Paul Alexandru Pop, MSc, MBA, PMP, SASM, POPM

***** ******** ******* **, ******, Florida, USA

Phone : +1-813-***-**** Email : adi8dy@r.postjobfree.com

Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulalexandrupop/

Executive Summary:

Seasoned professional and Subject Matter Expert with expertise in key areas of:

Software Development & Project Management: Software Business Analysis; Scrum Master; Product Owner; Product Management; Project Management (Waterfall & Agile); PMO; People & Program Management; Client Relationship Management; Business Process Modeling; Rapid Application Development platforms;

Finance: Controlling (FP & A); Finance Operations; Financial Reporting (RAS, IFRS, US GAAP);

Risk & Compliance: Risk Management (internal & external); Compliance Management System;

Business Management & Consulting: Strategy Development & Implementation (Balanced Scorecard methodology); Performance Management Systems; Operations; Business Process Management; Change Management; Commercial Acumen; Turn-Around Strategy; Training & Organizational Development; Presentation skills; great Communication and Leadership skills, with ability to influence key internal and external stakeholders.

Experienced trainer with 5,000+ hours of trainings conducted in areas of expertise. Goal oriented, driven and focused, with a strong track record in the successful management of complex projects with competing priorities, international partnerships and programs.

Certifications:

Project Management Professional – Project Management Institute (March 2018) – PMP® NO: 2182915;

Scrum Master Accredited Certification – International Scrum Institute (October 2020) – Certification ID: 498***********

Certified SAFe 5 Advanced Scrum Master – Scaled Agile (December 2020) – SAFe® No: 277*****-****;

Certified SAFe 5 Product Owner/Product Manager – Scaled Agile (January 2021) – SAFe® No: 246*****-****;

Education:

MSc / Master in Science, Technical University, Cluj-Napoca, Applied Computer Science in Enterprise Management Information Systems (EMIS);

MBA / Master in Business Administration (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA - International triple accredited), The Open University Business School, UK;

oCompletion of graduate-level Project Management course (15 credit-hours);

BS / Bachelor in Science, Technical University, Cluj-Napoca, Computer Science (Software Engineering);

BA / Bachelor of Arts, West University, Timisoara, Management and Business Administration;

Professional Experience:

Software Business Analyst / Product Owner / Scrum Master / Project Manager July 2016 – present

ALP Grup (Romania), remote position (recently moved to the US, Tampa FL)

Since Jan 2018: Software Business Analyst / Product Owner / Scrum Master (client-facing role, for RnD Software Group Inc, New York): major e-commerce web application for an US company;

• Requirement Engineering: elicit, collect, analyze, document, organize, check and validates business requirements or user stories, process flows, identifying system and process solution components, develops specifications for solution components, features or possibly for the integrated solutions, ensures that specifications are implementable by validating them with developers, create use cases for tests; Tools used: Atlassian suite (Confluence, Jira, Trello), Redmine, Postman, Zeplin, Lucidchart, Smartsheet etc;

• Meeting with clients to identify potential solutions, helps prioritize and select options;

• Identifying and highlighting problem areas, gaps or conflicts derived from information gathered;

• Involved in managing the PMO portfolio of projects by performing analysis and projects status reporting;

• Coordination with the software development team during the implementation of features, ensuring that deadlines and deliverables are met;

• 100% project deliverables were done on time and on budget;

July 2016 – July 2017, Project Manager, client Eurosport DHS bike factory, Romania: As Project Manager, leading a critical process reengineering and optimization project for the largest bicycle producer in SE Europe.

• Advising CEO on short-term and long-term development strategies, investments and European partnerships;

• Software Business Analysis: Implementing new ERP system, from requirement definition (incl. Blueprint, Process Mapping, business & functional requirements) to vendor selection (finalists: Navision, B-Org, ASiS);

• Business Process Management (Analysis, Definition, Modeling & Optimization): Defining & optimizing processes and procedures for support functions: Finance, Controlling, Treasury, IT, Procurement & Inbound Logistics, HR, Administrative, HSE, Outbound Logistics; Tools used: Bizagi BPM Software;

• 100% project deliverables were done on time and on budget;

Since July 2016, for ALP Edu Pro (Product Owner / Product Manager / Project Manager): Management of software products portfolio development; management of the product and release planning; create & update product roadmap; application’s modules design; define features for the next release, prioritize features & corresponding justification:

• online e-learning platform (Learning Management System) and online platform for mock-testing;

• design of a full-fledge customized Enterprise Management Information System containing modules for: CRM, Sales & Contract Tracking & Invoicing; Controlling (FP&A) by projects & clients; Students Administration; Courses Administration; Task Manager; Management Reporting Dashboard;

• document management system for digitally archiving documents (contracts, invoices etc);

• Participates in product launch activities, including field training;

• 100% project deliverables were done on time and on budget;

Ensure PMO coordination, Project Management and Business Analysis functions as well.

Finance & Operations Manager – ALP Edu Pro, remote position September 2015 – December 2017

Leading operations of support functions (Finance, Controlling, Academic Product Management, Legal, IT, Admin) for ALP Edu Pro, partner in Romania of The Open University (OU), UK. As Project Manager, oversaw the launch of a new line of business delivering management courses under the license of The OU.

Key activities and accomplishments include:

Negotiating the partnership agreement;

Developing sales and marketing strategies;

Opening a new Regional Centre in Bucharest in February 2016;

Adapting academic / training materials and implementing a Virtual Learning Environment (Learning Management System) using Moodle platform;

Assuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of the activity;

100% training completion rate to date;

100% activities were done on time and on budget;

Finance Manager – Kromberg & Schubert Romania, Arad, Romania September 2013 – August 2015

Coordinated the Finance function, including Controlling and Reporting (statutory and IFRS) for this €50,000,000 producer of complex wiring systems in the automotive industry. Reporting to the Plant Management and the Kromberg Group in Germany, was responsible for advising on strategic, financial and cost decisions; process optimization by using Process Improvement methodologies (Business Process Control; Business Process Management: Analysis, Definition, Modeling & Optimization); liaising with external auditors, fiscal authorities, banks and other financial institutions; compliance with local laws and international standards, and reporting to State Authorities; tax management; cash-flow management and process; oversight of accounting policies, internal controls systems, reporting systems. Tools used: SAP FI/CO

Key activities and accomplishments include:

Cost optimization: produced €250,000+ total cost savings between January 2014 - June 2015;

Project financing: developed proposal resulting into €2,000,000+ financing by EU Structural Funds (2014);

Assuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of the activity;

Designing and implementing Compliance Management Systems, required Policies & Procedures and Internal Controls systems, related to Finance department activity;

Steering the last stages of SAP ERP (FI/CO modules) implementation in the Romanian subsidiary;

Monthly closing & reporting process optimization, resulting into 80% reduction in overtime during the monthly closing process, and 100% reduction in overtime during business as usual (BAU);

Operations expansion: assisted the Commercial Director with the complex legal negotiation to acquire new production facility and real estate, transacting, and cost monitoring during the new construction;

Compliance: initiated and coordinated the development of the Global Finance Department Manual;

Team development: implemented back-up system matrix, coaching, development & training, evaluations;

Project Director – ALP Grup, Timisoara, Romania August 2010 – August 2013

Led ALP Grup and a three-year, €1.200.000 EU-funded project “Development of Entrepreneurial Abilities, Competencies and Initiative”, aimed to develop the entrepreneurial and managerial abilities for 4,200 managers / entrepreneurs in Romania. As Project Director and Project Finance Manager handled all financial aspects, compliance regulations, as well as the liaison with business and financing partners.

Key activities and accomplishments include:

Developing several training programs & was senior trainer on “Finance for non-Finance”, “Cost Control”, “Developing Budgets”, “Developing Business Plans”, “Performance management”;

Assuring compliance on legal and regulatory requirements of the activity (EU funds procurement, HR regulations);

Designing and implementing Compliance Management Systems, required Policies & Procedures and Internal Controls systems, both for HR and for business in general;

PMO coordination: managed PMO portfolio of projects, performing analysis and projects status reporting;

As senior consultant and project manager, managing the development and implementation of client initiatives in areas of Business Strategy, Business Plans, Operations Management, Process Improvement, Controlling & Reporting Systems and Performance Management Systems;

Tutor - The Open University, UK / CODECS SA, Bucharest October 1999 – September 2013

Contractor, part-time role, Romania, remote

Key activities and accomplishments include:

Delivered high quality tutoring services, including teaching and testing on topics such as "Financial Management for Managers"; "Managing Resources for the Market"; “Managing Performance and Change”;

Managing Director / Representative of shareholders, AWD Romania* October 2010–November 2011

Executive Director / Managing Director Finance September 2005 – September 2009

* AWD Romania Insurance Broker and AWD Financial Consulting. Acquired by Swiss Life in 2008.

Key activities and accomplishments include:

2010-2011: Managing the closing of operations of AWD in Romania (finalized November 2011);

2005-2009: Overseeing several functions within both companies: Finance (budgeting, controlling, IFRS & statutory reporting & report consolidation), Administration, Operations, Legal, Product Management and IT;

Business Process Management: Responsible for post-acquisition integration operations, including: Compliance Management System, in term of business, as well as HR; risk analysis for potential breach of relevant rules and preparation of suitable countermeasures; financial management systems integrations from reporting standpoint;

Assuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of the activity (financial services, insurance intermediation);

Designing and implementing Compliance Management Systems, required Policies & Procedures and Internal Controls systems, both for HR and for business in general;

PMO Lead: as Executive Director, managing PMO portfolio of projects, performing analysis and projects status reporting to the Steering Committee (shareholders’ representatives);

Business Analysis & Project Management: Implementing process improvements, including customized ERP-type software (Enterprise Management System) to manage internal business processes:

oRequirement Engineering: elicit, collect, analyze, document, organize, check and validates business requirements or user stories, process flows, identifying system and process solution components, producing specifications for solution components, features or possibly for the integrated solutions;

oManagement of the product and release planning: create and update product roadmap, define features for the next release, prioritize features and corresponding justification;

oCoordination of the software development team during the implementation of features, ensuring that deadlines and deliverables are met;

oParticipates in product launch readiness activities, including field training (training material development, sales collateral development and direct field and account education);

Country Financial Officer – CHF International Romania* July 2000 – August 2005

* US non-banking financial institution providing alternative lending for Romanian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) –20 offices in Romania. Projects financed by USAID, World Bank, Romanian Government- $20,000,000+ total value.

Key responsibilities included:

Planning & Development:

Representing CHF Romania in its institutional interaction with local, regional, national, international partners;

Providing input in strategic planning and development; preparing financial project simulations and budgets;

Product Owner and Project Manager for developing a Software application for Loans Origination & Management (ERP module):

oRequirement Engineering: elicit, collect, analyze, document, organize, check and validates business requirements or user stories, process flows, identifying system and process solution components, producing specifications for solution components, features or possibly for the integrated solutions;

oEnsures that specifications are implementable by validating them with developers;

oManagement of the product and release planning: create and update product roadmap, define features for the next release, prioritize features and corresponding justification;

oCoordination of the software development team during the implementation of features;

Accounting & Financial Management:

Assuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of the activity (financial & donor reporting, public procurement, HR regulations, donor & public funds usage);

PMO Finance Lead: Managing a complex micro-lending program with 5 parallel projects, 6 funding agencies and 9 cost centers; as CFO, managed the financial aspects of PMO portfolio of projects, acting as Project Finance Manager and performing analysis and projects status reporting;

Supervision of a 18-person professional financial and administrative staff and the preparation of all financial individual and consolidated reports related to accounting and to the loan portfolio (RAS and US GAAP);

Monitoring the loan portfolio reporting indicators and financials; providing senior management with regular financial analyses of the loan portfolio at risk;

Business Process Control and Business Process Modeling: Successfully established an internal audit team and maintaining relationships with banks; coordinating annual audits. Developing and implementing procedures and policies for internal control / compliance regulations in operational & lending activities;

Preparing annual operating budgets and cash flow projections; cash flow management;

People Management & Training:

Setting up and maintaining the salary grid for the Company employees;

Responsible for customization and localization of HR Compliance System & General Procedure Manual;

Designing and implementing Compliance Management Systems, required Policies & Procedures and Internal Controls systems, both for HR and for business in general;

Coordinating training activities, to implement: accounting and loan monitoring procedures; MIS-based reporting; cash flow analysis of MSME loan applications for new Loan Officers and Regional Managers;

Coaching, developing, training, and evaluating direct reports; providing professional leadership and creating an environment with open lines of communication and established systems of collaboration and oversight;

Administrative & Purchasing:

Creating & implementing acquisition policies; approving all purchases, including fixed assets & investments;

Assuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of the activity (public procurement, HR regulations, public funds usage);

Key accomplishments include:

During my tenure as Country Financial Officer, CHF Romania increased its active loan portfolio from $1MM to $10MM and also increased 10-fold the value of USAID and World Bank-financed projects, becoming one of the largest Microfinance providers in Romania;

Actively participated in extensive contract negotiations with the Government of Romania for several World Bank funded MSME microcredit programs in the mining and rural areas, resulting in 4 contracts (total operational budget $3.8MM) with a $4.3MM portfolio over a 7-year period;

Business Process Management: Established an efficient system of operational, loan and sweep bank accounts for multiple programs in 25 locations, while also achieving substantial cost savings (bank commission costs decreased 4 times);

Liaised with the Romanian Ministry of Finance and other government officials to address key financial issues in CHF Romania financial operations: VAT reimbursement system (over 99% reimbursement rate) and VAT treatment of microfinance program (overhead costs & fees approved at 0% VAT as banking-like operations);

Business Process Management: Implementing a leaner organizational design to more effectively manage expansion-driven challenges;

Assumed responsibility for overall program management as interim Country Director (Dec 2001 - Mar 2002);

Consultant: Set up, with a team of international consultants, a CHF International microfinance project in Bosnia (2001);

Obtained outstanding audit reports during FY2002, FY2003 and FY2004 with no substantive findings noted;

Project Manager: Developed IT&C infrastructure: Server systems, VPN-based Wide Area Network;

Project Manager (2000 - 2001): Successfully implemented a new ERP system (Quickbooks), compliant with CHF HQ, CHF auditors and USAID requirements;

Project Finance Manager (2000-2002): USAID funded “Integrated NGOs and Economic Development”;

Project Finance Manager (2002-2005): World Bank funded “Romanian Access to Microfinance”;

Project Finance Manager (2003-2005): USAID funded “Enterprise Development and Strengthening”;

Project Finance Manager (2004-2005): World Bank funded “Romanian Rural Finance Access”;

Other Qualifications, Skills and Activities

Java Foundation Online Bootcamp, Revature, Tampa, FL, 2020;

RPA Business Analyst Foundation & RPA Implementation Manager Foundation courses, UiPath (2020).

Software Development Program, Link Academy (2012 – 2013), IT School (2017-2018). Coding skills with following technologies: Java, C#, .NET, PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL, MySQL, Postgresql. Knowledge of UML, Software Design, Business Analysis principles;

Strategic Management and Balanced Scorecard Certification Course – Strategsys, Romania (2013, 2017);

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) training program (2017);

Certified Trainer – Empowering Women from Romania Association, Timisoara (2009);

Certified Management Consultant - International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (2006);

Business Planning and Financial Modeling for Microfinance Institutions – Academy for Educational Development, Washington DC, USA (2004);

Proficient in English and Romanian; fluent in French; basic knowledge of Italian and German;

Rotary Club Ripensis, Timisoara, Romania – founding member since 2007;

oActively participated in and/or initiated 10+ local projects, with a total value of €50,000+;

oJuly 2017 – June 2018: President of the Rotary Club Ripensis Timisoara;

o2016: Rotary Ripensis integrated web-portal; Rotary Ripensis & Coder Dojo; Project Manager;

Contact this candidate