Paka Manoj
Hyderabad
Summary
Investment Banking Manager with over 14 years of experience in investment banking operations, focusing on audit confirmations, valuation reporting, and process automation. Expertise in AML compliance, SWIFT monitoring, and regulatory adherence. Demonstrated leadership in project management and team training, fostering collaboration across Front Office, Traders, Sales, and Settlements. Recognized for excellence in audit execution and the delivery of complex projects..
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Manager
Cognizant Technology Solution Pvt Ltd
Hyderabad
03.2025 - Current
- Led a 20-member team in client Valuations, Audit Confirmations and OTC Brokerage Fee Payment Team.
- Worked on providing year-end appraisal to the associates.
- Conducted thorough invoice reviews and executed four-eye checks for high-value payments. Managed exception clearance and dispute resolution processes
- Onboarded new client valuation statements in system upon internal account setup and client confirmation.
- Conducted quality control checks on data from upstream systems to ensure integrity before distribution.
- Automated Swift Payment messaging system, streamlining payment processes for improved efficiency.
- Generated weekly Suspicious Activity Reports to maintain Anti-Money Laundering compliance.
- Created detailed reports for stakeholders to support strategic decision-making.
- Mentored junior team members to enhance skills and knowledge sharing within the team and providing them regular feedback.
- Implemented controls to boost operational efficiency and compliance in daily operations.
Team Lead
Cognizant Technology Solution Pvt Ltd
Hyderabad
10.2022 - 03.2025
- Achieved 100% process automation, eliminating all manual interventions for Auto match of the collateral Swift Messages that are received by the bank.
- Client Valuation Team works within Global Collateral Margin & Management function and responsible for
onboarding the new statements, production and dissemination of valuation reports (both OTC & CASH products)
to client.
• Perform quality control checks on the data received from upstream systems to ensure data integrity before
distribution of valuation statements to clients.
• Responsible to set-up new client valuation statement in system once the funds / accounts are on boarded
internally and also upon confirmation from Client’s / Sales / Traders.
• Resolution of MTM breaks, liaising with counterparty for end-to-end resolution of disputes occurring in MTM
breaks by using drafting, confirmation, settlement teams to seek information about the economics of the trades.
• Pricing of securities [Reuters Etc..]. - Collaborated closely with Settlements, Front Office, Traders, and Sales on daily operations.
- Developed process improvements that streamlined operations and reduced redundancies.
- Trained new staff in relevant processes and mentored junior staff for career advancement.
- Delegated daily tasks to optimize team productivity.
Process Specialist
Cognizant Technology Solution Pvt Ltd
Hyderabad
04.2018 - 10.2022
- Manage Audit Confirmations and Valuation Reporting Teams, ensuring accurate and timely auditor statements while adhering to regulatory guidelines.
- Verify account balances, review authorized client letters, and conduct periodic process checks for compliance.
- Generate weekly Suspicious Activity Reports to monitor Anti-Money Laundering compliance and escalate irregularities to top management.
- Ensure clients receive automated daily statements for trades, onboard new clients, and verify correct pricing.
- Contribute to Valuation Steering Committee meetings with actionable inputs and implement process improvements.
- Drive 100% process automation, eliminating manual intervention.
- Work closely with settlements, Front Office, Traders and Sales on daily basis.
- Auditor Assistance by providing authorized letters from clients and provide required statements to auditors based on bank transactions.
- Ensure accuracy of bank account balances as of a specific date and submit details to auditors in compliance with regulatory guidelines.
- Periodically verify process adherence by collecting samples from respective teams.
- Generate weekly reports to monitor and ensure compliance with Anti-Money Laundering regulations for high-value transactions.
- Discuss any identified suspicious transactions with top management, collect trade details from operations teams, and verify procedural compliance.
- Collaborating with the team in daily automated statements are sent to clients for trades booked by Traders/Sales/Front Office and training the new hires on the same.
- Worked on the automation of the incoming payments that will be received in the bank by verifying the swift messages.
- Reduced manual effort by 20% and ensured that the auto commentary is provided in case if there are any breaks that occurs in day to day transactions.
Senior Analyst
Northern Trust Bank
01.2012 - 04.2018
- Began career as an Analyst in Collateral Payments and Settlements Team, adhering to Central Bank regulations.
- Monitored SWIFT messages daily for payments and receipts, ensuring compliance.
- Managed client expectations and communication regarding collateral products.
- Acted as a liaison between clients, internal teams, and operations for seamless communication.
- Guided team members on derivative products and resolved complex client issues professionally.
- Authorized payments up to $50 million and ensured trade settlements across EuroClear, Crest, and Federal Reserve.
- Followed up on fund receipt issues with Investment Managers until resolved and escalating unresolved cases.
- Onboarded new clients, explained procedures, and provided optimal service.
- Log and share issues with analysts weekly and with top management daily if unresolved for over 5 days.
- Conducted callbacks to verify the authenticity of instructions from counterparties.
- Ensured accurate and timely delivery of automated reports to clients.
- Verified SWIFT acknowledgments for high-value payments through sub-custodian checks.
- Solo Project: Successfully executed an independent project to streamline processes and deliver impactful results.
- Payments Automation: Led initiatives to automate payment workflows, improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention.
- AI-Driven Email Automation: Currently engaged in testing and implementing email automation solutions utilizing AI technologies.
Education
MBA -
Madurai Kamaraj University
05.2010
Skills
- Trade Settlements (Cash & Securities) – EuroClear, Crest, Fed
- Trade reconciliations and break resolution
- SWIFT Payments (MT202, MT103) & Acknowledgement Verification
- Collateral Management settlement & Corporate Actions Support
- Nostro/Vostro Account Reconciliation
- Audit Coordination & Regulatory Compliance
- Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR)
- Process Automation & Workflow Optimisation
- Client Onboarding & Communication
- Trade reconciliation
- Process automation
- Team building
Languages
- English
- Telugu
- Hindi
Awards
- Ace of Rookies, 2012, Recognized for speed learning, resolving complex queries, and delivering results.
- Client Appreciations, Praised for resolving audit issues enabling clients to sign off their accounts.
- Team of the Quarter, 2021, Awarded for managing a 30% spike in audit season volume successfully.
- Employee of the Quarter, Acknowledged for consistent excellence in completing client audit seasons from 2021 onward.
- Gold Award, Honored for ensuring zero financial loss by working over 20 hours during Business Continuity Plan operations.
- Silver Award, Awarded for leading a solo project to transition from an old to a new accounting structure.
Projects
Brexit Transition, Contributed to critical operational adjustments during the Brexit transition. Solo Project, Successfully executed an independent project to streamline processes and deliver impactful results. Payments Automation, Led initiatives to automate payment workflows, improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention. AI-Driven Email Automation, Currently engaged in testing and implementing email automation solutions utilizing AI technologies.
Timeline
Team Manager
Cognizant Technology Solution Pvt Ltd
03.2025 - Current
Team Lead
Cognizant Technology Solution Pvt Ltd
10.2022 - 03.2025
Process Specialist
Cognizant Technology Solution Pvt Ltd
04.2018 - 10.2022
Senior Analyst
Northern Trust Bank
01.2012 - 04.2018
MBA -
Madurai Kamaraj University