Pia M. Alvarez                                                                                                                                          

Contact preference is email: pa@witsystemsgroup.com

 

OVERVIEW

 

Dynamic professional with extensive history serving the Information Systems (IS) requirements of financial, brokerage, real estate, business development, and Internet e-commerce groups.  Proven track record in managing broad-based technology projects in support of revenue and business objectives.  Has substantial expertise in employing a full project life cycle methodology.  This includes system monitoring, system design and architecture, analysis, development, change control, quality assurance testing, implementation and business recovery activities.

ACHIEVEMENTS

 

·       International Consultant: Consultant supporting several International Banks in their ACBS implementation, conversion and release upgrades.  Served Project Management, Business Analyst and Quality Testing roles.  Managed the ACBS to SWIFT implementation and ACBS Release 6.1.   Worked on Business Process Re-engineering Project using CRM and Sharepoint technologies to manage Customer Relations and Work Flow. 

·       Project Manager: Successfully directed over 25 major projects, some global.  Most projects were within time, resource and capital budget including those requiring multi-year commitments.  Developed valuable change control and quality assurance functions

·       System Monitoring:  Managed and develop tools to track and monitor multiple activities for system implementation, build releases and testing activities.  Proficient at resolving problems quickly and cost effectively.   Managed system design and business requirement documentation

·       Communicator: Ability to interface and communicate effectively at multiple levels. Strong verbal and written communication skills.   Bi-lingual, speak fluent English and Spanish.   Basic knowledge of French, Italian, German and Dutch.

 

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

Software

 

Windows: Windows XP, 2000 Pro, NT; Vista, Citrix; Oracle, K2, K2.net, InfoView, DB2 Data Warehousing, Showcase Strategy, Portia, Open Trader, PAM, CARS, IDOM, BizTalk, CODA, Great Plains; SQL Server; Calyx, Point, Discovery PAL (imaging), Test Director, Mercury Quality, Document Direct; WebSphere (Client), Lotus Notes/Domino.

ACBS-ACBS 6.1, 5.3, 3.7, Loan Servicing, Origination; Business Objects, Datamart

Web Development-Adobe Photoshop, DreamWeaver, NetFusion, Flash, HTML

MS Products-Office, Word, Excel, Sharepoint, CRM, Communicator, Power Point, Project, Access, Publisher, Visio

 

AIX – Unix -Swift Alliance (Electronic Funds Transfer), Murex

 

AS-400: WebSphere, Essbase, Cube, LANSA, Turnover, Implementer, PentaSafe Security, Cobol, RPG, SQL, Query, MRC, ACBS (Advanced Commercial Banking System), MiSys Midas, Loan IQ, PeopleSoft (HR), LAWSON GL and AP, CTI (Real Estate Mgmt)

 

Hardware

 

Novell Ethernet LAN/WAN, Routers, Hubs, PC’s, MAC G4, AS/400, I-Series, E-Server, IBM AIX

 

Education

 

Fordham University, NY                                             Master of Business Administration (MBA)

                                                                                    Computer Science, 1995

Hunter College, CCNY, NY                                          Bachelor of Arts (BA)

                                                                                    Psychology/Sociology, 1984

New York University, NY                                            Certificate, Internet Electronic Commerce

Westcon, NY                                                               Networking/Administration

Dale Carnegie Course, NY                                          Leadership Management


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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Bank of America, NC                                                                                           02/2008 - 10/2008

International Bank providing Personal, Corporate, Institutional and Small Business Services

Contractor/Business Analyst -Remote contractor providing ACBS consulting services for Commercial Real Estate Banking Technology

 

·       Business Analysis on BASEL II Reporting and Escrow Tax Reporting Information for conversion projects

·       Liaise and monitor defect reporting and testing activities between users and vendor

·       Re-hired as an ACBS Consultant – See below Bank of America 2004-2006

 

FMO -The Netherlands Finance Development Co, The Netherlands          01/2007 – 11/2007

Dutch Finance Company providing financing for Dutch businesses in emerging markets

ACBS Consultant/Business Analyst                                                                          

 

Consultant providing technical and functional consulting services 

 

·       Project Management of ACBS to SWIFT Interface using BizTalk

·       Functional support for ACBS products including Loan Servicing; Origination and Business objects (BO)

·       Business Analyst for Sharepoint design and requirements for multiple projects

·       Testing Lead for Business Process Improvement Project (BPR) including AML project activities

·       Testing of New Loan Deal process flow using CRM, K2 and K2.net technologies

·       Responsible for change control fixes in UAT, Acceptance and production environments

 

Bank of Scotland, NY                                                                                          08/2006 – 12/2006

Scottish Bank providing full range of financial services; largest mortgage and savings provider in the U.K.

Senior ACBS Consultant                                                                                            

 

Consultant providing ACBS 6.1 implementation consulting services on Windows Oracle/Citrix platform 

 

·       Technical and application ACBS expertise to implement the latest ACBS 6.1 release

·       Liaised and maintained defect reporting and testing activities between users and vendor

·       Installed and tracked all fixes, updates and interfaces for BoS on schedule implementation

·       Maintained multiple testing environments and databases including SIT and UAT

·       Application support for ACBS products, Datamart, Loan Servicing, Origination

 

Bank of America, NC                                                                                           06/2004 – 08/2006

International Bank providing Personal, Corporate, Institutional and Small Business Services

Contractor/Business Analyst                                                                                    

 

Remote contractor providing consulting services for Real Estate/Credit Banking technology services 

 

·       Consulted on ACBS application, functionality and customer processes, developed design/technical specifications

·       Coordinated testing activities with users, developed test system specifications/plans, document testing results; defect reporting/resolution and tracking of system version and product builds

·       Project Management of various conversion projects including resource and time management

·       Maintained working knowledge of the Six Sigma and DMAIC re-engineering processes

 

Natexis Banques Populaires, NY                                                                     05/2002 – 08/2003

French bank providing financing, investment and merchant banking services                                      

Vice President, System Operations and Integration

 

Managed, directed and coordinated computer operations and system integration activities for the bank’s financial applications

 

·       Managed the Bank’s data center for system availability; maintenance, security and business recovery functions  

·       Project management of hardware and software upgrades for multiple platforms (AS400, Unix & LAN)

·       Managed multiple system environments for development, testing, implementation and change management

·       Developed policy and procedures, covering security, networking, development and IT operations

 

Pia M. Alvarez                                                                                                                               Page 3

W.I.T. Systems Group, NY                                                                                       01/2002–10/2008

Project Management and Business Analysis Consulting Services, Corp to Corp

President, Consultant

 

·       Remote Contractor for merger conversions to the ACBS Commercial Banking system

·       Business Analysis for Web based, CRM, Sharepoint and AS/400 applications  

·       Provided system support for AS/400, SWIFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)

·       Six Sigma Project Management to manage content, delivery and quality, (ITIL)   

·       Business Analyst for Business Process Flow Engineering

 

Bank Julius Baer & Co, NY                                                                                     11/1998 –07/2000

Private Swiss bank specializing in brokerage services, asset management and financial counseling

Vice President – Systems Development

 

Directed the development and implementation of the IT enterprise architecture. Managed eight project managers and business development professionals for financial, capital markets, portfolio management, Internet, human resource, Credit / risk, Mortgage backed securities, GAP analysis, fixed income and compliance systems.  Set up process control and procedures for newly created functional units in the areas of: web development, change management, quality assurance testing, production support, systems security and audit. 

 

·       Managed concurrent application and technical architecture, e-business, data warehousing, business process re-engineering and related systems integration initiatives with on time, within budget delivery using proven project management practices and structured methodologies

·       Planned and implemented yearly budgets in excess of $2M for enterprise-wide systems development projects.  Responsible for developing project plans, managing budget and allocating resources

·       Developed quality and control procedure and regression testing.  Integrated change management software with policy and procedures.  Established development standards for improved process flow

 

National Bank of Canada, NY                                                                                           1992-1998

Asset Based Commercial Lending Bank-US Division

Systems Development Manager

 

·       IT Project Manager for the first ACBS implementation for 22 US branch offices, working with the vendor. 

·       Project Managed team of users and consultants on conversion, upgrade and implementation of new and existing applications; in coordination 22 branch offices

·       Designed, developed and implemented accounting and commercial loan applications.  Implemented the  Lawson General Ledger and Accounts Payable systems

·       Application support of daily Electronic Funds Transfer using SWIFT, ACH Clearing (FISERV), MiSys

 

The Rockefeller Group, NY                                                                                             1988 – 1992

Real Estate property management for Rockefeller Center/Radio City Music Hall

Programmer/Analyst

 

·       Managed the installation, testing and implementation of new releases of packaged software for accounts payable, general ledger (Computer Associates), Real Estate management (CTI) and human resources, (PeopleSoft)

·       Activities covering the full project life cycle including heavy user contact, systems and program design, coding in Cobol & RPG III, implementation, training and documentation. Provided technical and application support to users and Data Processing personnel

·       Developed real estate property management application that tracked resident information, payment schedules and work orders

 

Citibank, N.A., NY                                                                                                             1985 – 1988

Institutional Banking Division

AdministrationRecipient of the Citicorp Service Excellence Award

 

·       Application and technical support for word processing, Lotus and database applications. Trained co-workers to use computer software including Citibank’s global telecommunications network (email).