Ariel Parales Casala

Last Held Positi*n – Business Development Executive

** ***** ** **********

Filipino, Singapore Permanent Resident

acytpy@r.postjobfree.com / +65 97114192

Profile

Ariel is able to empower clients by providing technically sound, efficient and innovative solutions in the area of banking and financial software application systems, specifically in Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, Wholesale Banking, Private Banking and Insurance. With his vast experience, he developed and executed operational strategies that promoted organizational growth and optimal utilization of available technologies from the ground up. His core competencies include:

Project Management

People Management

Quality Management

Strategic Initiatives

Change Mgmt.

Test Management

Vendor Management

Incident Mgmt.

Portfolio Mgmt.

Relationship Mgmt.

Problem Mgmt.

Defect Management

"Ariel is an asset to any organization he joins and I wholeheartedly recommend him as a smart, analytical, highly capable, loyal, hardworking, individual with strong IT project management coupled with his high EQ and other softskills

- Sami Aziz

Citibank Private Banking IT Head

Scope of Intervention

Quality Assurance

Functional & Technical testing

Business and Functional Analysis

Portfolio Analytics and MIS reporting

Programming and prototyping

User Support and Production Support

Industries & Specialties

Banking & Financial Software Systems

Insurance Software Applications

Education & Training

1992 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science-AMA Computer University, Makati City, Philippines

Received certification for AGILE training from ISS (Institute of Systems Science), National University of Singapore (NUS)

Received the following certifications - Project Management, Information Security, Global Risk and Compliance Process, ITIL - Problem and Change Management, Analytics from IBM Singapore

Undergone training and received certification for LAN Design and LAN Administration from I/ACT (Institute of Advanced Computer Technology) in Makati City, Philippines

Undergone training and received certification for CICS Overview and Programming from BPI-ISI (Information Systems Institute) in Makati City, Philippines

Undergone training and certified in System and Acceptance Testing from Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Singapore

Undergone training and received certification in Project Management and Leading Teams from Citibank, Singapore

Received training and certification in Six Thinking Hats from Edward de Bono in Singapore

Received training and certification in Assertive Communication Skills from Singapore Institute of Management

Undergone training and received certification for Managing Organization Politics - Influences and Alliances from American Management Association in Singapore

Certified COBOL II programming from Tekmetrics in Singapore

Languages

Tagalog (Native), English (Fluent),

Professional Recognitions

Member of Citi Alumni

Certified COBOL II programmer from Tekmetrics in Singapore

Countries of Work Experience

Singapore, Philippines, India (offshore), Vietnam (offshore), Indonesia (offshore), China (offshore), United Kingdom (offshore)

Project Experience Highlights

2017

Validata Group

Business Development Executive

Singapore

2016

Triple ‘A Plus/One Aston

Head, Testing Services

Singapore

2016

Project Consulting

Sr Mgmt. Consultant

Singapore

2016

Singapore Chanson Water Pte. Ltd.

Business Partner

Singapore

2011 2010

CICSPlex/ IBM

Deployment Manager, Test Mgr

Singapore

2010 2009

PI R2/ IBM

Delivery Manager

Singapore

2009 2009

Tuition Fee Loan Project/ IBM

Delivery Manager

Singapore

2009 2008

Avantrade Project/ Firium

Project Director, Project Manager

Singapore

2008 2000

Visionplus Project/ Citibank

Systems Manager

Singapore

2000

1998

COSMOS Project/ Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

Senior Consultant

Singapore

1998 1997

COSMOS Project/ Citibank

System Analyst

Singapore

1997 1994

Systematics Project/ RCBC

Sr System Analyst

Philippines

1994

1993

EIS Project/ Far East Bank

System Analyst

Philippines

1993 1992

AMAPS, DICS Project/ Vision 8

Sr Analyst Programmer

Philippines

2017

Validata ATS, Validata 360

Singapore

Client

Validata Group.

Position Held

Business Development Executive

The Opportunity

Validata 360, Validata ATS is the leading automation testing suite for ALM products (Asset & Liability Management) and in collaboratively works with TEMENOS to support its leading private banking software platform T24 and Triple ‘A Plus™

Actions / Responsibilities

Responsible to structure deals with major local and global financial institutions to utilize the best ALM testing suite in the Asia market.

Manage and oversee the Singapore rep office of Validata

Technical Environment / Keywords

System runs on Windows, .NET, C#, Sybase (Database)

Use Validata ATS, Validata 360, Excel-VB for customization, MS Powerpoint

Duration

On-going

2016

Triple ‘A Plus- GUI/WUI

Singapore

Client

One Aston Pte. Ltd.

Position Held

Testing Services Head

The Opportunity

Triple ‘A Plus™ by TEMENOS is the leading Private Banking Platform. It incorporates the best practices adopted by the leading international financial institutions that specialize in wealth management solutions for high net worth and ultra high net worth individual clients. Triple’A Plus’s efficiently support discretionary portfolio management, investment advisory and execution-only service models. Triple'A Plus™ helps portfolio managers and relationship managers to increase assets under management, improve customer service and generate higher investment performance.

Actions / Responsibilities

Responsible for the development of Testing Strategy, Test Plans and Test documents for execution of tests

Responsible for the development of IT Testing and QA strategy and roadmap of the company’s Testing Services

Responsible for verifying overall project software quality

Provide leadership for the project test organization and establish a quality culture

Identify, mitigate, escalate and provide solution to testing risks

Gain an adequate level of understanding of project business process, goals and requirements

Manage all testing resources (including users for UAT)

Manage test team logistics

Ensure that good data are defined and setup in the test environments prior to the start of all test phases

Overall management of Defect Management process

Prepare Test Progress Reports and Test Summary Reports for the entire project, except Unit Test

Manage overall planning, preparation and execution of all test phases, except Unit Test

Technical Environment / Keywords

System runs on Windows, JAVA, Sybase (Database)

Use HP Quality Center for Defect Management, Excel-VB for customization, MS Powerpoint

Duration

3 months

2016

Project Consulting

Singapore

Client

Independent sub-consulting

Position Held

Senior Management Consultant – IT Process Re-engineering

The Opportunity

Project consulting basis for a regional bank in the area of end-to-end CRM proposition solutioning.

Actions / Responsibilities

Proposed and created IT Business Model, framework and structure to senior executives of a regional bank for a Transformation and Transition Project

Advisory role on best practices, roadmap and bank system initiatives to be undertaken from the ground up

Technical Environment / Keywords

MS Powerpoint, Excel

Duration

4 months

2016

Retail Lifestyle Products

Singapore

Client

Singapore Chanson Water Pte. Ltd.

Position Held

Business Partner

The Opportunity

Joined along with some partners to start the company to be the country distributor of water ionizer and filtration products in Singapore.

Actions / Responsibilities

Handles social media and website development of the company

Relationship engagement with industry partners

Pre-sales and contract negotiation with supplier and retailers

Technical Environment / Keywords

MS Powerpoint, Excel, social media

Duration

On-going

2015

2011

Global eBanking (GEB) for Wholesale and Retail Channels (Trade Finance and Cash Management)

Singapore

Client

United Overseas Bank

Position Held

Vice President, Quality Assurance and Test Management

The Opportunity

Global eBanking is a web-based application suite bought from Misys and customized for the bank by integrating Trade Finance system and Cash Management System. The objective of the project is to steamline, fastrack and ease of usage of corporate customers and users. It was piloted in Singapore and has been rolled-out successfully in the region like Indonesia, Malaysia and China

Actions / Responsibilities

Responsible for the development of Testing Strategy, Test Plans and Test documents for execution of tests

Ensure that project adheres to organization Test Framework and coach test team (including business users) in test processes, protocols and test tools

Responsible for verifying overall project software quality

Provide leadership for the project test organization and establish a quality culture

Identify, mitigate and escalate testing risks (act as the escalation point for all testing issues)

Conduct test planning and test efforts estimates with project stakeholders

Manage overall test schedule and test execution plan

Manage the acquisition of external testing services and approve related SOW

Gain an adequate level of understanding of project business process, goals and requirements

Manage all testing resources (including users for UAT)

Manage test team logistics (desks, equipments etc.)

Monitor the organization and scheduling of test environments (including the interfacing environments)

Ensure that good data are defined and setup in the test environments prior to the start of all test phases

Ensure that the entry/exit criteria of each test phases are met

Overall management of Defect Management process

Prepare Test Progress Reports and Test Summary Reports for the entire project, except Unit Test

Ensure timely approval of test artefacts

Coordinate interfacing systems and teams for integration test activities

Coordinate with Development Team Lead / Release Manager to schedule releases

Manage overall planning, preparation and execution of all test phases, except Unit Test

Coordinate business and operations groups for SIT & UAT execution

Technical Environment / Keywords

System runs on Windows and Mac environment, JAVA, Oracle (Database)

Use HP Quality Center for Defect Management, Excel-VB for customization, Misys Salesforce Defect Tracking, MS Project, MS Powerpoint, QTP, Selenium

Duration

4 years

2011

2010

CICSplex Resiliency Project – Core banking and Channels

Singapore

Client

IBM Singapore for DBS Bank

Position Held

Test Manager, Deployment Manager

The Opportunity

The project was a Monetary Authority of Singapore directive to comply system availability of ATMs and other echannels (mobile, web) on a 24x7 basis accessible by customers and users

Actions / Responsibilities

Ensure that project adheres to organization Test Framework and coach test team (including business users) in test

processes and test tools

Responsible for verifying overall project software quality

Provide leadership for the project test organization and establish a quality culture

Identify, mitigate and escalate testing risks (act as the escalation point for all testing issues)

Conduct test planning and test efforts estimates with project stakeholders

Produce Test Strategy and/or Test Plan

Create and maintain overall test schedule and test execution plan

Manage the acquisition of external testing services and approve related SOW

Gain an adequate level of understanding of project business process, goals and requirements

Manage all testing resources (including users for UAT)

Manage test team logistics (desks, equipments etc.)

Monitor the organization and scheduling of test environments (including the interfacing environments)

Ensure that good data are defined and setup in the test environments prior to the start of all test phases

Ensure that the entry/exit criteria of each test phases are met

Overall management of Defect Management process

Prepare Test Progress Reports and Test Summary Reports for the entire project, except Unit Test

Ensure timely approval of test artefacts

Coordinate interfacing systems and teams for integration test activities

Coordinate with Development Team Lead / Release Manager to schedule releases

Manage overall planning, preparation and execution of all test phases, except Unit Test

Coordinate business and operations groups for UAT & ORT design and execution

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS-ESA Mainframe, CICS programming, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, HP Quality Center for Defect Management

Duration

7 months

2016

Project Consulting

Singapore

Client

Independent sub-consulting

Position Held

Senior Management Consultant – IT Process Re-engineering

The Opportunity

Project consulting basis for a regional bank in the area of end-to-end CRM proposition solutioning.

Actions / Responsibilities

Proposed and created IT Business Model, framework and structure to senior executives of a regional bank for a Transformation and Transition Project

Advisory role on best practices, roadmap and bank system initiatives to be undertaken from the ground up

Technical Environment / Keywords

MS Powerpoint, Excel

Duration

4 months

2016

Retail Lifestyle Products

Singapore

Client

Singapore Chanson Water Pte. Ltd.

Position Held

Business Partner

The Opportunity

Joined along with some partners to start the company to be the country distributor of water ionizer and filtration products in Singapore.

Actions / Responsibilities

Handles social media and website development of the company

Relationship engagement with industry partners

Pre-sales and contract negotiation with supplier and retailers

Technical Environment / Keywords

MS Powerpoint, Excel, social media

Duration

On-going

2015

2011

Global eBanking (GEB) for Wholesale and Retail Channels (Trade Finance and Cash Management)

Singapore

Client

United Overseas Bank

Position Held

Vice President, Quality Assurance and Test Management

The Opportunity

Global eBanking is a web-based application suite bought from Misys and customized for the bank by integrating Trade Finance system and Cash Management System. The objective of the project is to steamline, fastrack and ease of usage of corporate customers and users. It was piloted in Singapore and has been rolled-out successfully in the region like Indonesia, Malaysia and China

Actions / Responsibilities

Responsible for the development of Testing Strategy, Test Plans and Test documents for execution of tests

Ensure that project adheres to organization Test Framework and coach test team (including business users) in test processes, protocols and test tools

Responsible for verifying overall project software quality

Provide leadership for the project test organization and establish a quality culture

Identify, mitigate and escalate testing risks (act as the escalation point for all testing issues)

Conduct test planning and test efforts estimates with project stakeholders

Manage overall test schedule and test execution plan

Manage the acquisition of external testing services and approve related SOW

Gain an adequate level of understanding of project business process, goals and requirements

Manage all testing resources (including users for UAT)

Manage test team logistics (desks, equipments etc.)

Monitor the organization and scheduling of test environments (including the interfacing environments)

Ensure that good data are defined and setup in the test environments prior to the start of all test phases

Ensure that the entry/exit criteria of each test phases are met

Overall management of Defect Management process

Prepare Test Progress Reports and Test Summary Reports for the entire project, except Unit Test

Ensure timely approval of test artefacts

Coordinate interfacing systems and teams for integration test activities

Coordinate with Development Team Lead / Release Manager to schedule releases

Manage overall planning, preparation and execution of all test phases, except Unit Test

Coordinate business and operations groups for SIT & UAT execution

Technical Environment / Keywords

System runs on Windows and Mac environment, JAVA, Oracle (Database)

Use HP Quality Center for Defect Management, Excel-VB for customization, Misys Salesforce Defect Tracking, MS Project, MS Powerpoint, QTP, Selenium

Duration

4 years

2011

2010

CICSplex Resiliency Project – Core banking and Channels

Singapore

Client

IBM Singapore for DBS Bank

Position Held

Test Manager, Deployment Manager

The Opportunity

The project was a Monetary Authority of Singapore directive to comply system availability of ATMs and other echannels (mobile, web) on a 24x7 basis accessible by customers and users

Actions / Responsibilities

Ensure that project adheres to organization Test Framework and coach test team (including business users) in test

processes and test tools

Responsible for verifying overall project software quality

Provide leadership for the project test organization and establish a quality culture

Identify, mitigate and escalate testing risks (act as the escalation point for all testing issues)

Conduct test planning and test efforts estimates with project stakeholders

Produce Test Strategy and/or Test Plan

Create and maintain overall test schedule and test execution plan

Manage the acquisition of external testing services and approve related SOW

Gain an adequate level of understanding of project business process, goals and requirements

Manage all testing resources (including users for UAT)

Manage test team logistics (desks, equipments etc.)

Monitor the organization and scheduling of test environments (including the interfacing environments)

Ensure that good data are defined and setup in the test environments prior to the start of all test phases

Ensure that the entry/exit criteria of each test phases are met

Overall management of Defect Management process

Prepare Test Progress Reports and Test Summary Reports for the entire project, except Unit Test

Ensure timely approval of test artefacts

Coordinate interfacing systems and teams for integration test activities

Coordinate with Development Team Lead / Release Manager to schedule releases

Manage overall planning, preparation and execution of all test phases, except Unit Test

Coordinate business and operations groups for UAT & ORT design and execution

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS-ESA Mainframe, CICS programming, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, HP Quality Center for Defect Management

Duration

7 months

2010 2009

Project PI R2 – Core banking Systems (CASA, FCCA)

Singapore

Client

IBM Singapore for DBS Bank

Position Held

Delivery Manager

The Opportunity

This project is a major system overhaul to improve bank servicing to customers of Cash Management system in core banking for Savings Account, Current Account and Foreign Currency Current Account

Actions / Responsibilities

Managed offshore development in IBM Shenzhen and IBM India for task assignments, resource allocation and

system coordination.

Attend to regular conference calls, internal and external meetings with Senior Management and stakeholders

regarding project status updates, issues and constraints that affect project timeline and delivery

Review Design Specifications and coordinate clarification sessions and conference calls on query log raised by the

onshore/offshore development team

Prepare work plans, activity status and progress report for Management review

Review and create review logs for program specification documents, unit test plan documents by the development

team

Prepare Traceability Matrix document to track all business requirements are covered from the Design up to

Program Specification document

Coordinate with Test Manager on issues raised and ensure development team investigate and provide necessary

resolution and action to close any reported problems

Prepare estimation worksheets for projects and enhancements and send to counterpart PMO and business unit for

review and approval

Participate in formulating application development objectives and goals that are consistent with long-term business

strategy.

Work closely with other Delivery Managers and Support Team which interface with the core system for project

development, together with online and batch testings.

Participate in solution formulation on best practice approach

Handle and coordinated core applications load and performance testing in Production Simulated environment for

online and batch.

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS ESA Mainframe, Visual Basic programming, COBOL, CICS, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, HP Quality Center for Defect Management

Duration

9 months

2010 2009

Retail Loans – Tuition Fee Loan Upgrade Project

Singapore

Client

IBM Singapore for DBS Bank

Position Held

Delivery Manager

The Opportunity

Enhancements to cater for new business requirements on TFL system

Actions / Responsibilities

Assigned to project managed Tuition Fee Loan legacy upgrade and automation.

Prepare requirement scoping document that details work breakdown structure and high level estimation summary

Discuss with business users on project requirement and scope

Prepare presentation slides to showcase the automated process flow and GUI screens

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS ESA, COBOL, JCL, Easytrieve, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint

Duration

3 months

2009 2008

Avantrade – Wealth Management System (WMS)

Singapore

Client

Firium Solutions Ltd. Singapore

Position Held

Project Director, Project Manager

The Opportunity

Avantrade WMS provide online investment services in mutual and trust funds transactions for the customers by simplifying and enhancing customer experience in fund management, portfolio management, subscription and redemption process of investments. It also covers financial planning, private banking, insurance point of sales, order management, unit trust, bancassurance and pension fund.

Actions / Responsibilities

Helped established and managed offshore development center in Manila, Philippines until proper handover and local management team was setup.

As Head of Product Development reporting to the Country Director, pioneered and established the team responsible for developing the next generation of wealth management system for product presentation and roadshows to existing and prospective clients

Involved in Pre-Sales – Product Presentation for clients in Singapore and Manila

Prepare monthly P & L reporting and project health check tracking for Project Operations Meeting with the CEO along with other senior management team

Prepare status reports and slides and present them during the weekly and monthly steering committee meetings highlighting development progress, issues, risks and constraints

Monitor and assess project timeline deliveries, highlight risks and deviations, identify project delivery milestones, prepare RFI/RFP documents for clients

Technical Environment / Keywords

Java, Oracle, Adobe CS3, HTML, Javascript, CVS, Bugzilla (Defect Management), MS Excel, MS Word, MS Project, MS Powerpoint

Duration

1 year 3 months

2008

2000

VisionPlus Rollout & Migration Project

Singapore

Client

Citibank Singapore

Position Held

Systems Manager

The Opportunity

This is a global project (excluding North America) to rollout a new card application suite that offers more flexibility, faster time to market and ease of upgrade.

Actions / Responsibilities

Involved in country convergence/migration projects and BAU support of the existing credit card system running in VisionPlus mainframe platform in Western Europe (Germany, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and UK), Latin America (Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Dom. Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Argentina and Uruguay, Brazil) and Asia Pacific (China & Australia).

Responsibilities include but not limited to technical analysis, business requirement analysis, project planning and estimation, governance of development and product customization, code review, SIT/UAT testing and implementation of Credit Management System application – VisionPlus.

Technical Project Manager handling BAU country support for Germany, Italy Bankcards and Italy Diners business for CMS.

Managed the global application support for Card Issuance, Activation, EMV technology and alert interface system.

Ensure effective liaising and communication with Franchise Development-Business Analysts and Relationship Managers on feasibility of business requirements from analysis thru implementation phase

Lead and manage a technical team in the delivery and implementation of system enhancement and new releases for supported countries

Ensure developments and enhancements are properly documented for publishing and updating the manuals and recovery documents

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS ESA Mainframe, COBOL, CICS, DB2, JCL, Easytrieve, MS Project, MS Excel, ChangeMan, Infoman,

Duration

7 years 9 months

2000 1998

COSMOS (Consolidated Online Modular System)

Singapore

Client

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young for Citibank

Position Held

Senior Consultant

The Opportunity

Continuous enhancement and maintenance of Citibank Corporate and Private bank COSMOS system that integrates the following major bank modules: CASA Deposit, Fund Transfer, FX, Money Market, Securities, Trade (Bills & LC), Liquidity Management, Loans, Credit Risk Management, MIS and General Ledger.

Actions / Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include work estimations, prepare functional specifications, project mandays proposal, system integration documentation, test plans for SIT and UAT, work request proposals, forecasting, people management, system customization, quality review, staff mentoring and production support.

Directly involved in the enhancements and maintenance of existing and new programs for all supported countries (Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, HongKong, Australia/New Zealand and Singapore) utilizing this system.

Involved in the Millennium year-end simulation and Disaster Recovery Contingency support for the client which ensured no major disruptions to the system on YR2000

Awarded a 1999 Service Excellence Award, Excellent Team Award and Model Employee of the Month Award (July 1999).

Responsible for the successful implementation of COSMOS System for Citibank Labuan. Duties performed were conversion of programs to COBOL II/MVS-COBOL to be Yr2000 compliant, conversion of on-line programs from CICS 2 to CICS 4.1, prepared functional and program specifications, test plans, test data and production support.

Handled the successful implementation of Citibank Malaysia- COSMOS/CRMS (Credit Risk Management System) Interface. Primary duties performed were coding of batch programs for the interface, prepare functional and program specifications.

Technical Auditor for the Application Management hand-over of Citibank Malaysia’s COSMOS System. Duties performed were analysis of system flow, conduct system audit investigation and interview, audit of existing hardware and software system of the bank, prepare system documentation and feasibility reports. The audit was conducted using Cap Gemini’s audit methodologies.

Involved in the Yr2000 enhancements and quality compliance reviews of COSMOS programs used by the client. Duties performed were system and program modifications, prepare functional and program specifications, test plans and test data.

Responsible in the successful cutover of PRIME System Migration to COSMOS System for Citibank Thailand. Responsibilities involved the analysis of system flow and programs, system and data conversion, prepare program specifications, unit testing and enhancements.

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS ESA, COBOL, CICS, Easytrieve, JCL, MS Excel

Duration

1 year 11 months

1998

1997

COSMOS (Consolidated Online Modular System)

Singapore

Client

A-IT Software Services for Citibank Singapore

Position Held

System Analyst

The Opportunity

Continuous enhancement and maintenance of Citibank Corporate and Private bank COSMOS system that integrates the following major bank modules: CASA Deposit, Fund Transfer, FX, Money Market, Securities, Trade (Bills & LC), Liquidity Management, Loans, Credit Risk Management, MIS and General Ledger.

Actions / Responsibilities

Responsible in the maintenance and enhancements of Citibank-Global Corporate Banking’s major mainframe system, COSMOS (Consolidated Online Modular System) used by regional countries within Asia Pacific.

Specific responsibilities include preparation of functional specifications, system integration, documentation, test plans for SIT and UAT, Batch jobs fine-tuning, quality review, user support and production support.

Technical Environment / Keywords

MVS ESA, COBOL, CICS, Easytrieve, JCL, MS Excel

Duration

1 year 6 months

1997

1994

SYSTEMATICS Project

Philippines

Client

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation

Position Held

Senior System Analyst

The Opportunity

Migration to Systematics Banking system

Actions / Responsibilities

Responsible in the maintenance and development of the banks’ SYSTEMATICS System: Integrated Monetary Processing and Control System (IMPACS) and Savings Time Deposit System (S/T). Duties involved were analysis of system flow and existing programs, and system modifications

Contributions made to the system were coding and modifications of batch programs, system testing, provide technical and functional documentation and user support

Responsible in the development and implementation of IMPST (IMPACS/ST

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