Safe Computer

Summary

Skilled in database management, software consulting, and IT infrastructure, with a focus on investment banking and financial services. Extensive experience supporting Portfolio Management Software, managing system migrations, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Proven ability to deliver tailored client solutions, optimize workflows, and develop custom reports to meet operational and regulatory needs. Adept at bridging the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders to align outcomes with client needs.

Professional experience

Private investment Bank

IT Specialist and Consultant
2001 – 2023

Role overview
As the IT department’s primary coordinator for the Portfolio Management System, I focused on database management, system upgrades, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Key achievements
Reporting solutions: designed and implemented reporting systems with Crystal Reports, still in use nearly 20 years later, while also leveraging other tools and report writers.
Data integration: streamlined client portfolio imports during acquisitions, ensuring regulatory and auditing compliance.
Project management: coordinated a seamless office relocation, handling all IT-related tasks with minimal disruption.
Database accuracy: resolved critical database issues, including duplicate entries, improving data integrity and efficiency.
Thorough documentation: ensured all software changes met internal and external audit standards through detailed testing and documentation.
Helpdesk support: provided technical assistance, including hardware troubleshooting, Active Directory management, and software installations.
Client training: assisted clients with app installations and provided user guidance for the bank’s digital platforms.
On-demand reporting: extracted data from databases using SQL and other tools to fulfill regulatory and operational requirements.

Consultant for a management company

2017 – 2020

Role overview

I provided consulting services to investment banks and stockbrokers, focusing on system migrations, developing reports, data accuracy, and regulatory compliance.

Key achievements

Assisted with software installations and provided user training.
Managed tax report preparation and submission, ensuring accurate, accountable financial data.
Created and customized reports using integrated and external tools to meet diverse client needs.
Facilitated system migrations, including data exports and integrations for clients transitioning to new platforms or acquiring competitors.
Bridged gaps between client requirements and technical teams, streamlining communication and avoiding project delays.
Developed processes to identify and merge duplicate database entries, enhancing data integrity and preventing financial losses.

Consultant for a software company

1989 – 2017

Role overview

Provided consulting services for a specialized Portfolio Management Software, focusing on client installations, training, regulatory compliance, and ongoing support. Assisted the sales team by addressing technical inquiries and aligning software capabilities with client needs.

Key Achievements

Ensured the software met evolving government regulations, staying ahead of industry requirements.
Conducted on-site visits to assess client requirements, translating them into actionable specifications for developers.
Created comprehensive training materials and manuals, delivering tailored sessions to clients, including international events.
Designed and implemented interfaces for external system data exchange, ensuring seamless workflows and compliance with government regulations.
Developed custom reports using integrated tools and external software, tailored for regulatory, operational, and strategic purposes.
Specialized in addressing complex client issues, optimizing workflows, and managing data migrations during implementations and upgrades.

Private investment bank

This private investment bank caters to high-net-worth clients. Unlike larger financial institutions, it operates independently, with a close-knit team of around 70 employees. The bank’s focus on personalized service and custom financial solutions creates a dynamic and highly regulated work environment.

I was invited to join the bank when it had only about 20 employees. Initially, I was the sole IT professional, responsible for all technology-related tasks. Over time, as the bank expanded through acquisitions, my role evolved significantly. When the staff grew to 30, we brought in another IT professional, allowing me to specialize in database management. Later, with a staff of 70 and a growing IT team, my primary responsibility shifted to acting as the main point of contact between our IT department and the software provider for our Portfolio Management System. This required deep technical expertise and a comprehensive understanding of banking operations.

IT Management

As the lead IT professional during my early years, I was responsible for purchasing hardware, maintaining infrastructure, managing databases and servers, and repairing computers—a task I particularly enjoyed. Over time, some aspects of my work evolved, such as the growing use of TeamViewer for remote IT support. This tool enabled us to manage off-site employees’ computers, troubleshoot issues, and install software efficiently.

In-house consulting

I served as an in-house consultant, leveraging my knowledge of banking operations and regulatory requirements to collaborate with external developers of our Portfolio Management System. My role included ensuring that the bank’s needs were accurately implemented, overseeing the entire development lifecycle from specifications to testing and production.

Testing software updates

Testing updates was a major focus of my role. I quickly discovered that displayed data did not always align with database records. This realization led me to verify every database change meticulously, ensuring it conformed to specifications.

Documentation

Given the strict regulatory environment of the banking industry, every change—no matter how small—required comprehensive documentation. This included tracking when changes were requested, tested, approved, and deployed, along with all relevant sign-offs and test results.

Report development

When we upgraded our Portfolio Management System, the platform lacked a report writer. To address this, I developed all our reports using Crystal Reports. These reports ranged from day-to-day operational summaries to detailed quarterly and fiscal reports for clients. Despite multiple attempts to phase out Crystal Reports, many of my reports, created nearly two decades ago, remain in use today.

On-demand reporting

Extracted data from databases using SQL, integrated report writers, PHP scripts to format data into spreadsheets, and other available tools to meet diverse regulatory and operational requirements efficiently.

Data importation for acquisitions

During acquisitions, I played a key role in importing client portfolios. Data from acquired firms was delivered in CSV format, which I helped map to our banking application. Our developer built the import function, and I implemented rigorous checks to satisfy internal and external auditors. This ensured that every client account, cash transfer, and portfolio detail was accounted for, significantly reducing post-import adjustments.

Maintaining order

An often-overlooked responsibility was maintaining a clean and organized computer room. Removing outdated hardware, unused cables, and clutter ensured a functional workspace and reliable infrastructure. I believe a tidy environment is critical for efficient IT operations.

Key achievements

Managing office relocation

Shortly after joining the company, I successfully organized and executed the relocation of our IT infrastructure to a new office building. This included disconnecting, moving, and reconnecting all systems with minimal disruption.

Developing comprehensive reporting

I created a wide range of reports using Crystal Reports, covering quarterly client updates, day-to-day operations, and fiscal reporting. These reports, developed in-house, became integral to our operations and remain in use today.

Streamlining data imports

During acquisitions, I oversaw the seamless import of client data, ensuring accuracy and compliance with government regulations. By implementing robust checks and procedures, we minimized the effort required post-import, enhancing efficiency and reliability.

Bridging IT and business needs

As the primary link between IT and external developers, I ensured that updates to our Portfolio Management System aligned with business needs, streamlining operations and improving functionality.

Supporting tight deadlines

Despite being part of a small IT team, I often juggled helpdesk duties with pressing deadlines, such as regulatory reporting, ensuring that deliverables were always met on time.

Consultant for a management company

I sought a new job with clients closer to home, and the company I joined supported the same Portfolio Management Software I had worked with previously. When the entire helpdesk and consulting team from my previous employer left, I was left to handle the responsibilities, and the clients had to rely on me. As a result, I found myself assuming a role similar to my previous one, but with a smaller group of clients. This included four investment banks and several stockbrokers, all of whom depended on my expertise to meet their unique needs.

Responsibilities

The investment banks, in particular, depended heavily on my support. I was responsible for preparing and submitting tax reports, ensuring the accuracy and accountability of the financial figures. To do this, I developed detailed reports that broke down the numbers submitted to the tax authorities.

Without direct access to programmers, I served as the bridge between the clients and the technical team, translating their needs into clear specifications. Effective communication was critical to avoid delays caused by ambiguous requests or prolonged back-and-forth exchanges.

One client underwent a full system migration to a new platform still under development. My role involved exporting data from the old system and working closely with their database specialists to ensure smooth integration. We spent hours side by side, comparing data dictionaries, with the specialist pointing directly at the screen to explain his requirements while I formatted and exported the data accordingly.

Educating the client’s programmers also became a significant part of my role, especially given the language barriers and their limited understanding of investment-related data. This required patience and effective communication to bridge the knowledge gap.

Created custom reports using the system’s integrated report writer and external tools, tailored to meet specific client needs and operational requirements. Assisted clients in designing and generating detailed reports, ensuring accuracy and usability for regulatory, operational, and strategic purposes.

Another key responsibility was managing migrations for clients acquiring competitors. I handled the importation of client holdings and transactions into their new system, which required close collaboration with the other company’s team. Thanks to their in-depth knowledge of their system, we achieved a smooth migration.

Although many clients were now within walking distance, I found the job to be more manageable than anticipated. I was familiar with the work and already had established relationships with the clients from my previous consulting role.

Key achievement

During a routine data check, I noticed something concerning: several client entries appeared to be duplicates. Initially, I suspected this might be the case, but there was no formal system in place to prevent such errors. Multiple individuals with the same name or from the same area could exist legitimately, so the system lacked safeguards to detect duplicate records.

The issue originated from a promotional campaign offering free securities trading for a month. After the promotion ended, users were supposed to register as clients, but many simply reapplied for another month of free trading instead. Without proper training or procedures to flag these repeat registrations, multiple records for the same individual were created.

Recognizing the potential impact on data integrity, I took proactive steps to develop and implement a process for identifying and merging duplicate entries. This not only streamlined the client database but also improved the overall accuracy of the records, which, in turn, enhanced operational efficiency and service quality.

Unfortunately, the lack of proper procedures had already resulted in significant financial losses for the client. However, my intervention helped prevent further issues and restored confidence in our data management practices.

Consultant for a software company

This small software company specialized in developing Portfolio Management Software, the same system I worked with in my previous roles. As a consultant, I was responsible for demonstrations, client installations, training, and support. While I did not handle sales directly, I supported the sales team by addressing technical inquiries from prospective clients, helping bridge the gap between technical capabilities and client expectations.

Responsibilities

Conducted on-site visits to understand clients’ operational needs and goals. Translated these insights into detailed specifications for the development team, ensuring features aligned with user requirements.

Collaborated with programmers on new features, rigorously testing updates to ensure functionality and compatibility across the system, especially for high-impact changes.

Authored comprehensive training materials and significant portions of the software manual. Delivered customized training sessions, including annual events demonstrating advanced features and addressing common client challenges.

Installed and configured software at international client locations. Managed regular updates, ensuring compliance with evolving government regulations and client-specific needs.

Addressed client inquiries and complaints, specializing in resolving complex issues and handling challenging customer interactions professionally.

Monitored and interpreted government regulations, ensuring the software met legal requirements. This involved proactively adapting the system to new mandates and delivering compliance-focused updates free of charge.

Designed and implemented interfaces to enable seamless data exchange with a variety of external systems.

Advising clients on how to streamline their workflows using the software.

Monitoring system performance and recommending optimizations.

Facilitating clear communication between clients, developers, and other stakeholders to align expectations and outcomes.

Managing the transfer of data during system implementations or upgrades.

Created custom reports using the system’s integrated report writer and external tools, tailored to meet specific client needs and operational requirements.

Assisted clients in designing and generating detailed reports, ensuring accuracy and usability for regulatory, operational, and strategic purposes.

Tackled diverse challenges weekly, from deciphering new government publications to delivering international training sessions, ensuring dynamic and proactive client service.

Asset Management companies

1985 – 1989

My first two jobs in the investment industry were with asset management companies. This was a while ago, back when floppy disks, telex machines, plotters, and Lotus 1-2-3 were common tools. The first company I worked for was a joint venture between a local bank and a Swiss investment firm. The second was a Far East investment company. At both firms, we managed investment funds listed on the stock exchange, as well as portfolios for pension funds and wealthy individuals. Interestingly, the reports we provided every month were the same as those we supplied in 2023.