ALI ASGAR PETIWALA

Project 1: Automation of Manual Payment Process

🔧 Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Solution Design: Develop and implement a database-driven solution for payer/payee records.
• Workflow Automation: Create a multi-tier approval process from Preparer to Authorizer, dynamically triggered by threshold limits.
• Stakeholder Alignment:
• Liaise with Risk & Compliance, and 2nd Line of Defense teams to align expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Navigate data privacy and security approvals to ensure compliance with internal governance policies.
• Process Optimization: Replace manual payment workflows with automated systems to reduce errors, improve turnaround time, and enhance auditability.

Value Delivered.

• Reduced manual intervention and risk of errors.
• Improved compliance and transparency.
• Streamlined approval and payment lifecycle.

Project 2: TLM to AutoRek Migration (Bank, Control, and Sundry Accounts)

🗺️ Project Planning & Execution

• Scope Definition: Establish clear boundaries for migration, including impacted accounts, and reconciliation processes.
• Milestone Management: Identify and track critical milestones across the planning, execution, and closure phases.
• Documentation:
• Draft and validate Business Requirements Documents (BRDs) with stakeholders.
• Define Business Readiness activities, and ensure alignment across teams.

🧪 Testing & Migration Strategy

• Data Migration Plan: Ensure a clean, validated transfer of data from TLM to AutoRek using automated reconciliation and transformation tools.
• UAT & Test Strategy: Develop comprehensive test cases, execute UAT, and validate reconciliation accuracy.
• Rebaseline Planning: Collaborate with the AutoRek vendor and M&G to rebaseline timelines and deliverables, ensuring critical tasks are tracked to closure.

🧠 Strategic Impact

• Enhanced reconciliation accuracy and audit trail.
• Reduced operational risk and manual effort.
• Improved scalability and reporting through AutoRek’s intelligent matching and exception management features.

• Led (as the Product Owner for SAP Projects Continuous Releases) the automation of manual SAP postings through SAP interface postings. The initiative has significantly increased operational efficiency while concurrently reducing manual errors.
• Implemented automation strategies for the reconciliation process utilizing Alteryx, Irecs, and other tools, resulting in a streamlined and error-reduced process. This move has notably decreased manual efforts, enhancing overall operational effectiveness.
• Managed a diverse team of 5 professionals across Mumbai and Delaware in the role of a functional manager. This cross-geographical team management involves overseeing day-to-day activities and ensuring a cohesive and high-performing team.
• Orchestrated the integration of SAP Cash Tool for DDA/NOSTRO accounts posting, a pivotal move that not only enhanced controls but also successfully eliminated the legacy SDAC Tool. This integration has strengthened credit limit controls on Nostro accounts and facilitated the enforcement of sanctions on cash accounts.
• Spearheaded user education for over 1500 legacy tool users over six months. This comprehensive training initiative aimed at streamlining processes and overcoming limitations associated with the legacy tool, resulting in increased operational efficiency and user competency.
• Achieved a commendable 30% reduction in posting entry time via SAP compared to the legacy SDAC Tool. This accomplishment underscores the successful implementation of SAP for improved speed and efficiency in financial transactions.

• Led the strategic integration of SAP and Product systems, resulting in substantial yearly savings of $300k across UK/EMEA & APAC by eliminating mapping layers.
• Managed a high-performing team of 5 analysts, overseeing day-to-day activities, and ensuring the team's overall productivity.
• Oversaw the meticulous preparation, walk-through, and approval process of critical Business Requirement Documents (BRD) and Functional Specification Documents (FSD). This ensured comprehensive alignment with stakeholder expectations.
• Spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing cost-efficiency through strategic planning, process optimization, and the elimination of redundant mapping layers.
• Collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and alignment of SAP and Product systems with organizational objectives.
• Implemented strategies to streamline processes, leading to improved cost-effectiveness in SAP and Product systems integration.
• Ensured excellence in project documentation, streamlined workflows, and successful project execution.

• Successfully managed a diverse team of 8 professionals across Mumbai and Bangalore in the Ledger Oversight and Control team, fostering collaboration and ensuring optimal team performance.
• Spearheaded the month-end and quarter-end closing of the SAP ledger with an exceptional record of zero exceptions, showcasing meticulous financial oversight and adherence to deadlines.
• Led the substantiation of all standard accounts owned by the team, ensuring alignment with their expected balances. This meticulous process contributed to financial accuracy and compliance.
• Demonstrated a commitment to record-keeping excellence, ensuring that financial records and ledger activities were meticulously maintained and documented for audit and compliance purposes.
• Engaged in continuous process improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities for efficiency enhancement and implementing changes to drive operational excellence within the Ledger Oversight and Control team.

• Orchestrated the management of a 16-member FTE team, overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring peak performance.
• Implemented monthly evaluations, pinpointing developmental needs and executing tailored training plans for team enhancement.
• Ensured consistent adherence to client SLA metrics through regular interactions, leading both Service Review meetings and calibration sessions.
• Forecasted production numbers, factoring in variables such as ramp, attrition, and absenteeism.
• Functioned as a certified trainer, directing process training for recruits and cyclical compliance training for existing team members.
• Engineered and executed development action plans for each team member, elevating overall team proficiency.
• Conducted comprehensive reviews of claims on delinquent accounts, ensuring strict adherence to internal and external regulatory standards.
• Spearheaded the preparation of invoice accruals and revenue forecasts, pivotal for effective financial planning.
• Conducted and shadowed extensive work audits (RCSA, iQMS & COPC 5.0), ensuring unwavering team compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Led transformative Green Belt projects in Default Servicing of Mortgage Accounts, culminating in an impressive 105-second reduction in UPT.
• Guided the Loss Mitigation Process (LMC) post the 2008 sub-prime crisis, meticulously analyzing foreclosed properties by Citigroup.
• Identified and executed process improvement initiatives, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
• Managed a spectrum of KPIs, encompassing Quality, Production, Shrinkages, Schedule Adherence, and Absenteeism.