- Assisted an investment group seeking opportunities to provide investment, debt capital, and other financial services to the small business market. The investment group sought research and advice as to the type of products and services that could be offered, the appropriate organizational structure to maximize operational effectiveness, potential target markets, entrance strategy, and other factors that may prove profitable during the strategic planning phase.
- Performed a turn-around focused strategic planning and operational assessment for a national originator of consumer-oriented loan products. Due to changes in interest-rate levels, lack of market focus, and inefficient operations, this consumer-oriented lender incurred several months of continued operating losses. Due to the financial condition of the organization, we immediately identified and implemented stopgap measures to reduce costs and stem the “bleeding”. In addition, we performed a rapid operational review to identify areas of inefficiency, and opportunities to reduce costs and increase productivity.
- Performed a company-wide business and strategic planning project for a national sub-prime mortgage lender. The strategic plan identified long-term objectives and key performance indicators to serve as management’s guide in attaining business and strategic success. In addition, an industry analysis of the company’s competitors and their resulting position within the sub-prime market was completed, providing further insight into the strategic planning process. Once completed, the document served as the foundation for the offering memorandum during an initial public offering.
- Assisted a group representing some of the Nation’s largest credit unions with a strategic assessment of a proposed new sharing-based technical infrastructure. The credit unions formed a consortium to seek alternatives to their current data processing environments including developing a new system to be shared by all participants and the potential purchase of an existing data processor.
- Managed an ERP software selection for the leading international provider of electronic data for the financial services industry. Due to recent international expansion and merger activity, Management believed the current accounting and human resource systems infrastructure lacked many of the necessary functionality and tools necessary to operate a worldwide organization.
- Assisted a large privately owned international financial organization with the evaluation of several potential strategic alternatives including a public offering, joint venture, or other hybrid ownership structure. Due to recent statutory and regulatory constraints, the organization sought to evaluate all potential alternatives to private ownership including a public offering, joint venture, and a hybrid combination of both public offering and private investment.
- Engaged by two well-known national financial service entities to design and create a project plan for a new web-based organization. A large East Coast based financial institution, and a seasoned Northern-California based Internet Company joined forces to create a new Internet based e-commerce organization. As project manager for the implementation team, I was responsible for the design and creation of a detailed project plan for the building, testing, and implementation of a new transaction-oriented web site. This site allowed consumers to research, select, apply, and gain approval for financial products and services over the Internet. In addition to the web site, the project plan included the creation of the back-office environment that will process the financial transactions faster, cheaper, and more efficiently than industry competitors.
- Managed a front-office trade order management, trading, and compliance application software selection and operational reengineering endeavor for a $20.0 billion buy-side management firm. A subsidiary of a large West Coast based financial institution, the money management firm’s internal trading operations were characterized as non-integrated and manually intensive. Trades were manually entered and recorded into several systems for a single transaction. Internal systems were non-integrated and highly unstable often resulting in system downtime during trading hours. Given the significant manual efforts, the propensity for error was high. At the conclusion of this project, client management selected a solution provider that exceeded their requirements. In addition, a detailed implementation plan was created for execution within their target timeline which included operational blueprints for the new trading and back-office environment. In addition, a technology strategy and foundation were established to support future strategic initiatives including new product development, potential acquisitions, and joint ventures.
- Engaged by an early-stage start-up to transform the corporate strategy and business plan into functional and technical requirements needed to size the building of the transactional web site. Funded by a top tier venture fund, the construction-oriented organization sought to rapidly migrate their existing business plan and concept documents into detailed functional and technical requirements that would provide the foundation for designing and building the transactional web site.
- Performed a bank wide strategic assessment for one of the largest banks in California. The project involved a bank wide review of all operating and business line areas, identifying opportunities for revenue enhancement, operational efficiency, and cost reduction. Final recommendations included the strategic alignment of their current branch network, centralizing numerous operational functions out of the branch network, and increasing their awareness of their target customers buyer value through the utilization of data warehouse type technology and methodologies.
- Performed a software fit and operational analysis of the high yield bond division for one of the largest private investment companies in the country. This project involved identifying the key functional, technical, and reporting requirements present within the current high-yield portfolio management environment. This analysis included identifying potential software vendors, reviewing the vendor’s portfolio management systems, and participating in demonstrations given by the potential vendors. In addition, we identified several opportunities to streamline workflows by centralizing functions such as portfolio accounting, client reporting, and securities pricing. This review resulted in the selection of a new portfolio management system for the client, as well as several recommendations to improve the functionality, accuracy, and operational mechanisms for the high-yield bond group.
- Performed a consolidation analysis in relation to the merger of one of the largest financial institutions on the West Coast. The project involved reviewing cash management customer service centers located in seven western states and consolidating these functions into one central site. The analysis included demographic, economic, and property related analysis of the proposed new sites, recommended productivity standards and estimated severance costs. The results of the project yielded a recommendation for consolidation to one central site with a payback period of approximately six months.