Consultant
National Bank of Oman
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :21 years, 7 أشهر
Working as an independent External Trade Finance software consultant involved in a temporary assignment concerning customization of TIPlus software for the bank.
Achievements:
• Automated generation of tracers for all products
• Set up automatic generation of important reports at the EOD
• Customized critical MIS reports for the Bank.
• Rationalized Advices for all products
• Provided functional training on all trade finance products in TIPlus
• Created interface to Equation module to generate critical reports through Crystal Reports
Main responsibilities included:
a)Assist the bank in centralizing their trade finance and correspondent banking activities.
b)Implement Trade Finance Software integrating it to the Core Banking software and SWIFT terminal.
c)Interact with Central Bank of Iraq for monitoring the funds of various ministries of Government of Iraq for the purpose of opening Letters of Credit.
d)Liaise with existing International Banks who have correspondent banking relationship with the bank and set up lines of credit with international banks for trade finance activities.
Currently based in Beirut involved with implementation of Phase II of the Trade Finance & Core Banking software (Misys Equation and TI Plus Banking Solution) on iSeries AS400 platform. I am responsible for completing UAT and Quality assurance of the software.
Achievements:
1.Successfully implemented the Trade Finance Software (Trade Innovation software developed by Misys) after completing User Acceptance Test of the modules provided to the Bank.
2.Independently customized, tested and implemented four additional LC product modules into the Trade Innovation software.
3.Trained team of 30 members in LC / LG Departments in the operations of the implemented Trade Finance Software and procedures relating to accounting of LC transactions and the method of handling an LC transaction in its entire life-cycle.
4.Prepared the user manuals for each module in the system.
5.Brought modifications to the accounting procedures of the bank relating to Trade Finance activities.
6.Introduced procedures for auditing of trade finance transactions of the bank.
7.Instrumental in reconciliation of all account-heads relating to LC Department; acted as resource base for LC Department during audit of the bank for the years 2006 and 2007.
8.Developed the crystal reports to provide MIS data for the management as per their requirements.
9. Streamline LC Application Form to be incorporated into bank's website.
Business Analyst and Test Manager with Infrasoft Technologies Ltd
Owing to sale of international banking business of Union Bank of California to Wachovia Bank, there has been downsizing of staff at senior level and as a result, I had to leave Union Bank of California in October 2005. Consequently, took up short term assignment with Infrasoft Technologies Ltd providing business analysis and testing support to the Islamic Banking Trade Finance & Treasury Module to one of the leading banks in the Middle East and Wealth Management module to one of leading Investment Companies of United Kingdom.
Achievements:
Successfully tested the Islamic Banking Trade Finance & Treasury Module comprising of Sukuks, Mudarba Term Lending, and Wakala Placements etc.
My key result areas in this new assignment is to
a) assist the bank in centralising their global trade finance and correspondent banking activities.
b) study the existing correspondent banking activity at their International Banking Unit situated at New York/Los Angeles and provide functional support to software development engineers to develop core correspondent banking module for the Bank and test the same before release to the international users of the bank.
c) liase with existing International Banks who maintain their Nostro accounts with us to do gap analysis as to improve our service standards.
d) Prepare test-scripts for Trade Finance & Correspondent Banking products to be tested for accuracy of results as per functional specifications.
Underwent on-line training on Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking in Union Bank of California, New York in November 2004 January 2005
Completed assignments with New York Branch of UBOC, International Banking Group by involving with the responsibility of STP (Straight Through Processing) quality control function in addition to product testing. In addition to this, I was also involved in investigation of all transactions for possible money laundering activities.
My key result areas included documenting Foreign Exchange Trading and Trade Finance operations in Banks and customization of foreign exchange module (Omni-Enterprise), Prepare User-Manual for Foreign Exchange module, imparting training to the Banking Software Group Developers/ Deployment/Quality people, updating the foreign exchange module based on the current trends/requirements of Reserve Bank of India.
In addition to this, I was specifically selected to assist the group developers to customize and develop the existing module to global standards by studying and incorporating latest banking tools like Anti Money Laundering model law developed by UNODC/Basel Committee Reports, RTGS and NDS technologies; document key treasury back office functions, customization/preparation of requirement list for developers about the treasury back office functions into the foreign exchange module. I was also involved in product walkthroughs, sales and quality control areas.
Achievements:
1. Designed Implementation Manual for all Trade Finance Modules for the use of Support Engineers
2. Prepared functional document for Linking all Trade Finance Modules to SWIFT Gateway
3. Documented Customization procedure of Control Returns to Regulatory Authorities (RBI, IBS, etc) according to the latest changes (NRD-CSR, IBS, R-Returns)
4. Actively involved in providing functional support for implementation of Trade Finance Module for a leading bank in Kenya
5. Organized Automated Reconciliation of Nostro Accounts
Head - Trade Finance, Foreign Exchange and Corporate Banking at State Bank of Mauritius Ltd, Mumbai since 1998.
Responsibilities included negotiation and discount of bills, foreign exchange business including forward contract booking for customers, FCNR/NRE deposits and overseas investments. Trade services, Foreign Exchange transaction processing, Funds Transfer, Cash Management and Account Services, Loans and Asset products, processing SWIFT transactions, reconciliation of various accounts emanating out of the daily transaction processing. I am responsible for maintaining existing client base and business development of the Branch apart from attending to Compliance of RBI/Corporate Office requirements. I have suggested new products like Inter Bank Participation Scheme, which increased earnings of the branch by 23%. Worked as back-up officer engaged in operations in treasury back office and dealing in Securities in new Negotiated Dealing System(NDS) software which was made mandatory for treasury operations by Reserve Bank of India.
Prepared manual of instructions in respect of trade finance products dealt with by the Bank. Also customized the foreign exchange module in the Bank by interacting with software vendors viz., CMC Ltd.
I was also given additional charge of Corporate Banking Department of the branch and the responsibilities included loan processing, pre and post sanction follow-up, documentation, maintaining MIS Database, NPA management etc.
Particularly well versed in dealing with Export/Import business - processing and scrutiny of documents, issue of Letters of Credit, Negotiation of export documents, FEMA regulations for EXIM trade, investment and ECB transactions.
At the time of my joining the Branch, the business turnover in trade finance was Rs.3800 million which has improved to Rs.7225 million till 30th June 2003
PREVIOUS POSITION (1979-1998)
Joined Vysya Bank on 24th January 1979 as Clerk and was posted to International Division, Bangalore and worked in Foreign Exchange Dealing Room as Assistant to Foreign Exchange Dealers for 4 years and later on worked in Forex Credit Department for 3 years and NRI/Correspondent Banking Department for 3 years.
Promoted in March 1990 as Officer and posted to Nariman Point Branch, Mumbai and worked as Corporate Dealer exclusively catering to the foreign exchange requirements of clients of Mumbai Division. Was actively involved in covering the merchant transactions of Mumbai Division clients in the inter-bank market and reporting the deals along with the cover transactions to the Central Treasury Department situated in Bangalore.
Transferred to newly open fully computerized Branch at Opera House specially catering to Diamond Exporters/Importers and worked as Officer in all Departments of Trade Finance including Imports, Exports, Credit, NRI Deposits, and Vostro Section etc. The Branch was awarded Top Performer for two consecutive years.
Posted as Asst. Dealer in August 1991 and worked as Assistant Dealer covering foreign exchange customer transactions of the Bank as well as Foreign exchange Trading in rupee/USD as well as Cross Currency transactions.
Promoted as Senior Deputy Manager (Foreign Exchange) in Scale II Cadre of the Bank in 1993 and was in-charge of all foreign exchange transactions of the branch. I was instrumental in establishing SWIFT connectivity of the branch to the Central Processing Unit of the Bank. Apart from this, was selected as member of team conducting System Audit of designated branches and conducted system audit of Andheri Branch, Mumbai and Pune Branch.
Secured 55%
Secured B Grade scoring 56%