Geetha Retnasingam
Summary
Results oriented and high energy professional with a talent for leading by example and inspiring peak performance. Over 12+ years diversified experience as a PMO Lead with an extensive track record of Portfolio PMO and successful multi million Programme / Project deliveries across the financial services, healthcare, and technology sectors. I have worked within blue chip companies in Waterfall, and Agile environments. I am proactive and hands on, with reference-able success in the design and delivery of large scale, full life cycle multi £m programs.
I have proven leadership, coaching, stakeholder management skills and project financial management. I’m equally effective working independently or as part of a broader team. Project type experience includes business transformation, technical migration, IT infrastructure overhaul, IT systems upgrades, outsourcing and compliance.
Specialities.
Change Management
Project Governance & Assurance
Infrastructure Migration
Stakeholder Management
Process Improvement
Project Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
Workshop facilitation
Risk and Dependency Management
Project Reporting
Lessons Learned
Resourcing & Financial Tracking
Attention to details and problem solving
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Career , Senior PMO Lead
London Stock Exchange Group
02.2022 - Current
- Working as part of the Technology (Infrastructure & Cloud) Division for LSEG on two major Infrastructure Transformation Programmes Improving Operational Resilience and Major Obsolescence Portfolios worth >90m
- Responsible for making sure the team adheres to the PMO Governance processes throughout the lifecycle of the Programmes
- Responsibilities: Individual project and programme budget alignment and financial reporting
- Escalation guidance for PMs and presentation to the Programme Board
- Implementation and adherence to Programme Change Management Process
- Tracking and management of Projects, Programmes and Portfolio
- Engaging with multiple Stakeholders and managing their expectations while keeping the project objectives core
- Production of high-quality reports, extracting/interpreting project data from multiple sources; summarising them to an Executive Board level
- Develop and provide continuous improvement of Project and Programme delivery methodologies and processes for the team to follow
- Maintained key project artefacts, Stage gate process, Risk Issues, Dependencies reviews with PMs and preparing board decks
- Completed Stage Gate checklists and packs in support of Stage Gates 0 to 5 in line with Programme methodology/framework
- Financial planning, budgeting & Purchase Order processing / raising for < 2m
- 121 Governance Checkpoints with Programme & Project Managers (Deloitte run projects under Risk and Advisory
Portfolio PMO
Yorkshire Bank
02.2020 - 02.2021
- Reviewed current program - project structure, status to date, planned activities of in-flight projects
- Worked closely with various stakeholders to understand information needs related to the project
- Developed and maintained a project plan, managed project tasks, dependencies and critical paths
- Established, prepared for, and lead project meetings, including planning, cross-functional team, and user acceptance test meetings
- Served as a conduit between the Program Manager and Project Manager wherein facilitating the Project manager in meeting the key performance indicators (KPIs) set by the corporate
- Involved in resource management phases from project initiation to project execution and allocating the right resource to the right project by following up with the related resource coordinators of the units
- Involved in creating and implementing workflows to facilitate structured support in all areas and issues and grouping the similar projects and managing them in a similar manner
- Supported ongoing improvement in project management office and ensuring that project stakeholders have up-to-date, accurate information about the project status
- Worked with various project teams and have diagnosed operational gaps, made recommendations, and proposed solutions
- Reviewed, logged and followed up on risks, issues and actions to ensure active management, timely escalation and accurate reporting
- Attended fortnightly Portfolio Dependency Reviews on behalf of the Programme to report in/out of the meeting on beneficiary and donor dependencies
- Lessons Learned: Encouraged PMs for submission of Lessons Learned for meaningful completion of log Ran quarterly line by line reviews with extended team to identify key lessons (positive and negative) for feeding up to the Portfolio along with how lessons were applied and agreeing next actions
- Furnished the team with lessons fed down/available from Portfolio library for relevant application
- Planning: Updated Programme and Project POAPs (PowerPoint), updated MSP Project Plans and took cuts for Monthly Integration Planning Sessions
- Portfolio PMO
07.2019 - 02.2021
07.2019 - 02.2020
- Reporting and Management Information
- Developed standard progress status reports for Project/Programme in line with business requirements
- Established a reporting timetable to enable regular submissions and progress reporting in line with key executive governance forums
- Provided analysis of status reports and challenged as necessary around time, cost, schedule, risks and issues and ensured reporting by exception
- Created BAU RAID Register for handover and assisted in training permanent staff in RAID processes
- Set up joint Lesson Learned log for review, consolidation, validation and escalation to Programme
- Assurance and Quality Control
- Ensured PMO key documents were maintained via SharePoint and protected by configuration management (including version control of all PMO key governance documents)
- Performed interim Project health checks as required
- Provided ongoing preparation of PMO materials, processes and tools for audit purposes
- Case management environment based on a large Past Business Review project (TRASP) Thematic Review of Annuities Sales Practice
- Created onboarding plan, scheduling and coordinating training activities for new hires
- Liaised with suppliers and Contracts Team to ensure Scheduling System, Opening Times Report and trackers aligned
- Set up and supported Technical Testing and Process Testing Sessions with supplier for Pilot and Model Offices
- Worked with Product Owners/facilitated their workshops on KPI measures and data to hone and challenge KPIs and MI and opportunities to onboard users to Power BI
- Anticipated and identified business issues (including performance gaps, opportunities, and emerging needs) for management and develop appropriate action plans to maximize business profitability
- Acted as a liaison between departments to facilitate communication and streamline process changes
- Produced weekly progress reports for management on product development
- Provided deadlines and projections for product launches and development
- Managed the scheduling, budget and timeframe projection of individual projects and product launches
- Conducted benefit analysis throughout and after project development, provided work reports to management
Senior PMO Analyst
HMRC Remediation, Deloitte
10.2017 - 08.2018
- Coordinated to set up the change management process working with different stakeholders for a new project
- Held weekly third-party alignment reviews and issued weekly status reports out to the team
- Submitted CR information as inputs to SteerCo packs, Governance packs and Quarterly True Ups with third party
- Assurance: Supported Programme in achieving successful Tranche Gateways/drawdowns via Board
- Worked with central Quality Management/Assurance to provide required documentation and ensure the Society’s methodology standards were met
- Assisted PMs of 5 x projects (Technical Capability, Applications Migrations, IT Operating Model (TOM), Active Directory (AD), Operating Service Modelling (OSM) achieve successful Gateway reviews with the Review Board
- Took PMs through pre-meetings for completion and review of Gateway Checklists and arranged peer reviews
- Created decks and slides (PowerPoint) for Project Launch and mobilisation meetings
- Captured early risks on risk register for weekly reviews with PM, Programme PMO and Programme Lead
- Identified and captured assumptions, decisions and dependencies for validation and review
- Collated What Went Well/Could Do Better feedback and played back to team
- Monitored of the status of project deliverables Distribution of deliverable and exit report Stakeholder and Project Governance Reporting (scheduled ad hoc requests)
- Developed and followed up of Project governance meeting presentation materials for distribution
- Analyse risks, meet new challenges, stake claims and, most importantly able to deliver with accuracy
- Improved systems and methods of work and analysis, and ensuring they are continuously adapted to business requirements
- Coordinated with supervisors to provide a timely and accurate schedule
- Assessed interdepartmental communication and logistics, determined ways to optimize performance and workflow
- Coordinated with management to develop short- and long-term goals for product and project development
- Managed and monitored the budget, provided expenditure and timeframe projections
PMO Analyst - Software Release
TFS
08.2017 - 10.2017
- Using Team Foundation Server (, ) to create software builds using an established process and managing the timely approval of those builds
- Reviewing TFS Release Records and Release documentation to ensure standards are met and maintained, and keeping appropriate records where issues are found
- Compliance and TFS administration records management activities
- Creation and Maintenance of Release Standards, Processes and Guidelines
- Production of regular and ad-hoc Management reports
- Ensuring effective License Management and License Asset Tracking for Development Software Applications
- Managed and maintained the Project Management Tool (HP PPMC ITMS) tool in support of Service Request, Proposal, Program, Project, Resource and Financial management
- Administered access, security roles/rights, licensing, upgrades/enhancements, and maintenance
- Methodology included a phased, gated methodology, for a highly outsourced, cheque clearing system
- Coordinated Program Managers to improve and resolve low compliance score assessments
- Managed, prioritized, and planned for Project Management tool enhancements and upgrades.
Senior PMO Analyst
Santander
02.2017 - 08.2017
- Created detailed instructions, template and accelerator documents needed to launch Complaints Management System within Change Management Framework
- Provided a structure for managing customer complaints across the bank
- Audit: Worked with internal assurance to provide online library of necessary artefacts and information as requested periodically for external audits
- Steering Committees: Provided/obtained accurate inputs for preparation of packs for Executive/Board, General and Confidential Steering Committees
- Formally minuted meeting and logged actions and decisions
- Coordinated and compiled compliance changes according to FCA guidance structured Complaints Management System
- Governance: Ensured the Programme was consistent with the Bank’s project and programme methodology used within the Change Portfolio - Change Management Framework (CMF)
- Hosted weekly Joint Governance Meeting (circa 25+ people)
- Prepared pack and distributed key notes and actions
- Inputs covered updates and escalations across Programme and projects, risks, issues, dependencies, CRs, deliverables and PoaP
- Purpose of the meeting was to monitor progress against critical milestones in accordance with time, scope, cost and quality, ensure that the programme was delivering within tolerance, identify items for escalation and provide a steer on priorities
- Coordinated ongoing projects including the resources, budgets, documentation, quality reviews, and the CRM database
- Led to marked improvements in resource tracking and QA process adherence
- Tracked project health in terms of project plan and milestones
- Ensured effective quality control processes are in the place to monitor deliverables
- Responsible for identifying, analyzing, measuring and managing project risks
- Kept accurate administrative records and RAIDS logs
- Assisted in Integrated change control
- Forecasted budget for the remaining project deliverables and change requests associated with the project.
PMO Analyst
Foss Healthcare
03.2016 - 08.2017
- Developed and implemented working plans for individual products, set product release dates
- Third Party Onboarding: Established tracker to drive process for onboarding (and contract extensions and leavers) of on and offsite Atos resource and provide with appropriate site badges, laptops, RSA tokens and access to AWS spaces and applications using Service Now ticket raising process
- Reporting: Consolidated weekly inputs from project status reports into the Programme report for submission to centralised Portfolio consolidation and onto Execs
- Reviewed reports against baselined dates and challenged PMs on accuracy, quality and relevance of content
- Performed expense tracking to ensure budget/quarterly forecasts were within the board-approved budget
- Managed the scheduling, budget and timeframe projection of individual projects and product launches
- Conducted benefit analysis throughout and after project development, provided work reports to management
- Updated RAID logs and coordinated project proposals and funding proposals
- Ensured effective quality control processes are in the place to project implementation
- Responsible for identifying, analysing, measuring and managing project risks
- Assisted in Integrated change control and developed training needs and training plans
- Forecasted budget for the training needs, project deliverables and change requests associated with the project.
BA / PMO Analyst
Barclaycard
08.2014 - 06.2016
- Managed successful offshore transition of business analytics PMO functions for complex transformation programmes during inception and programme closure (BAU)
- Facilitated requirements gathering sessions to understand and document complex business needs, often eliciting hidden requirements and/or clarifying vague or unclear requirements
- Analysed business operations and processes to understand strengths and weaknesses
- Designed and implemented new business processes and projects regionally and nationally within change management
- Managed the operations programs, and associated projects on a daily basis
- Served as liaison with operations personnel in implementing changes
- Monitored daily operations performance and took necessary action
- Facilitated deliverable review and approval
- Managed, prioritized, and planned for Project Management tool enhancements and upgrades
- Assisted designing onboarding programs creating access, security roles/rights, licensing, upgrades/enhancements, and maintenance
- Participated in many improvement initiatives including Agile methodology, risks and issues, health checks, and deep dives
- Finance & Resource: Maintained finance and resource tracker for the portfolio and input monthly actuals
- Cross checked timesheets against FTE’s and charging from external resource
- Updated variance commentary against risk, opportunities, timing or rebaselining
- Provided monthly reports for Business areas on their SC stats
Project Management Officer
Care Bureau
08.2010 - 08.2014
- Reviewed current program - project structure, status to date, planned activities of in-flight projects
- Established methodologies and created project governance Standards for the Care chain
- Implemented and Trained Project Coordinators on in-depth knowledge of recognized project methodologies
- Established robust project governance through setting up quality uniform processes and procedures for the entire group
- Established processes, Best Practices to ensure good project governance
- Analysed stakeholder requirements and created proposals to the business unit
- Completed special analysis and projects as requested by the Sr Director of Business Unit Operations
- Responsible for developing clear, fact-based financial plans/forecasts; including monthly projections, annual, mid-year & long-range plans
- Analysed financial and operational results versus forecast and plan
- Responsible for daily and weekly reporting
- Regularly created Excel graphs to have a visual picture of what we have been trending with Service levels as well as staffing by chairs
- Regularly met with Ops management to plan capacity and processes scalable to potential growth.
Administrator / Supply teacher
Tresham College
11.2004 - 05.2010
Project Co-Ordinator / Business Analyst
Amity
04.2003 - 01.2008
Financial Consultant / Mortgage Adviser
Nationwide Building Society
11.1996 - 03.2003
Education
BA (Hons) - Certificate, Speakers of Other Languages
PTTLS Dunstable College
2008
CELTA) - undefined
University of Cambridge
2008
Skills
- IT Skills
- Clarity, MS Office: 365, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Project, MS Share Point, Visio, Confluence, Outlook, Power BI, JIRA and Teams
Accomplishments
- Instrumental in re-structuring Project Management Office for Foss Healthcare
- Restructured Project Management office in order to function as a strategic center for excellence offering transparency and consistency into portfolio planning, designing innovative execution methods and introduced inhouse training ((huge cost savings)
- Introduced Stage Gate process to the change framework.
Timeline
Career , Senior PMO Lead
London Stock Exchange Group
02.2022 - Current
Portfolio PMO
Yorkshire Bank
02.2020 - 02.2021
07.2019 - 02.2021
07.2019 - 02.2020
Senior PMO Analyst
HMRC Remediation, Deloitte
10.2017 - 08.2018
PMO Analyst - Software Release
TFS
08.2017 - 10.2017
Senior PMO Analyst
Santander
02.2017 - 08.2017
PMO Analyst
Foss Healthcare
03.2016 - 08.2017
BA / PMO Analyst
Barclaycard
08.2014 - 06.2016
Project Management Officer
Care Bureau
08.2010 - 08.2014
Administrator / Supply teacher
Tresham College
11.2004 - 05.2010
Project Co-Ordinator / Business Analyst
Amity
04.2003 - 01.2008
Financial Consultant / Mortgage Adviser
Nationwide Building Society
11.1996 - 03.2003
BA (Hons) - Certificate, Speakers of Other Languages
PTTLS Dunstable College
CELTA) - undefined
University of Cambridge