Maria Jones Email & Phone Number

Ramsbottom, Gb

• Led financial remediation salesforce project, streamlining design, improving financial reconciliations, and reducing audit support needs.• Initiated and managed business transformation programme across 5 areas, simplifying, standardizing, and automating 23 projects.

Set-up own business offering management consultancy services supported by programme and project management on a contract basis.Owning complete programme and project lifecycles including defining project scopes and goals, process mapping, agreed technical feasibility, scheduling, resource allocation, budget controls, risk management and impediment mitigation, document requirements, processes, scope change management and progress communication.Developing and maintaining detailed project plans to accurately monitor and track progress in line with agreed milestones and utilising appropriate tools and techniques to accurately measure and report project performance.Demonstrating excellent stakeholder relationship management skills to work with key project stakeholders including clients, project teams, internal resources and third party suppliers.Facilitating the implementation of change control requests including consideration and review prior to approval to ensure risk controls, delivery achievements and technologic compatibility considered.Motivational leadership of project teams utilising exceptional communication and influencing skills to facilitate the achievement of mutual objectives and goals.

Leading Processes workstream within the Security Transformation Project as part of the GMPP multi year Enterprise Security Programme.

Led the delivery of several projects as part of the HMRC major strategic transformative Technology Sourcing Programme (TSP). Project Lead for the end to end delivery of the IT Strategy and Architecture Project including the procurement and transition stages.Project Lead for a insourcing project including the successful transfer of people into the HMRC team via the TUPE process.The Technology Sourcing Programme is listed on the Major Government Projects Portfolio (GMPP) and is subject to oversight and approval by the IPA (Infrastructure and Projects Authority).

Led the creation, scoping and Board approval of the Welfare Service Delivery Programme. Delivered the programme plan to enable the business to understand the activities and timelines to deliver the Welfare Service Delivery Programme.

Led the Business Readiness Project as part of the overall Service Transition Programme for central government agency DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) to successfully transition IT, contact centre and payment process services from one supplier to another.The project was listed as high priority on the GMPP (Government Major Projects Portfolio) and subject to oversight and approval by the IPA (Infrastructure and Projects Authority).Owned the complete project lifecycle from concept through to delivery ensuring compliance with the government gateway project processes.Investigated and reviewed incumbent supplier policies, systems and procedures to devise and implement improved infrastructure for new supplier operations.Worked collaboratively with project stakeholders including senior business department leaders across Operations, IT, HR, Communications and Finance.Successfully deployed the service transition in 03/2020 with minimal operational impact and closed the Business Readiness project in 05/2020.From 06/2020 project managed 13 post transition projects which included SIAM (Service Integration and Management), DBS future roadmap and operating model design and implementation and a range of technological projects.All projects delivered ahead of the contractually defined first 6 months of new supplier service.

Accountable for the GDPR (Keeping our Data Safe) programme for the large multi-channel retail company with over 1.8m customers and an annual turnover of £250m.Managed the programme and associated projects from initial scope definition through to final delivery and implementation.Financial accountability for programme budget of £4.5m and associated cost controls to successfully deliver within budget parameters.Established a multi-disciplined project team and utilised motivational and influencing techniques to empower team to take individual accountability for project success.Liaised with key project stakeholders including Executives, PLC and Group Board.Transformed data management protocols and infrastructure in line with compliance framework.Devised and implemented regulatory governance frameworks and disseminated relevant policies and procedures to ensure unified compliance.Implemented the DPO (Data Protection Office) to ensure continued ongoing compliance monitoring and management.

Leadership accountability for daily business operations for the award winning £8m turnover law firm including IT, Marketing, HR, People Services and project management.Pivotal member of the leadership team responsible for achieving a number of awards and accreditations including 2016 Lexcel Accreditation, 2015 Best Law Firm and Best Legal Firm Awards and 2014 Investors in People Silver Award.Developed operational service delivery strategies, client service and people plans and led the deployment of innovative solutions to drive improvements including legal project management, which resulted in:o 50% reduction in non-chargeable admin work.o 37% increase in fee paying work.o 12% improvement in client satisfaction.o 23% accurate time recording improvement.o 15% staff satisfaction scoring increase over an 18 month period.Motivational leadership of cross-functional teams and optimised employee engagement and retention.Monitored all regulatory governance including procedures, policies, regulations and quality assurance.Leadership overview of complete programme and project lifecycles ranging from initial project scope definition and process mapping through to budget controls, scope change management and progress communication.

Post Graduate Higher Diploma In Secretarial And Administrative Duties

Ba (Hons) Combined Arts