLC and RAD methodologies using Object Oriented Analysis & Design and ER Model.
• Developed applications for Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Auto Loans, Running Finance and other banking products to facilitate the business user, along with extensive Reports development.
• Worked with the Islamic Banking Team as business analyst for the launching of the UBL’s Islamic banking division.
o Integrated Islamic Banking application with the existing core banking application and Oracle Financials.
o Implemented Core Banking Application and conducted UAT.
o Met timelines and participated in the launching of the Islamic Banking Division in record time.
• Participated in the development of workflows for UBL’s Credit Cards, Auto Loans and Contact Center on the Vectus workflow management system.

Interned at Citibank in the IT Department:
- Participated in development of Trade Finance system using Oracle Forms and Reports.
- Conducted analysis by coordinating with business users and gathered requirements via meetings, interviews, etc.
- Developed ER Diagram, designed the database, analysed and designed application forms.