Ratika Arora
Brampton,ON
Summary
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Manager - PMO
MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company), US
2019.10 - 2022.03
- Leading migration projects for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) under Global Technology Services with a budget value of $8M and above
- Create project plan and socialize across stakeholders and team members, create implementation plan and track deployment, host scrum meetings, own Kanban board, chair committee meetings, review workstream updates and track project KPI's, maintain RAID log, RACI
- Review scope, cost and schedule change, analyze impact and create mitigation strategies for review with leadership throughout project phases and escalate wherever necessary
- Conduct reviews with the C-suite (CIO) and designated point of contact, across global teams (21 countries) on IT project budgets and re-purpose the residual funding (successfully repurposed $3.4 M to the pool for new project budget - under annual cost saving). Review direct expenses, labor costs and vendor cost for the project
- Strategy planning using agile methodology to ensure mitigation of anticipated risks and red flags, implementing change management
- Monthly and quarterly reviews with leadership, operations committee, steering committee to showcase the progress on key milestones and seek guidance on the challenges/roadblocks
- Project governance (scope, cost, schedule, resource, communication), post implementation review, internal & external audit (documentation & review meetings), secure enterprise and stakeholder approvals
- Coordinate and plan team meetings to channelize the progress towards positive project outcomes
Manager
Magna Infotech (A Quess Company) - IHS Markit
2019.07 - 2024.10
- Managed AML entity review and sanctions screening project, shared services set-up & transformation assignments, consolidate processes for better efficiency & cost
- Explore, study and comprehensively understand different functional areas of the business and industry best practices to uncover and lead improvement projects (continuous improvement culture)
- Initiate and manage the project(s) against defined scope and budget using procedures and policies
- Work with business partners in the development of appropriate business cases, KPls, risk assessments, budget management, resources, timeframes
- Assesses variances from the project plans, budgets and schedules, develop and implement changes as necessary to ensure that the project remains within specified scope and is within time, cost, and quality objectives, and keep management aware of the situation
- Project governance on risk, financials, resources, scope, communication, timeline, post-go-live monitoring.
Consultant
Aptara (Techbooks International Private Limited)
2019.02 - 2019.07
- Managed AML compliance screening project for third party client, plan and strategize the deliverables against expected milestones, enabling shared services within the transformation assignments
- Transition/migration, shared services set-up, workforce set-up, man-hours assessment using the work breakdown structure, utilization and effort estimation
- Critically reviewing the accuracy and acceptable error percentage, off shoring analysis while developing capabilities and updating service agreements
- Project closure with targeted shared services set-up at off-shore location within 6 months, during monitoring and control completed clearance on 70% of the back-log regulatory reviews
- Coordinate activities of the project team with technology/product Leads, identify necessary resources and help product management develop schedules to meet completion deadlines, identify the milestones.
Deputy/Assistant Manager
Max Life Insurance
2013.01 - 2019.01
- Managed Voice of Customer & Employee Grievance Redressal project – closure resulted in decrease of frivolous complaints from 42% to 7% with annual cost saving of $4.2M
- Conduct scrum calls, quarterly reviews, stakeholder meetings and create process maps and project documents like business case, project charter, project plan, schedule, status report, budget tracker
- Managed Compliance and AML Investigation project – closure resulted in decrease of regulatory complaints from 32% to 9% with annual cost saving of $1.8M
- Conduct scrum calls, quarterly reviews, stakeholder meetings and create process maps and project documents like business case, project charter, project plan, schedule, status report, budget tracker
- Coordinate activities of the project team with technology/product/governance/regulatory leads, identify necessary resources and help product management develop schedules to meet completion deadlines, identify the milestones.
Specialist - Quality
MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company) GOSC
2008.06 - 2013.01
- Scope mapping and enhanced due-diligence and successful transition/migration of two business areas from offshore location resulting in enhanced process efficiency from 56% to 78% and reduced turnaround time from 4 business days to 2.5 business days
- Reconciliation of corporate insurance premium submission by corporate customers to understand the variance based on voluntary and involuntary products
- Implemented various process improvements to enhance process efficiency from 68% to 98% by reducing the lapse/delay of premium deposits of corporate customers
- Identification of billing discrepancies basis the riders and heterogeneous billing rates of customers and initiating process improvement by implementing system triggered email notification and turned around the metrics of two processes in very short span of time to improve overall efficiency and reduce escalations by bringing changes and improvement in process design and operating model.
IT Project Lead
Scotiabank (Client of Tech Mahindra Ltd. Canada)
- Current
- Deployed as a technology Program Manager at Scotiabank for the Source to settle program, decommission of legacy system and migration to new accounting system and accommodating all the integrations to bank wide systems
- Responsible for physical decommission of the legacy infrastructure to ensure there are no regulatory penalties, residual risks, server disposal, data disposal as per retential policy and the bank is compliant
- Responsible for project risk resolution, risk mitigation and alternate approach readiness for the leadership and stakeholders
- Providing guidance to project sponsors, ensuring successful implementation and continuity, resulting in consistently positive project outcomes
- Manage project lifecycle, overseeing business, operational, and technology deliverables to ensure timely and accurate completion of all project processes
- Developed and executed change management plans, fostering adoption, and delivering expected project benefits while consistently measuring progress
- Ensure project requirements are aligned with governance frameworks, adhering to risk appetite, regulatory, and compliance standards
- Produced comprehensive project management artifacts, meeting enterprise standards and enhancing project transparency and communication
- Monitored and controlled project deliverables, proactively recommending adjustments to the project plan for optimal deliverable achievement
- Collaborated with project sponsors to evaluate business case viability, assessing costs, benefits, and key performance indicators throughout the project lifecycle
- Demonstrated critical thinking to identify and manage project interdependencies and risks, establishing effective risk mitigation strategies from project outset
- Fostered stakeholder partnerships through clear and effective communication with project sponsors, building trust and rapport to enhance collaboration
- Took ownership of project issues, demonstrating commitment by identifying and resolving challenges and obstacles to ensure project progress
- Led and represented the project in project team meetings, governance forums, and inter-departmental discussions, fostering collaboration and alignment
- Maintained strict adherence to Bank risk, regulatory, and compliance controls, ensuring project activities were in full compliance with industry standards
- Maintaining RAID (risk, actionable, issues and decisions) log, chairing steering committee, coordinating across leadership, track and report milestones, manage JIRA stories
- Manage enterprise delivery framework, operational readiness, release management for the implementation
- Create and manage the data migration plans and the data archival strategy to comply with the regulatory guidelines
- Managing multiple stakeholders, functional teams, third parties, resolve conflicting priorities, remove impediments, and build quality processes and seamless implementation
- Supporting integrated system testing, user acceptance testing, simulating parallel in lower production environment and consistently monitoring the output and mitigating the risks
- Coordinating with interface stakeholders and managing upstream and downstream process flows for a seamless delivery
- Maintaining and weekly reviewing with leadership the project phase specific KPI’s and calling out the challenges and issues until resolution
- Utilized project management methodologies to oversee and guide the execution of complex IT projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and client requirements
- Project Management Methodologies: Utilized project management methodologies to oversee and guide the execution of complex IT projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and client requirements
- I&IT Solutions Design: Demonstrated deep knowledge of I&IT principles and trends, managing the design and development of innovative business solutions
- Coordinated multi-disciplinary teams to deliver integrated IT planning and projects
- Standards and Trends: Applied knowledge of I&IT standards, strategies, and new trends such as cloud computing and Agile methodologies to direct business solutions
- Ensured technical integrity and compliance with industry standards
- Simplifying Solutions: Championed efforts to simplify technology solutions, leading to more effective and efficient application lifecycle management and improved stakeholder outcomes
- Directed a multi-disciplinary team in the deployment of a cloud-based solution, enhancing system performance and scalability while reducing infrastructure costs
- Spearheaded the adoption of Agile practices, leading to a 30% increase in project efficiency and a 15% decrease in time-to-market.
Education
MBA - Business And Operations
Amity University
Delhi05.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Economics & English Literature
RMU University
Bareilly05.2007
Skills
- Strategic IT and Business Planning
- Stakeholder Management & Communication
- Project & Portfolio Management
- Project Financials Oversight
- I&IT Solutions
- Cloud and Digital Technologies
- Technology Simplification
- Application Decommission & Data Migration
- Peoplesoft (Projects) Expertise
- MS Office 365 (Suite), MS Project
- Cognos, CAPPM, Power Bl, OBI, APPTIO, JIRA
Certification
Project Management Professional, PMI, 12/07/20, 12/06/26
Cover Letter
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the Senior Manager, I & IT Solutions role at Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, as advertised. With a robust background in strategic IT leadership, stakeholder management, and technical expertise, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team’s success and drive the achievement of business goals through effective leadership and innovation.
I have successfully led the creation of strategic plans and resource allocation frameworks that address client issues while enhancing stakeholder relations. For instance, at Scotiabank (client with Tech M), I spearheaded an initiative that streamlined IT operations and significantly improved client satisfaction by integrating advanced technologies and optimizing resource use.
Building and nurturing strategic partnerships has been a core aspect of my career. I have provided valuable IT advice and support to stakeholders, ensuring alignment with their business objectives.
Portfolio Management and Financial Oversight - In my previous role, I established and managed a portfolio management framework that optimized project investments and ensured strategic alignment. I have a proven track record in managing financial priorities within IT portfolios, offering expert advice to enhance investments, and improving financial processes. This experience will enable me to provide the financial and strategic oversight required for your organization.
Technical Expertise - With a deep understanding of project management principles (PMP certified) and I&IT business solutions, I am adept at overseeing and guiding the delivery of complex IT projects. My knowledge of contemporary trends, including cloud computing, digital transformations, and Agile methodologies, equips me to simplify technology solutions and ensure their effective application throughout their lifecycle. I have 15+ years of work experience working with C-suite stakeholders, managing conflicting priorities and stressed work environments and have excelled with amplified results in my project outcomes, managing project budget upto 21M.
I am eager to bring my experience and passion for IT leadership to Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and contribute to achieving your strategic vision. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background and skills align with your needs. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours Sincerely,
Ratika Arora
08/08/24
References
Mohit Chhabra, existing employee with Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Assistant Manager - PMO
MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company), US
2019.10 - 2022.03
Manager
Magna Infotech (A Quess Company) - IHS Markit
2019.07 - 2024.10
Consultant
Aptara (Techbooks International Private Limited)
2019.02 - 2019.07
Deputy/Assistant Manager
Max Life Insurance
2013.01 - 2019.01
Specialist - Quality
MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company) GOSC
2008.06 - 2013.01
IT Project Lead
Scotiabank (Client of Tech Mahindra Ltd. Canada)
- Current
MBA - Business And Operations
Amity University
Bachelor of Arts - Economics & English Literature
RMU University
Project Management Professional, PMI, 12/07/20, 12/06/26
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