Nicholas Barkus Email & Phone Number

City Of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Main Projects: Momentum Investments TOM Optimization Programme Assisting in multiple workstreams for TOM optimization for readiness to move to FNZ platform. Workstreams include: Workflow Ops Oversight: Developing requirements and testing for the build of new Power BI dashboards to show KPI metrics in the Retail Investments Service and Operations Team. Bringing 4 business units information into one view. Showing current volume metrics with adherence to SLAs with allocations to Service Specialists. In addition to a Service Specialist Performance Dashboard with measurements against a standardized metric benchmarks across the 4 platforms. (Wealth, International, Annuities and MCI) Business Process Optimalization: Analysing existing processes and providing recommendations for optimalization by means of way of work changes and automation enhancements.New Workflow Tool: Documenting the requirements for the AgliePoint workflow system to be implemented. Defining the new base processes for the future state of service on the FNZ platform. Performing end to end change management for the implementation.M&G PLC (UK) Product Development Scalability Programme Performing optimization of an in house built PowerApps workflow system (FLOW) for the Product Development and Product Delivery teams to perform fund launches. Providing updated data requirements for an improved Power BI MI Dashboard. Working within an agile team. Handing the product over to a BAU state for business to manage the workflow going forward. Investment Account Services Target Operating Model ProgrammeBusiness analysis for a new target operating model for the Investment Account Services department. Gathering requirement to build a new workflow tool through PowerApps to help automate the defined processes and standardize communication and data sharing across various stakeholders in one place. Guiding and facilitating an agile team with end-to-end testing. Implementation of 4 workflows.

Sandton, South Africa

Leading a team of ingenious developers and analysts who help to build and maintain the AutoQC product. This a business process automation product, at its core is a rules engine that takes data from various sources both digital and inputted and enhances and verifies that data for transactions as per our clients defined business rules. This system is directly integrated into the Silica investment register along with many other supporting application under the Silica suite. Roles and Responsibilities include: - Responsible for Product strategic initiatives - concept design, detail design and prioritization thereof- Managing the Product Backlog, thus getting requirements from various parties, adding it to the backlog and prioritizing it- Deciding what gets worked on next , considering business impact + client requirements + strategic objectives- Facilitating design sessions for requirements- Managing Product Grooming and Planning sessions - Conducting team Retrospective sessions - Responsible for Product Cost Center - Identifying opportunities where use of product can be improved/changed

Sandton, South Africa

Leading a team of analyst on who work on automation rules engine and data capture and enrichment product named AutoQC. This involved ensuring analysts are equipped with the understanding and ability to make changes to the product by the means of, updating configuration in the system, creating requirements for developers to act on and taking requirements from stakeholders and turning them into workable requirements for the product. The role also involves consultation with our internal and external stakeholders to ensure the system meets the requirements to enhance their business processes. Providing guidance on future requirements for the system.

Sandton, South Africa

Taking key role in assisting in defining, implementing and changing new and/orexisting solutions within Silica and the client’s product offering. Implementing andchanging new and/or existing solutions within Silica and the client’s productoffering. Ranging from Unit Trusts, Retirement Annuities, Preservation Funds andHedge FundsAssisted in the successful implementation of onboarding 2 new clients onto the fullsolution offering of the liability register line of business system, public web andinternal applications. Both clients have seen immediate benefit and cost savingwithin their business.Responsibilities Include:• Business Requirement Gathering (solution, project, or process) by:o Business Process Analysiso Feasibility and Needs Analysiso Due Diligence and Gap Analysiso Business Requirement Analysis & Documentationo Functional Testingo UAT and support during UATo Ability to conduct JAD sessions internally and with external clientso Provide training content and facilitate training for end-users on newbusiness processes and changes on existing processes• Consulting:o Provide input and/or define the end to end solutiono Problem Resolution and Troubleshootingo Provide support to all the teams in implementing effective and efficientsolutionso Impact analysis in terms of processes/solutionso Liaise with the IS for process / system changeso Working with business unit managers to assist in delivering new orenhanced o projects/solutions.o Liaising with and / or coordinate with Silica and client project teammembers i.e. project managers, IS resources and developers withregards to implementing a requirement/solution.o Assisting in the various components of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) in an agile environment

Sandton

Leading a team of 8 administrators who process various financial instructions on Unit Trusts, Retirement and Life Products for our clients.Ensuring all incoming work meets stringent SLA times. Maintaining them to the KPAs that have been set out by ensuring minimal errors are made by the team, and managing the clients expectations. Managing projects from our clients to ensure they meet the goals of the investors they service. Managing to introducing new products and process of our clients in the team, such as Hedge Funds, Stokvel and Group RA's. Analysing the impact of the new processes and formulating ways to manage these processes. Investigating queries from clients and responding on time and diligently. Managing escalations and exception processes effectively and efficiently. Motivating and growing my team by providing them with adequate opportunities for growth within the organisation and in their career paths. Ensuring my team is skilled to ensure all investors and financial planner meet all regulatory requirements such as FICA, AEOI and FIAS.Managing and completing testing of new software upgrades to internal systems. Providing constructive ideas and innovations for improvements to the internal systems.

Pretoria Area, South Africa

Processing of all incoming instructions which include: investments, withdrawals, switches, transfers and static work types. Ensuring all incoming work meets stringent SLA times. Maintaining them to the KPAs that have been set out by ensuring minimal errors. Ensuring investors and financial planner meet all regulatory requirements such as FICA, FATCA and FIAS Liaising with our client to ensure the correct implementation of instruction to meet the investors needs.Validation and authorisation of fellow team members work.Attending to queries from clients and responding to queries on time and diligently. Supporting the Team Leader with second in command duties for a team of 8 members.

Pretoria Area, South Africa

Assisting students in first year Statistics. Guiding them through the complexities that the course presented them.Assisting lecturing with marking of assessment work.

Various Appliance Retail Stores

Promoting and encouraging the sales of various appliances, such as dishwashers and coffee machines.

Bachelor Of Commerce (Bcom)(Hons), Finance And Financial Management Services

Bachelor Of Commerce (Bcom), Investment Mangement

Activities and Societies: Golden Key, Fin'est,Class Representative of Financial Management 220 Investment Management 200 and 300..

Education record

Passed CFA Level 2 and I am currently enrolled to write Level 3 in June 2020