UK
I’ve got 21 years’ experience in technology, operations, finance and change management roles in financial services, primarily in investment banks and management consultancies. I’m now looking to move into either cost reduction/programme management roles, or strategic re-engineering within shared services. I’ve had quite favourable feedback on my CV, but would appreciate feedback on how to improve it.
Visionary leader and strong team builder with a 21-year successful track record in Technology, Operations and Change Management within Financial Services. Facilitated business transformation, expansion, and cost containment by leading the innovative delivery of global strategic change programs across all businesses and support departments. I specialise in the delivery of major complex change programs, typically those that are cross-divisional and/or cross-regional by nature. I have expertise in enhancing performance in global operational and technical infrastructure departments and successfully implementing global cost reduction programs through business process re-engineering, rationalizing, standardizing and centralizing processing, technology retirement, alternative sourcing, location migration, vendor management, staff realignment and upgrading. Very strong analytical, strategic and decision-making capabilities combined with excellent written, oral and interpersonal communications skills.
· IT and Business Strategy
· Leadership & People Management
· Operations Optimization
· Global Program Management & Program Office
· Strategic Change Management & Governance
· Cost Reduction/Financial Management
INDEPENDENT ADVISOR
2007 – Present
Major European investment bank, Global IT Risk Management
Mentoring and assisting Head of IT Risk Regulatory & Audit Support in undertaking his responsibilities and developing the management team through enhanced communications and planning, preparation for regulator’s visit, setting up the Regulatory Risk Council and risk control self-assessment model, programme managing risk analysis for creation of alternate sourcing centres of excellence, and mentoring management team
CONSULTANCY FIRM
2006 – 2007
Director and Co-Head, Financial Services Consulting & COO
Responsible for establishing Financial Services/Investment Banking practice and delivering strategy for expansion in London, Hong Kong, Moscow and the Middle East. This is an independent consulting house specialising in strategy, program management, business design and communications & engagement. Took over temporary COO responsibilities for the firm, defined the role and found a replacement.
INDEPENDENT ADVISOR
2002 – 2006
Major European investment bank, Global IT Risk Management
Took over global management responsibilities for established multi-year IT Security Risk Assessment program, improving overall program status from red to green in less than 2 months. Major challenge was sheer size (1,000 staff undertaking 4,000 risk assessments) and complexity of high-profile program covering all businesses across multiple geographies (60 countries), sponsored at board level by the bank’s global COO. 97% completion rate exceeded client expectations.
US investment bank, Global IT Infrastructure
Set up Strategic Cost Reduction Program for Global IT Infrastructure spend within the Investment Bank. Identified more than 100 initiatives generating $110 million sustainable runrate savings over 15 months through new technology initiatives and process re-engineering. Particular focus was on financial processes, infrastructure strategy and major technology transformation programs.
US investment bank, European COO’s Office
Responsible for setting up and monitoring a Strategic Cost Reduction Program to deliver significant cost effectiveness throughout the organization, with particular focus on Operations, Technology, Procurement, Program Management, Alternative Sourcing options and Organizational Restructuring. Exceeded global target of initiating projects generating more than $200 million savings.
Commissioned by Investment Banking Division (IBD) to undertake a strategic review of their operation by defining strategic architecture (business, applications and data); validated annual portfolio of work; set out a global migration plan; formally defined a program of change.
Reviewed problematic PeopleSoft ERP implementation and its ongoing usage on behalf of HR, Finance and IT as a precursor to upgrading to the latest release and rolling out additional modules.
Major European investment bank
1998 – 2002
Director (Senior Vice President), FA&O Business Strategy
Created the Business Strategy department to develop a more strategic and innovative culture across the bank’s 11,000-support organization. Defined the Firm’s global IT strategy. Undertook assessment of Alternative Sourcing options via the set up of a joint venture processing utility.
Head of Global Operations Strategic Change Management
Responsibilities included planning, designing and leading change, and managing the major re-engineering programs required for that change to be implemented in a 2,500-person organization
· Created, managed and established from scratch a 100+ strong project department to implement strategic change programs for Global Operations.
· Managed a $50 million annual spend on change projects (excluding IT costs) and 40+ major global projects, some with a $10 million individual multi-year spend. In addition set the strategic direction for Operations IT and approved their $55 million annual spend
· Set out a Global Operations strategy with the aim to be the ‘Provider of Choice’ for Operations services
· Created 8 major back-office process re-engineering change programs designed to increase or maximize ‘straight through processing’; rationalize, standardize and centralize processing; retire redundant technology; migrate to optimal locations; and explore sourcing alternatives
· Implemented global projects e.g. Asset Servicing, Reconciliations & Investigations, Reference Data, OTC, Equity Finance, FX, Money Markets, Syndicated Loans, Benchmarking etc.
· Set up a Program Office to report and track progress (project and benefits), define and monitor technology, and for governance and prioritization of book of work
· Created a Market Initiatives function to work as a pressure group for change, shaping and influencing the external marketplace and feeding that back internally
US Investment bank
1993 – 1998
Director of Strategy & Planning, Office of the Chairman
Provided internal consultancy to European CAO and Chairman for key cross divisional initiatives including: reviewed European IT; designed and implemented the European Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity plan; set up a benchmarking model and defined KPIs for efficiency of all support areas; and restructured, re-directed and interim managed Purchasing & Corporate Services.
Director of Technology Management
Chief of Staff/CAO for Head of European Technology. Responsible for: budget; headcount; restructuring; negotiating a $3m pa saving with software house; acting as trouble-shooter overseeing numerous critical projects and departments; and setting up technology graduate recruitment program.
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY FIRM
1990 – 1993
Senior Consultant
Business and IT Consultant specialising in securities and banking sectors.
SYSTEMS PROVIDER
1986 – 1990
Fixed Income Products Manager
Managed a group of 25 programmers developing and supporting Fixed Income front and back office systems. Responsible for the sales and marketing of systems to Gilt and Eurobond dealers, Money Markets & Treasury functions, Wholesale Banks & Discount Houses.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROVIDER
1983 – 1986
Lecturer
Responsible for designing and running courses for computer staff across a full range of systems expertise and languages.
EDUCATION AND INTERESTS
University of Leeds – Research towards a Ph.D. in Mathematical Logic, 1980 – 1983
M.Sc. Mathematical Logic, University of Leeds, 1980
University of Bristol B.Sc. (Hons.) Mathematics, 1979
If you want to get in touch with this candidate (or to hire him), please email him at <a href="mailto:dee@thehairforce.co.uk"dee@thehairforce.co.uk . If you want to submit your CV to be reviewed on the site, please email <a href="mailto:editor@efinancialcareers.com"editor@efinancialcareers.com.
Maybe you’re too ‘expensive’?
maybe u r not good enough to be a coder, and too ‘techy’ to be in any real management position?
Hey this person’s email address is not given here. The link isn’t there.
21 years experience? You are far, far too old. There’s barely anyone on my floor over 40. Why would any bank want to hire someone who barely has a few years left in them (and should have retire by now) when they can get a younger, more dynamic, energetic person?
Prospective recruiter – we’ve changed it.
I’d say this applicant is in their early 50′s and therefore could be seeking another 15 years gainful employment.
Henry on the other hand has around five years work experience.
For a succesful investment banker, Henry’s Maths do not seem to be that great. Perhaps he gets by on his charm and wit alone.
Anyway I am sure we are looking forward to reading about the lawsuit that premanturely cuts short Henry’s career.
Sarah – why did you leave off my link to the UK govs employment law directive ? Surely this is a salient piece of information in relation to this debate ?
“I’d say this applicant is in their early 50′s and therefore could be seeking another 15 years gainful employment. ”
LOL. Still working after age 50. Pathetic.
I am a recruiter who knows this individual. He’s really good but the market isn’t, simple as that.
J
Henry=Pathetic
It reads to me like a continuous saga of new roles.
That leaves me wondering if it’s 21 years of experience, or one year of experience 21 times? Sorry if that sounds harsh, but you asked for feedback!
And by the way, I’m 53 and still going strong.
First para reads like a strong card in ‘badtalk bingo’..o
Employment lawyer – sorry, a colleague deleted it. Can you post the address again and we’ll leave it up?
your skillsets are good, you have great experience are the positives
the negatives are that it is just too wordy..cut,cut,cut and tho i hate to agree with some..unfortunately your age will be against you..however unfair
Henry, I’d like to know why you consider anyone working when they are 50+ as ‘pathetic’? Maybe the problem, is that there are too many Henry’s reading CV’s. Employment Lawyer is spot on. We look forward to reading your work epitaph in the not too distant future ‘young’ Henry.
P.S.
I’d say that in the current climate, there are many CV’s being posted with just enough experience for companies to not warrant paying more than they have to. You’re experience will eventually pay off, but in these days of employing the cheapest labour possible to get by on, you’ll be one of those that suffers.
Look outside of the UK, try Switzerland, low tax, nice hours, good pay (especially given the monopoly money status of the pound at the moment). Job market isn’t as bleak as in London and they will appreciate your experience.
Henry shut up and stop insulting people who were working and making tons when you were in your nappies
Destiny plays a part in the job hunt. Don’t force it. The job will come eventually. The key is to adapt and build on other aspects of yourself or your career which will help when it does.
Don’t forget. The City is not about fairness. Age is an issue and will always be. Depending on the role it can be a plus or minus.
I have a similar experience to you, although I only have 15 years’ experience. But I have also managed to remain pretty hands-on and not pure management. I had 4 interviews over the last 9 months and everybody showed great interest. Most of those interviews were for hands-on non-managerial positions. I got two different kinds of reof sponses: “You were earning too much before and we do not want to hire somebody who could be frustrated by a much lower pay” and “You are too experienced for the role”. As one contributor said above, it is the market, not you. In good times, I was receiving more than 10 calls a week asking me to move from my employer to another one ready to pay big to buy my experience. In this market I am the one making the calls.
The good point is that, I know for sure that when good times are back, even if you have been out of the industry for 1 or 2 years, with an experience like yours, a significant number of firms will be interested. Haven’t you noticed that senior people always show up somewhere 1 or 2 years after everybody thought they were out for good.
Just keep sending your resume out and in the meantine be open to do anything that keeps you employed.
There’s nothing “wrong” with this dude, the CV could be somewhat shorter, but the simple fact of that matter is that you would be probably be viewed as too expensive in the current climate. They would rather have a chimp doing your job, believe me. Good luck anyway…
I have read the CV and Yes it would look good in days gone by. I have worked in the City for 25 years. What that 25 years has shown me is that no one is really that good despite the supposed brilliance that is on the CV. It really really really is all complete and utter bulls**t. No one, despite the orgasmic job descriptions and roles, quite knows what they are doing. The thrust of any job is the ability to convince and play the game regardless of what game is and where it is going. The credit crunch really has exposed the sordid reality of what the City is…….which is, nothingness and nothing beyond.
lets hope your first cost reduction exercise includes Henry !
Your CV is far too long. There is no need to ask you to come for an interview, as you have put absolutely everything down on paper. You need to make your CV something of a “Teaser” . That way , hopefully you are invited to come along and discuss your knowledge, and can get your personality over. How about putting : “I specialise in the delivery of major complex change programs, typically those that are cross-divisional and/or cross-regional by nature. ” at the beginning?
now u should provide employment to others rather searching for job …. start your consultancy
hi henry, just always remember that you will also become old. Just be ready to hear or receive a similar remark to what you have just unleashed in this blog in the not so distant future. I hope that you will also understand where that harsh young prankster will be coming from as you have confidently expressed here.
Gidday to you, mate!
Too old and too expensive. And the CV is way too long and detailed.
I agree that your CV is too long, cut down on some detail especially the first 5 – 10 years. Also, you should consider tailoring your CV for each role you apply for rather than sending out a single format.
It always makes me chuckle when I think that a vast number of people on this site offering “career counselling” are also unemployed. Judging by the fact that they have also not secured gainful employment, I wonder the extent to which they are qualified to offer purely objective and constructive advice. If they as candidates were as impressive and their CVs were indeed as polished as some of their disparaging comments would suggest, I am surprisied they have not plotted a safe course through this financial storm. Frankly a lot of the people on this site make me cringe with their unbelievably unhelpful comments borne possibly out of spite for the situation they also find themselves in. It’s not difficult to say something controversial or plain offensive when posting anonymously. Anyway, I digress…
The above CV details what is a broad and on face value, long and successful career. In A4 format, the CV is two-and-a-half pages which is perhaps slighty too long. Bear in mind, however, that you are not detailing a 5 second career as a graduate jam boy, in which case the bare essentials can be summed up into 3 lines. You need to demonstrate that you have actually done something with your 21 years and you have done this with aplomb in the above offering, perhaps though blinding the reader with slightly too much detail at times.
Perservere at all costs. You are never too old. I know if I were unemployed currently, I would much prefer to have 21 years’ of demonstrable experience on my CV than 2 years running errands as the trading floor rent boy. Comparitively you are much better value.
Although more of a hands on coder, I am a 40 something without even a University education yet I have been able to work in the hedge fund industry for many years.
good
Just because someone has 21 yrs of experience, does not mean they are in their 50′s… I have 20 yrs experience and am not 40 yet…those who think the candidate is too old are probably in their 20′s or 30′s… people 50 and above have a lot more to offer than an MBA grad with a ten years experience. The CV should include more benchamarks and milestones achieved. In Asia (where I am as a recruiter), this length of the CV is fine.. in USA a one pager will suffice and in UK 2 pages (3 at a push).. so cut or add based on that.
I am over 40 and I am trying to find a job. the situation is not very good at the moment – too many times they expect to see someone with longer experience then mine ( I took time off to look after my children) or even more often i was told off because i have an accent with the words going like that – I know I can understand you, but… or we are not looking to hire immigrants. couple of times I was told that 43 is too old to start working at the new firm.
there is nothing I can do….i’m even more tired to hear those people on tv who have jobs to tell me how I should have a spreadsheet for my job apps – many times there is no feedback all together (including job agencies).
Henry,
You sound like an idiot, if you are so good, why don’t you put your CV forward, maybe you don’t have too much to offer.
And if you are in a job, don’t worry, you won’t be soon…is called Karma.
You need to get a life…..infact you should get one of those self help books…” You can heal your life”…you might learn a thing or two if not keep reading
It is too long. You do not have to write everything. It shows you jumped ship too many times.
Too many work activities not enough achievements.
Respected Sir,
21 years experience that means you are more experience than me. Presently i am looking for another suitable opportunity as my 2 years contract with HP as regional IT Project manager has been recently completed.
As per my learning towards making cv more perfact by reading lot’s of things. What i found in your cv that you are showing more in terms of roles and responsibility and not showing what was situation and what was your action and how you pass the benefit to company.
Best Regards
Ravi Sharma
Seem to be a job hopper…