Meneka De Silva Acma Cgma Email & Phone Number

Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

Sri Lanka

- Established & led a quarterly governance program with standardized service catalogues & standard operating procedure templates to assess internal control weaknesses and opportunities to improve process efficiencies within the Finance Centre of Excellence (CoE) in collaboration with relevant finance teams. Initiative captured 600+ activities, 100+ detailed processes across 50+ team members within the CoE.- Assessed single point of failure risk within the CoE through criticality & coverage lenses & steered multiple initiatives to alleviate the identified high-risk areas. Improved CoE risk profile by more than 50% over a period of one year. - Completed detailed analysis of existing finance processes & proposed viable new target operating model in line with divisional strategic objectives to consolidate similar processes within multiple divisions under one pooled resource umbrella.- Led detailed analysis & review of the Group Treasury functions across different regions using Value Stream Mapping & presented opportunities for standardizing and streamlining treasury & cash management related activities within the group to senior management stakeholders. - Managed the business intelligence & data analytics for different finance teams employing PowerBi dashboards. Assisted in the development of dashboards to showcase monthly performance within the Financial Controller division, cashflow management, continuous improvement initiatives, headcount data analysis, month end activities progress etc. - Supported the 2023 financial budgets for the Sri Lanka technology legal entities by providing analysis for CAPEX spend on property, hardware and software. - Supported the India Finance CoE to establish a Continuous Improvement program within the legal entity accounting teams.- Representative from Sri Lanka for the Group Finance People and Communications working committee responsible in driving employing engagement under career, community and celebration pillars.

Sri Lanka

- Pioneered the design and implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) within LSEG Group Finance in collaboration with Group IT, Group Finance, Group Procurement, and external consultant teams which automated the processing of all vendor invoices of the Group utilising the tools Automation Anywhere, ABBYY OCR & Oracle EBS Web Services and AWS cloud services. Testing, delivery and go live of this project were completed remotely during pandemic lockdown. - Reengineered the Accounts Payable Processes utilising Lean and Six Sigma concepts realizing significant savings in Average Transaction Handling Times and Cycle Times, which led to the saving of 20% from monthly required FTEs. Designed and operationalized TO BE processes for vendor invoice processing, expense reimbursements and one time vendor payments.- Consolidated the End-to-End Cash Management process of the Group with a new target operating model through a combination of process reengineering through value stream mapping & Oracle/ Bank systems automations which eliminated duplication of work and enhanced overall team performance & SLAs. Mapped the AS IS and TO Be processes of the new cash management processes using Microsoft Visio. - Established the first ever team driven Continuous Improvement (CI) Culture and governance structure within the CoE by introducing Lean Tools such as Continuous Improvement Boards, Monthly Team Based Problem Solving Sessions, Problems & Countermeasure Trackers, Process Confirmations, Skills Matrixes etc.- Led Change Board Review and Decision-Making Group sessions with relevant stakeholders across the division and presented at internal technology and business governance forums to ensure new initiatives to be implemented are in compliance with governing regulations, internal policies and procedures.- Was recognized as the “Emerging Leader for the year 2020” and was promoted to “Senior Manager – Finance Change” within 2 years of tenure.

London, United Kingdom

Part time Customer Service Advisor whilst completing the Master’s Program at LSE at the Harlesden Branch of Santander UK.Completed the MSc dissertation based on a case study of the Harlesden Santander UK branch, on why performance evaluation systems at bank branches should capture the promotion of online banking services at branch level to encourage customers’ usage of the relevant banking service channels (online or branch network) for an enhanced banking experience.Handled cash transactions at teller counters and automated teller machines for around 40 customers per day.Delivered red carpet service for all customers, contributing towards 75% customer service satisfaction results for the branch.Promoted different service delivery channels to make the banking experience simple, personal and fair for customers.Helped customers and businesses prosper by endorsing financial products suitable for customers, averaging 16 referrals per month and 98% Customer Relationship Management click rates.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Re-engineered banking processes related to Account Opening, E – Banking, Standing Orders, Credit Cards and Debit Cards which provided 55% savings in resources required and 21% savings in employee costs.Recommended process improvements for centralized head office functions which included imports, human resources, insurance, exports and audit to achieve 20% human resource savings in the relevant functions.Managed and supervised the Transitions and Consultancy team at HBSI by interviewing suitable candidates to the team, training new recruits, conducting performance evaluations and supervising work completed by team members.Implemented a captive Documentation Processing centre for Hayleys Advantis, a leading logistics company in Sri Lanka which also improved the Sri Lankan outsourcing industry in terms of different services provided globally. - Designed and implemented a workflow solution and performance dashboards, standardizing and automating the documentation process of 9 Freight Forwarding and Shipping organizations.Streamlined and redesigned FA processes related to agriculture, industrial equipment and FMCG industries in order to facilitate the implementation of SAP ERP systems.

Sri Lanka

Implementation of the Finance & Accounting (FA) Shared Services Centre for MAS Holdings, Sri Lanka: - Temporary transfer for a year (secondment) to implement the FA Shared Services Centre which centralized the FA functions of 20 business units located both in Sri Lanka and India. - Designed standardized FA processes by eliminating identified existing process variances and obtained agreement of same from relevant Senior Management to commence implementation - Liaised with Readsoft workflow solutions provider to integrate SAP ERP system with the workflow system which automated the accounts payable approval mechanisms and paper tourism amongst stakeholders. - Tested the system solutions with the IT team and primary users of the systems, ensuring necessary system controls are in place to minimize process risks. - Trained the new system solutions to over 50 employees who were transferred from the 20 business units to the FA Shared Services Centre. - Was awarded the Silver award for outstanding team at HBSI Rewards & Recognition Scheme (December 2014) and was nominated for the Hayleys Group Chairman’s Awards 2014 in the Customer Service Category.

Sri Lanka

Implementation of the FA Shared Services Centre for Hirdaramani Group, Sri Lanka - Consulted and coordinated the implementation of the FA Shared Services Centre which centralized the FA functions of 5 business units located within Sri Lanka. - Designed the standardized FA processes after conducting a series of in depth interviews with the process owners. - Presented the standardized processes to the Board of Directors and senior management to obtain agreement for the implementation of the new processes. - Analysed the existing FA processes and prepared detailed documentation in the form of process maps which amounted to over 500 process maps. - Produced Service Level Agreements (SLAs), status update presentations, detailed procedure manuals etc. to ensure the stabilization of the Shared Services Centre. - Was awarded the Gold award for outstanding team and individual at HBSI Rewards & Recognition Scheme (December 2012) and Hayleys Group Chairman’s Award for Best Project in the Customer Service Category (February 2014).

Sri Lanka

Engaged in process mapping and diagnostic studies to identify finance and accounting processes that can be transferred to Hayleys Business Solutions International Private Limited in the plantation, inbound and outbound travels, glove manufacturing, industrial solutions, FMCG and Freight logistics sectors in Hayleys PLC, Sri Lanka. Contributed to the development of the Transitions Methodology of HBSI which includes operating in both the Shared Services model and outsourcing model

Colombo

Guest lecturer for the inaugural batch of Certified Finance and Accounting Specialist (CFAS) program at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Sri Lanka in 2017.Conducted lectures on Process Optimization and Business Continuity Management

Sri Lanka

Member of the pilot batch of one to one tutors at Achievers Lanka Business School for students following CIMA foundation and operational levelsConducted lectures and revision programs for the subject Management Accounting Fundamentals covering topics related to budgeting, activity based costing, process costing, break-even and limiting factor analysis etc.

Msc In Management In Information Systems And Digital Innovation, Information Systems And Digital Innovation, Merit

Activities and Societies: Itchy feet HeadspaceObtained Merit for the dissertation "The Relationship between Online Banking & Branch.

Chartered Financial Analyst, Investment And Financial Industy, Exams Completed

Activities and Societies: CFA Sri LankaCompleted all three levels of the Exam within four years since commencement. The course provided.

Ba (Hons) Business And Management, Business And Management, First Class Honors Degree

Was awarded First Class Honours at the completion of the program. Course provided understanding of different leadership styles.

Cima, Management Accounting, Associate Chartered Management Accountant

Activities and Societies: CIMA Sri Lanka Achievers Lanka Business SchoolCompleted all examinations related to the 5 levels of the CIMA.

Gce Advanced Levels, Commerce, Best Results In Commerce Stream For London A/Ls 2008 Batch

Activities and Societies: School Senior Prefect (2007/2008) School Junior Prefect (2004) Member of School Tennis Team from 2003 to 2007.