Maria Halferty-Baker
BELFAST
Summary
Results-driven AI Accelerator and Assistant Vice President specialising in financial services, business analysis, and strategic delivery. Achieved revenue growth and implemented cost-saving initiatives through effective management of global initiatives and strong stakeholder relationships. Focused on leveraging AI and emerging technologies to enhance service delivery, drive efficiency, and support business transformation.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Vice President- HR
Citi
Belfast
01.2026 - Current
- Advises stakeholders, HR, and employees on global mobility programmes.
- Provides high-quality mobility and immigration support to employees and managers .
- Cultivated global relationships with mobility and immigration colleagues, enhancing support for employees.
- Oversaw mobility services, ensuring compliance with visa, work permit, schooling, and destination service requirements.
- Supports expatriate, local-to-local, short-term, and rotational assignment mobility topics.
- Acts as primary contact for ongoing support for expatriate employees.
- Coordinates with external providers for relocation support at start and during STA and International transfers.
- Conducts employee briefings covering allowances, benefits, and location details.
- Prepares relocation cost projections and estimates for HR review and approval.
- Monitored performance of mobility vendors and service providers, ensuring service quality and responsiveness.
- Partners with HR on localisation, termination, and repatriation responsibilities.
- Supports team members with pre-, during-, and post-assignment tasks.
- Handled mobility inquiries to ensure clarity on programme policies and procedures. and provided guidance on relevant policies.
- Maintains required expatriate records, including payroll updates and changes.
- Maintains absolute confidentiality.
Sr Business Analyst - Business Travel
Citi
Belfast, County Antrim
09.2022 - 12.2025
- Identified global revenue loss from airline transfers and proposed remedies on Citi.net to address issues.
- Developed airline and hotel strategies using targeted cost analysis to optimise operational efficiencies.
- Discovered cost-cutting practices and challenged existing methods, delivering $72k savings over 16 months.
- Scrutinised expenses as first-line defence, spotting patterns in emerging claims and escalations.
- Cultivated relationships with EMEA managing directors through effective communication and persuasion.
- Implemented a new buddy system to improve daily team coordination.
- Led HR initiative to enhance graduate engagement through structured Zoom deck talks and Q&A sessions. running Zoom deck talks and Q&A for 265 graduates.
Assistant Vice President - Business Execution
Citi
Belfast
01.2025 - 11.2025
- Executed Chief Client Officer franchise and governance responsibilities, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Reviewed, challenged and conducted due diligence on briefing materials for the Chief Client Officer in preparation of client meetings, conferences, and internal engagements.
- Prepared the Chief Client Officer’s internal and external engagements, communications, as well as talking points in collaboration with key stakeholders, and assisted in the drafting of other correspondence and materials.
- Supported the co-ordination the Chief Client Officer’s global travel, including strategic conferences (e.g., WEF, IMF) and council affiliations (e.g. FIC, Kazakhstan), shaping agendas to ensure effective meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
- Co-ordinated logistical support for leadership meetings, offsites, and global events led by Chief Client Officer, facilitating effective communication and engagement.
- Contributed to and led special projects and executive-ready analyses, reports, and presentation materials such as EERS Entitlements, Charity events and Communication meetings.
- Championed adoption of artificial intelligence initiatives, enhancing service delivery and equipping team with advanced tools.
Senior Travel Consultant
Trailfinders
Belfast, County Antrim
07.2013 - 08.2022
- Personally generated over £1.2 million profit for the company & have been recognised by the Directors with financial & travel rewards.
- Excellent geographical knowledge globally for international travel, Visas and FCDO advice. I have been to 86 countries negotiating hotel and airline contracts.
- Led team across UK specialising in global expedition travel, enhancing service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Developed risk reporting frameworks for tours and hotels through global travel to vet locations, negotiate contracts, and source new developments.
- Developed, monitored and adjusted KPI's, to meet company needs.
- Identified and solved complex strategy problems impacting management and business direction. This involved Excel data analysis and league tables.
- Coached and assessed junior team members, identifying knowledge and skills gaps to implement targeted corrective actions.
HR Manager / Teacher
Suwon Global Village
Seoul, South Korea
08.2011 - 05.2013
- Coordinated recruitment of foreign teachers, managing adherence to visa and immigration laws, including tax and medical requirements.
- Liaising with new employees and the Ministry of Justice in Korea regarding E2 visas with Notice of Appointment certs and Employment Contracts.
- Facilitated onboarding of 12 teachers from Canada and US, ensuring compliance with curriculum standards and integration into school culture.
- Oversaw teachers' performance in classroom management and instructional methods. on classroom control, behaviour, and instructional strategies.
- Monitored teaching progress through analysis of KPIs and coursework assessments, providing targeted feedback and guidance for continuous improvement.
- Managed client expectations professionally and thoughtfully in school projects.
New Media Team Leader
Yell.com / Yellow Pages
Belfast, County Antrim
06.2009 - 08.2011
- Designed advertisements and email communications, contributing to effective media campaigns that engaged target audiences.
- Successfully managed and supervised a team of 10, driving them towards reaching sales goals while exceeding set KPIs.
- Conducted internal audit of fraud trends, recommending strategies that enhanced corporate fraud prevention measures..
- Generated Yell.com / Yellow pages a net profit of £884K during my employment.
- Involvement with an internal audit of current fraud trends, recommending risk mitigation strategies to prevent future internal corporate fraud.
Mortgage Consultant
Santander
Belfast, County Antrim
01.2007 - 06.2009
- Analysed clients' background checks and financial records to determine loan risk, utilising credit reports and statistical analysis to inform lending decisions.
- Recorded and analysed client finances, creating assessments of lending possibilities and assessing risk to Santander and clients, enhancing KYC processes.
- Prepared audit reports to identify issues, liaising with managerial staff and presenting findings to resolve discrepancies in affordability checks, improving compliance.
- Extensive knowledge of risk management principles and practices within the financial services and adherence to FCA.
Education
BSc (HONS) - Health & Behavioural Science with Psychology
University of Abertay Dundee
Psychopharmacology01-2004
Custom
REFERENCES ON REQUEST
Timeline
Assistant Vice President- HR
Citi
01.2026 - Current
Assistant Vice President - Business Execution
Citi
01.2025 - 11.2025
Sr Business Analyst - Business Travel
Citi
09.2022 - 12.2025
Senior Travel Consultant
Trailfinders
07.2013 - 08.2022
HR Manager / Teacher
Suwon Global Village
08.2011 - 05.2013
New Media Team Leader
Yell.com / Yellow Pages
06.2009 - 08.2011
Mortgage Consultant
Santander
01.2007 - 06.2009
BSc (HONS) - Health & Behavioural Science with Psychology
University of Abertay Dundee