Archana Jothi
Chennai
Summary
An Information Security and Cybersecurity leader with 18+ years of experience, currently serving as AVP - Information Security, leading and partnering with business and technology stakeholders across enterprise security, cyber risk management, and governance in regulated environments.My leadership approach is business-aligned and outcome-driven, focused on translating cyber risk, information risk, and control gaps into clear, actionable insights. I specialize in security strategy, risk assessment, governance frameworks, audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and control maturity, ensuring security is embedded into business processes rather than operating in silos.As a CISA and COBIT certified professional, I bring deep expertise in IT risk management, information security governance, internal and external audits, controls assurance, policy development, incident readiness, and continuous improvement. I have led enterprise risk initiatives, audit programs, and security transformation efforts, with a strong emphasis on operational resilience and sustainability
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
5
5
Certification
Work History
AVP INFORMATION SECURITY
Nationstar(NSM) Mortgage Private Ltd.(Mr.Cooper)
Chennai
10.2023 - Current
- Monitored the department's annual budget to identify areas for improvement and maximise efficiency.
- Lead the selection, implementation, and configuration of GRC tooling to support risk, control, and compliance management.
- Supported the Group CISO in communicating cyber risk posture and progress to senior leadership.
- Managed a team of 50+ employees by providing guidance, setting goals and objectives, delegating tasks, and monitoring performance.
- Collaborated with senior management to identify cost-saving opportunities and develop strategies for achieving financial objectives.
- Established key metrics to measure the effectiveness of projects and initiatives.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to deliver large-scale projects within agreed-upon timelines.
- Implemented process improvements that resulted in improved operational efficiencies.
- Prepared presentations for executive-level audiences regarding project updates or accomplishments.
- Created a program to promote new managers from within, leading to a cohesive leadership structure.
- Managed relationships with key stakeholders, facilitating productive negotiations and securing lucrative contracts.
- Oversaw the execution of operational improvements, resulting in a 20% reduction in operational costs.
- Coordinated with IT department to streamline data management processes, improving data accuracy by 30%.
- Designed automation solutions for manual workflows to improve operational and financial efficiency.
- Orchestrated the successful integration of new technology systems, enhancing operational productivity.
- Conducted detailed performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and driving team excellence.
- Investigated reported incidents to recognise and implement operational improvement requirements.
- Developed comprehensive training programmes, enhancing staff capabilities and supporting career progression.
SENIOR MANAGER-INFORMATION SECURITY
Nationstar(NSM) Mortgage Private Ltd.(Mr.Cooper)
Chennai
05.2016 - 09.2023
- Responsible for the overall management of the offshore Information Security department which includes budget management, resource planning, execution of strategic initiatives, and hiring, training, and motivating of team members in multiple geographic locations.
- Drive operational efficiency by identifying and leading process improvements.
- Creating information security and risk management awareness training programs for all employees of the Organisation, contractors, and approved system users.
- Worked on Application User Access Management, ITGC controls, Regulatory Compliance, Change Management, GRC, SAS 70 Type I and Type II Audit Support, SSAE 16, SOX 404, Internal Audit, Security Administration, Identity and Access Management, Security Operations, ServiceNow, and SailPoint.
- Created detailed reports on project progress for senior management review.
- Participated in recruitment initiatives by interviewing potential candidates and selecting suitable hires.
- Mentored junior staff in the organisation's business processes, customer service standards, and quality assurance protocols.
- Coordinated with internal departments to ensure the successful execution of projects according to timeline and budget constraints.
- Cultivated work environment focused on personal responsibility, continuous improvement and delivering high-quality results.
- Implemented innovative in-house strategies that increased brand awareness by 50% and drove revenue growth.
- Streamlined project management processes, reducing project completion times by 10% and enhancing team collaboration with a supportive 24/5 team.
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd
Chennai
05.2012 - 03.2016
- Collaborated with Risk, Compliance, and Legal functions to develop and implement comprehensive audit strategies aligned with regulatory requirements.
- Advised and influenced senior stakeholders on risk, control, and process optimization, ensuring timely closure of control gaps.
- Oversaw the planning, execution, and reporting of audits, reviews, and investigations with high standards of accuracy and actionable recommendations.
- Lead the organisation's IT governance framework, policies, and standards in alignment with MAS technology and cyber risk guidelines (e.g., TRM, CSA, COBIT, ISO27001).
- Provided expert consultancy to business units on process reengineering, and regulatory change management.
- Mentored and developed teams, promoting professional growth and upskilling in a dynamic environment.
- Conducted Gap Analysis Review (Identification of Process and control gaps w.r.t to ISO 27001 standard) for mapping of existing client processes, policies, and additional internal requirements to ISO 27001 for major biopharmaceutical industry clients.
SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER
iGate Global Solutions Pvt Ltd
Bangalore
09.2007 - 05.2012
- Review of process narrative, Test of Design (TOD), and Test of Effectiveness (TOE) for applications as per the standards of the client.
- Performed quarterly system access reviews for client regulated assets (All Application and Database accounts) as part of the SOX assessment cycle.
- Independently executed the projects.
- Interacted with the Application Owner's to resolve compliance issues and followed up on the remediation action until closure.
- Coordinated with KPMG and E&Y auditors to facilitate external audits.
- Performed periodic audits on accounts across SOX/Non-SOX applications, network domains, servers, and databases.
- Acted the role of 'Additional Business Internal Reviewer' to review and approve the SOX assessments done by the application owners.
- Drived governance processes including risk assessments, control testing, issue tracking, and control attestation exercises.
- Partner with Line 2 (Risk & Compliance) to ensure alignment across risk frameworks and regulatory expectations.
- Managed and mentored a small team of IT governance and technology risk specialists.
- Drived continuous improvement of control design and performed assurance checks to ensure control effectiveness.
Education
MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS - Computer Applications
Avinashilingam University for women
04.2007
Skills
- ITGC controls, SOX Audit, Assessment, First /Second Line of Defence
- Risk management
- Project management
- GRC tooling
- Budget management
- Cybersecurity awareness
- Process improvements
- Stakeholder engagement
- Performance monitoring
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Team building and training
- Operations management
- Regulatory compliance
- Leadership expertise
- Data-driven decision-making
- Innovation fostering
- InfoSec Governance
- Strategic Leadership
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Certification
- Certified Information Systems Auditor, ISACA
- COBIT 2019 Foundation, ISACA
- ITIL V3 Foundation, EXIN
- ISO 27001 ISMS Lead Auditor, BV
- Program and Project Management, IIT Kanpur
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/archana-jothi-228105168
Awards
- Cheerleader Awards
- CSR & Volunteering Awards
- POSH ACT Committee member
Timeline
AVP INFORMATION SECURITY
Nationstar(NSM) Mortgage Private Ltd.(Mr.Cooper)
10.2023 - Current
SENIOR MANAGER-INFORMATION SECURITY
Nationstar(NSM) Mortgage Private Ltd.(Mr.Cooper)
05.2016 - 09.2023
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd
05.2012 - 03.2016
SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER
iGate Global Solutions Pvt Ltd
09.2007 - 05.2012
MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS - Computer Applications
Avinashilingam University for women