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Management Office

Location:
United States
Posted:
February 16, 2012

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Resume:

Ralph K. Dakessian

** ****** ******, ******, ** *7731 Home 732-***-****

**********@*********.*** Cell 908-***-****

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Accomplished hands-on professional with extensive experience in developing specifications and implementing reconciliation and general ledger controls. Possesses a solid track record of identifying specific audit weaknesses and initiating corrective action through re-engineering business processes to attain revenue growth and achieve corporate objectives to build shareholder value. Successfully enforced compliance to all internal mandates resulting in tens of millions of dollars in savings by identifying and ensuring resolution of negative P&L exposure.

Supported business operations through analysis of key performance indicators and aging reports and initiated appropriate action to mitigate human and system errors. Effective communicator; liaised across various business units and promoted organizational success with the ability to see the big picture in accomplishing the desired objectives. Proven ability to build strong relationships with staff and embrace the company’s culture using negotiation talent, persuasion and demonstrated commitment to drive performance above individual ability levels.

CORE COMPETENCIES

General Ledger Reconciliations Internal/ Balance Sheet Control FINRA, SEC Compliance

Inter-Company Accounting Documentation of Workflows Internal Audit/ Documentation

SEC Rule 17a-13 Compliance Streamlining of Operations Excellent Analytical/ Writing skills

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY

Windows 7, Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Summit, Calypso, FTP, HUB, GLS, SUN, Treats, SunGard, T Xpress, Bloomberg.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ICAP North America, LLC. Jersey City, NJ 2010 – 2012

Reconciliation and Control Supervisor

Enforced internal controls to comply with all established reconciliation policies and procedures across all business units. Performed control scrutiny to evaluate financial security and systems risks. Conducted independent review of daily subsidiary systems interfacing the general ledger. Supervised a staff of 4 professionals in the daily preparations of all Operations physical reconciliations of manual accounts and acquired supporting documentation from the various business units to substantiate reconciling differences.

Analyzed daily P&L and reconciled trading activity details received from middle office to the general ledger (SunGard) to ensure proper posting of all trades in compliance with all firm accounting rules. Prepared and distributed daily statistical calculation reports to Middle Office to support trading volumes. Supervised processing of month end allocations / closing of the general ledger.

Responsible for the submission of daily / monthly required reports to FINRA and DTCC. Reports include - 2% Ratio Reg T Extension Report to FINRA in compliance to Rule 15c3-3, as well as the monthly Confirmation of Stock Record Positions to DTCC. Responsible for the quarterly Stock Loan / Stock Borrow audit confirmation process with other participants, as mandated by the SEC Rule 17a-13.

Key Accomplishments:

• Enhanced the daily reconciliation process for Equity trading between the clearing agent - Goldman Sachs and ICAP to accurately report daily and MTD fees, commissions, P&L in order to identify and resolve differences / errors

• Developed a robust Stock Loan / Stock Borrow audit confirmation process between ICAP and other participants in accordance with SEC Rule 17a-13

Ralph K. Dakessian

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (continued)

• Monitored the daily reconciliation of the CNS (Continuous Net Settlement) processing cycle of compared and un-compared trading activities for equities and corporate bonds with the NSCC.

• Instituted uniform checks and balances process to accurately prepare daily reconciliations

• Created a daily aging report which identifies and reports to line managers un-reconciled exception items aged over 3 days

• Established a robust Policies and Procedures manual of all departmental procedures and tasks

OTHER EXPERIENCE

HSBC Bank USA, Inc. / HSBC Securities USA, Inc. New York, NY 1988 – 2009

Assistant Vice President - Global Banking and Markets – Financial Control Group (1999-2009)

Developed and enforced internal controls to comply with all Global Banking and Markets internal Proof of Accounts policies across all business units. Conducted ongoing independent scrutiny and analysis of subsidiary systems interface feeds to the general ledger. Carried out monthly review of physical reconciliations and supporting documentation for over 4,000 manual balance sheet accounts for HSBC Bank USA (HBUS) and for HSBC Markets USA Inc. (HMUS). Consolidated data and prepared monthly high level head office (London) reports and certifications, along with supporting detailed analysis on the state of controls for all balance sheet accounts for Global Banking and Markets.

Key Accomplishments:

• Achieved in successfully carrying out the Proof of Accounts responsibilities with a reduction in staff resulting in 33% savings in salaries and benefits

• Identified and resolved potential negative P&L exposure in the tens of millions of dollars

• Re-designed and implemented automated reconciliation preparation procedures for all general ledger (on and off balance sheet) accounts in coordination with senior management

• Conducted periodic surprise audits at all departments within Global Banking and Markets and reported findings to senior management in order to ensure compliance to all internal mandates

• Successfully complied to all internal and external audits and regulators

• Confirmed all general ledger accounts balances are substantiated monthly across all product lines

• Consolidated and analyzed aging reports data in preparation for monthly presentations to senior management on issues pertaining to the Proof of Accounts reconciliations process, with emphasis placed on potential exposure items of concern warranting senior management decisions

• Devised automation specifications and spearheaded successful first time development and implementation of Proof of Accounts access master databases, which reduced manual processing time by two full days during the monthly close and eliminated human errors

• Played a pivotal role in the outsourcing of various reconciliation functions to Hyderabad, India. Continuously educated a staff of 12 professionals transitioned reconciliation functions

• Supported IT staff in interpreting requirements and validated output for numerous system conversions and upgrades as part of UAT (User Acceptance Testing) processes

• Scrutinized consolidated data for Global Banking and Markets in preparation for writing Key Risk Indicators (KRI) reports and also Monthly Controls Exception Reports (MCER) for monthly submission to head office London

Merrill Lynch & Pierce, Fenner, and Smith. New York, NY / Somerset, NJ 1980 – 1988

Mutual Funds Supervisor - (Error Desk) - Mutual Funds Department (1980-1988)

EDUCATION

B. A. Education, State University of New York at Albany

COMPANY SPONSORED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING



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