PROFILE

• Seven years of project management experience in finance and accounting. Demonstrated track record of successfully managing small to large projects from start to finish.
• A highly motivated and energetic professional, dedicated to understanding and meeting client needs. Knowledgeable in project management tools, processes and techniques.
• Exceptional focus, follow-through and coordination skills. Proven ability to develop and manage project schedules, and known for working well with cross-functional teams to achieve on-time project completion.
• Analytical problem-solver, able to anticipate issues and create new systems that streamline operations, resolve concerns and improve efficiency.
• Computer skills include: MS Project, Excel, Word, Access; Powerpoint, Lotus Notes, Lotus Quickplace, Movex, Voyager, BPCS, SAP, MYOB, System 21, Navision and MIDAS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Transform Sandwell (Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council), Oldbury, UK
Jan 2010 – Date
Programme Planner – Programme Management Office

• Co-ordinate, plan and report on all aspects of programme schedules across the programme.
• Control and maintain Risk and Issue logs
• Pull together, co-ordinate, drive and risk-manage key change projects
• Moderate the weekly Transform Sandwell Programme conference calls
• Engagement of Stakeholders from various business areas.

Transform Sandwell (Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council), Oldbury, UK
Sep 2009 – Dec 2009
Project Manager – Finance & Accounting Transformation Project

• Project administration
• Deliverable management
• Liaison with client and employees delivering the task to ensure requirements are understood and milestones delivered
• Proposing corrective action if milestones are missed
• Project resource management

Be Birmingham (Birmingham City Council), Birmingham, UK
Jul 2008 – Feb 2009
Programme Manager

• Set up the framework for Birmingham CC LAA 2008/11 Performance Measurement (Financial and Non Financial).
• Set up Processes and Procedures for project documentation in line with LAA Protocol and Guidance.
• Develop a Communications Strategy and Communications Plan to drive the delivery of the LAA 2008-11
• Audit/review of 2007/08 LAA Project files to achieve higher coverage (from 7% up to 25% of value).
• Developed the general concept of “one-view-for-all” into a viable role within the Be Birmingham structure.
• Set up and maintained an Excel Dashboard to capture the Delivery Plan process including assessment scoring.
• Produced and maintained an outcome relationship mapping document for tracking Performance Indicators
• Set up a basic configuration management structure for managing documentation of the Delivery Plan process
• Organised and chaired various levels of meetings within Be Birmingham that have served as valuable tools towards new ways of working and process improvement.
• Designed and maintained an Indicator Tracker for indicator milestone monitoring.
• Organised training on team based programme management for Be Birmingham management and senior staff.

Be Birmingham (Birmingham City Council), Birmingham, UK
Nov 2007 – Feb 2008
Project Accountant

• Carried out follow-on actions to implement recommendations contained in the 2006/07 Be Birmingham audit report.
• Provided assurance to Be Birmingham and Birmingham City Council’s internal auditors that a robust method of checking and reviewing projects has been put in place.
• Reviewed 56 randomly selected funded projects, evaluated and tested the controls to establish that Project Officers are keeping accurate documentation of projects as per the LAA Financial Protocols and Finance Guidance Notes.

Selco Builders Warehouse, Birmingham, UK
Jul 2007 – Nov 2007
Project Accountant

• Identified process improvements and changes to the Purchase ledger service delivery that will bring about an increase in the invoice auto match rates and improve the query process.
• Responsibility for the introduction and maintenance of a process based management system (flowcharts) and work instructions including change control of all documentation.
• Responsible for promoting the process improvement ethos throughout the company including branches.
• Delivered and supported effective implementation of the continuous improvement projects and system and process migrations within the Purchase Ledger to achieve desired business benefits agreed in objectives.
• Carried out user acceptance testing and feedback results
• Addressed specific process issues, particularly in controls, and develop appropriate solutions.
• Supported the implementation of improved processes, including people management, resource identification and supply and training, as required.
• Provided Shared Services knowledge and was an advocate for the SSC with the branches when appropriate.
• Support the management and development of relationships with external and internal third parties.
• Carried out such other duties, which were consistent with the nature and responsibilities of the role.
• Established and reported against defined objectives (including agreed KPIs)

Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Birmingham, UK
Aug 2006 – April 2007
Project Support Officer/Team Leader

• Carried out first level peer review to ensure proper documentation of reconciliation packs for Technical review.
• Communication and tracking investment/disinvestment instructions with Treasury and Admin teams.
• Resolve project assurance queries regarding reconciliation of schemes and pass on to Redress Team.
• Training new team members on new money processing and historic money reconciliation procedures.
• Carried out post technical review tests/queries to confirm satisfaction of all agreed completion.
• Monitoring team progress by maintaining work tracking files in Excel and reporting to Project Manager.
• Data manipulation and analysis using Access and Excel to test and confirm completion of work packages.
• Maintenance & administration of all project documentation including Plans, Milestone reports, Task lists, Risk & Issue registers, contacts etc.
• Collection / Collation & Circulation of regular project status reports to management.
• Assist Project / Programme Office Manager as required
• Carried out project related activities as required by the project management team.

IAC Group Ltd, Birmingham, UK
Feb 2006 – Jul 2006
Kroll Representative/Group Payments Administrator

• Supervised the winding down of Collins & Aikman (in Administration) post sale to IAC Group.
• Managed multiple purchase ledgers and co-ordinated a weekly pay run of all processed invoices, payment instructions.
• Reconciliation of control accounts on a monthly basis.
• Distribute and manage work flows within the payments team.
• Investigate and resolve complex queries.
• Review, update and amend financial procedures.
• Deputise for the UK Finance Manager in his absence
• Supervision of the Payment’s Team (Ensuring team deadlines are met, query solving etc)
• Responsible for payment calculations and Cheque payments
• Authorisation of Journals and releasing cheque requests.
• Managed Inter-company and Proforma Accounts reconciliations

Collins & Aikman (in Administration), Birmingham, UK
Oct 2005 – Feb 2006
Accounts Payable Administrator

• Co-ordinating the purchase ledger function, including the supervision of up to 7 clerks
• To ensure timely and accurate processing of supplier invoices and credit notes and payments on a consistent basis and in line with contract terms
• Use best practice to develop and maintain appropriate internal controls and procedure documentation in the purchase ledger area, for example, supplier statement reconciliation, debit balance review
• Ensure that supplier queries are resolved promptly and efficiently and amendments to standing data are made in line with corporate guidelines
• Analysis and preparation of weekly key performance indicator statistics
• Ensured that the invoice register and goods received not invoiced reports record current items only, through liaison and follow-up with departmental managers
• Month end reporting and regular production of management information reports
• Motivate the team and ensure all work is executed to a high standard
• Ensure the department processes requests in accordance with the Service Level Agreements

Oriona Ltd, Birmingham, UK
Mar 2005 – Oct 2005
Project Manager (Self-employed)

• Managed a website development project for the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Hagemeyer (UK) Ltd, Birmingham, UK
Oct 2002 – Mar 2005
Project Supervisor – AP Recovery Project (Aug 2003 – Mar 2005)

• Supervised team of 6 to provide ad hoc analysis/investigation and support for the Project Manager.
• Investigated, analysed and tested select group of supplier accounts to confirm validity of entries on statements.
• Involved in negotiation and agreement of commercial settlement balances with Suppliers to clear down accounts.
• Responsible for all administrative duties in the project team including progress tracking and reporting to stakeholders.
• Supervision and management of the user acceptance testing phase for new procedures working with over 40 staff.
• Facilitate implementation of new procedures through training sessions, demos, and development of documentation.

Administrative Officer – Accounts Payable (Oct 2002 – Jul 2003))

• Main point of contact in Accounts Payable for Branch and Supplier queries resolution.
• Preparation and allocation of work plans as well as staff performance monitoring.

EDUCATION

B Sc Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria (1983)

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Prince2 Foundation

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Windows, Word, Excel, Access (Basic), Movex, Voyager, BPCS, SAP, MYOB, System 21, Navision, MS Project, MIDAS, MySQL, PHP, HTML, Six Sigma Green Belt (Student)