Operations Consultant Project Manager

Diana L. Brown Newbaker

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

Waxahachie, TX 75165

713-***-**** Cell

**********@***.***

CAREER SUMMARY

A seasoned professional with thirty seven years bank operations experience in finance, accounting, project management and new systems technology specializing in mergers, consolidations, acquisitions and fraud prevention. Recognized for ability to manage high risk and minimize exposure while motivating staff through positive reinforcement, open communication, and productive teamwork.

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

Lotus

WordPerfect

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Project

MS Access

Advanced Management Systems

ASI Antonori

VECTOR IV

V PEGASYSTEMS

TRIPS

CARREKER Onus

Deposit Fraud

CPCS

Hogan

MI Systems

Payplus

ACH

Pep+

Ashley

Jack Henry

Q2Central

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Solomon Edwards Group LLC. Houston, Texas 2012

First Federal Bank

Project Management, including identifying, documenting and proposing changes to the current process performed in the Wire Transfer, ACH, and Automated Services Unit of Operations.

Prepared and documented a Project Plan including, each of the task necessary to facilitate a successful conversion and consolidation of newly acquired banks.

Project Manager responsible for insuring that all identified task, deliverables and deadlines are met and completed.

Redefined workflows and implemented new process for requesting Wire Transfers, and Foreign Money Service request, coming from the Branch to the Back Office.

Rebalanced prior ACH conversion and identified and resolved outage totaling over $300,000.

Reclaimed 17,000 International Wire Transfer sent to Bogotá Columbia but never passed on to the Beneficiary.

Rebalanced Cash Vault and identified 12,000 error created by Vendor. Provided support and received payment in full.

Prepared and implemented new procedures and work flows for each of the functions performed in the ACH, Wire Transfer and Electronic Banking Units.

Trained and mentored each of the staff members of the Wire Transfer, ACH, and Electronic Banking Unit.

RWC Consulting Group, LLC, Boerne, TX 2008 - 2011

Wells Fargo Bank 2009 - 2011

Project Management, including Systems identification and documentation. Prepared and provided the required documentation to assist in the facilitation and final consolidation of the Wachovia/ Wells Fargo merger.

Transferred and Customized Special Instructions and Premiere Customer Products and requirements to new format, providing a clean process for identifying and facilitating a seamless transition.

Toronto Dominion Bank 2009

Project management of ACH origination and receiving processes as well as the differences between two Financial Institutions: Toronto Dominion and Commerce Bank.

Researched and reconciled the differences and exceptions created during the Merger of the two Institutions

Responded to and identify issues as a result of the Merger.

Prepared and documented procedural differences.

Proposed changes required to procedures to management as a result of the merger.

Capital One Bank Project Manager 2008

Project management of complex research, adjustments, reconcilement, and compliance projects enterprise wide.

Responsible for investigating and resolving all open Currency Transaction Reporting issued which included verifying correct cash reporting by the teller, obtaining all required conductor information if missing and working closely with the various reporting branches for proper resolution.

Managed 65 FTE with two supervisory leads including daily staff scheduling, travel, housing, and transportation.

Client liaison at all levels including client meetings, statistical reporting, productivity tracking and all aspects of specific client requirements.

Successfully completed all projects within budget and on time to client satisfaction.

Banco Popular North America, Chicago Illinois 2003 - 2008

Bank Operations Manager Vice President 2003 - 2008

Manager of Adjustments, Return Items, Wire Transfer, ACH Returns, Origination, and Fraud Prevention Operations Units.

Assisted in the consolidation of each of the bank operations units and relocation of the regional processes to the single location in Rosemont Illinois. These units comprised of a total of fifty non exempt and four exempt direct reports. Maintained the current staff levels in each of the units with 100% growth in volume, by implementing daily production reports and staff incentives and motivation.

Established Banco Populars’ first Fraud Prevention Unit. The group successfully prevented millions in loses through the application of innovative tools and expertise in detecting and preventing potential fraud. Responsibilities also included facilitating the reporting and initial collection efforts for all accounts closed due to overdraft balances.

Managed the Nationwide Support Network Adjustments Unit. This unit provides superior customer support to the 100+ branch network across the US. They handle the research and timely resolution of suspense and Due From Federal Reserve, Reg E Claims, ACH exceptions and were one of the first operations group to originate and accept Image Replacement Documents. The unit achieved the objective of reporting a net credit each year since the consolidation to the Rosemont location in 2003.

The Return Item Unit handles the daily processing of the consolidated return item charge-backs. The team was responsible for facilitating the decisions made and further return of each of the physical and electronic (ACH)items that have been presented for payment against accounts with an overdraft balance or other valid reason for return, including unauthorized ACH which require immediate handling to be accepted within the guidelines of the regulations.

Wire Transfers Unit has been upgraded to the most recent Federal Reserve MQ environment. This unit processes both incoming and outgoing wires for the entire organization through the use of the Payplus Wire Transfer application software supported by Funtech.

RWC Consulting Group, LLC, Boerne Texas 1999 - 2003

Bank Operations Consultant 1999 - 2003

Evaluated, and determined the strategy necessary to properly size and achieve the objective within the allotted time frame at each of the operations sites.

Successfully integrated RWC consultants with the current bank staff and work flows to optimize results.

Collected over twenty million dollars in recoveries at the Chicago location, allowing the bank to use funds recovered to obtain other key objectives within their organization.

Assisted management with system aids and detailed procedures as well as work flows on each job within the department.

Project Manager responsible for the collection and recovery of funds previously written-off under JP Morgan Chase Bank

Reviewed and established staffing requirements necessary to facilitate the process of recoveries.

Implemented procedures for staff and determine work flows

Established daily, weekly and monthly procedures with bank to handle the incoming payments and monthly invoicing of recovered exceptions.

At conclusion of RWC engagement, recoveries surpassed 1.5 million at this one location.

First Interstate Bank/Wells Fargo, Houston, Texas 1978 - 1999

Vice President, Return Items Settlement/Adjustments 1997 - 1999

Managed the company wide consolidated Return Items Settlement/Adjustments Department.

Coordinated the reorganization and relocation of all Federal Reserve, Due From Bank, clearinghouse and settlement related functions from Tempe, Arizona to Houston Texas. At the same time successfully managed a major effort to recover loses experienced as a result of the return item system conversion from Vector V to RT.

Successfully hired and trained an entirely new staff to facilitate the processing and resolution of exceptions and new responsibilities relocated to Houston.

Key participant in the development, migration and automation of all exceptions outstanding in the Return Items Departments. Moved from a totally manual environment to the automated on-line research and return adjustments system, CRIS (Central Return Item System).

Documented and developed detailed departmental and individual desk procedures. Facilitated system training for internal and external staff on the new CRIS system.

Designed and developed an automated download of data from the Federal Reserve statement (BR) to CRIS/RAS systems. This download eliminated the need for manual input and the possibility of clerical errors. This process assists all areas of operations.

Managed, maintained, and met all goals and objectives including staff reduction through increased productivity, as well as the elimination of all charge offs and overtime experienced in the area.

Vice President, Adjustments 1993 - 1997

Managed Midwest Regional Adjustments Department staff of 75 resources with daily assets and liabilities totaling over $1OOMM. Managed design, development, installation, and training of computer Systems Company wide.

Managed and participated in development, training, installation, and conversion to new operations technology, specifically Pega Systems. Positioned First Interstate in front of competition in race for interstate banking.

Successfully consolidated Denver, Colorado Operations to Houston, Texas within six month period allocated. Consolidation reduced overhead and salary expenses by over $1MM.

Coordinated closing, consolidation, and relocation of Houston, Texas operations to Portland, Oregon. Motivated staff to maintain consistent standards of production and published service levels to both internal and external customers

Documented and developed detailed departmental and individual desk procedures. Facilitated system training for internal and external staff inclusive of customers.

Managed, maintained, and adhered to departmental budget of $1MM.

Assistant Vice President, Adjustments 1978 - 1993

Participated in statewide consolidation, and conversion of all First Interstate Banks to branch banking, becoming first major bank in Texas to offer customers convenience of banking at any 1OO plus locations.

Interacted with operations managers to facilitate closure and consolidation of two main centers into one downtown location.

Key player in consolidation of 63 individual banks into one bank. Managed the Unit Responsible for balancing the General Ledger Systems to the DDA, Savings, and Loan Applications.

Converted Rocky Mountain states operations from manual to automated system which provided a facility for each branch, internal department, and external customer to submit online requests for research and adjustment items. Led industry in automation.

Assisted in consolidation and relocation of Dallas, Texas center to Houston, Texas operations center.

Coordinated project to identify and reconcile monetary differences created as result of system changes. Resolved over $5MM in potential losses.

EDUCATIONAL/CERTIFICATIONS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/TRAINING

Houston Community College, Houston, Texas

General Coursework and Accounting I, II, III

Bank Management Courses

Achieving Extraordinary Customer Relations, Increasing Human Effectiveness I & II and Leadership

Management Development Program

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