Sayeeda Thorkildsen
Marlow
Summary
Driven and resourceful Executive Assistant with 10+ years supporting high profile directors, teams and services. Well-organised with the ability to work under pressure both in a team and on own. Quick to learn, always aim to go the extra mile, self-motivated, loyal and committed. Always have a positive outlook with a confident and cheerful attitude. Key skills include ability to prioritise workload in a highly pressurised environment, organised, diligent approach with a good attention to detail, pro-active, resilient, solution focused and the ability to build good working relationships .
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Buckinghamshire Council
Aylesbury
06.2021 - Current
- Managed the directors complex and frequently changing diaries ensuring they were continuously updated, with priorities managed efficiently.
- Managed in-person, hybrid and Teams meetings including, presentation packs and agendas, booking meeting rooms, meeting support with minute/note taking, follow up on actions and distributing paperwork within timeframes
- Lead in the organisation of forums and events with venue booking, catering and logistics as well as presentation support improving attendance by 25% by effective communication
- Managed purchase orders and expense claims within timeframes improving visibility to the finance and service teams by 40%
- Ensured all travel and accommodation arrangements were effectively handled and ran smoothly
- Effectively supported the complaints process and improved visibility by 30% by ensuring all communication was dealt with and delegated to the correct person/team within timeframes
- Working collaboratively with EA's, internal and external stakeholders to provide a seamless service with a proactive and effective approach
- Created and managed online trackers as well as forward plans for projects to ensure data is kept up to date and accessible by all relevant parties
- Improved online document control keeping a log of forward plans, actions from meetings and presentations.
BUSINESS SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Buckinghamshire Council
High Wycombe
11.2020 - 06.2021
- Managed meetings with internal and external parties including virtual set up, invitations, providing information packs to the conference attendees, diary management and minutes taking
- Provided full administrative support and advice to management team
- Maintained the confidential data cases including updating and flagging any issues and proof reading
- Provided cover and support for other team members as and when required.
PROJECT COORDINATOR
MLL Telecom
Marlow
09.2019 - 09.2020
- Managed end to end process of service provider projects financials, and track progress throughout the lifecycle of a project and ensuring milestones are delivered against according to plan
- Enhanced project transparency and accountability with rigorous evaluation and record-keeping.
- Maximised communication and transparency between clients, internal departments and stakeholders.
- Recommend and action process changes, working with internal and external teams to continually improve processes
- Managed invoicing, purchase orders, reconciling and receipting process for specific customer projects including raising credits where necessary
- Supported and developed new team members with invoicing process, improving communications and documentation, IT usage and supporting the apprentice in project administration when necessary
- Reviewed project documents and highlighted discrepancies and errors for correction.
OFFICE MANAGER/PA
Alfriston School
Beaconsfield
08.2016 - 01.2019
- Effectively managed the office and operational support of the site in a fast-paced environment
- Adhering to business requirements, values and expectations
- Overseeing risk assessments for the office, reviewing and updating policies including H&S for the workplace and manage the fire drill process along with the Site Manager and leadership team
- Managed the HR process including recruitment, data management including absence & sick leave, payroll support and producing staff reports for the management team
- Personnel information management and HR advice to senior management
- Provided high level PA support including diary management, booking meetings, room equipment and appointments
- Minute-taking for meetings, preparing agendas, following up on actions and supporting documentation
- Document control, preparing meeting packs and typing up follow ups
- Oversaw the use and development of databases including SIMS and transfer of confidential information using AnyComms and other secure systems
- Managed the administration finance process with purchase orders, authorising invoices, budget management for shared facilities, office stock and reprographics
- Keeping within forecasted budget for the year
- Contract management for reprographics, mobile phones & phone system including negotiations at renewal stage
- Office IT support for minor issues
- Produced and published newsletter and all general communication for the Academy ensuring all were kept up to date with events, changes and achievements
- Managed events and provided activities support with bookings and liaising venues for staff training and pupil trips
- Booking transport, co-ordinating hospitality, attendees and follow up surveys
- Arranging overseas staff travel
- Improved the operational efficiency by implementing digital tools allowing staff to improve their productivity with faster ways of working by 50%.
ASSISTANT REGISTRAR/PA
GEMS Wellington International School
Dubai
09.2012 - 03.2016
- Effectively built and maintained excellent relationships with pupils, parents, staff and stakeholders
- Effectively planned and managed a demanding workload to respond to the demands and priorities of the business
- Demonstrated excellent communication skills, written and in person through meetings, tours, assessments and feedback
- Provided administrative support of confidential issues to SLT
- Maintained diary management, booking meetings and meeting rooms and note taking
- Provided reports to SLT and the corporate office for visibility of admissions
- Continuously resolved complaints, managed feedback and general correspondence
- Continually improved working processes including customer services levels within the Registration team
- Drove initiative to improve the information maintained in the registration and student databases.
Relocation/Maternity
04.2010 - 09.2012
CUSTOMER SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR
Intuit
Maidenhead, Berkshire
03.2008 - 03.2010
- Supported the customer service team with daily support within timeframes to resolve product issues and improve operational delivery.
- Improved visibility by by 20% by reporting and analysing product issues, bug fixes and customer feedback, and monitoring/updating community forum for UK products and escalating issues to product team.
- Facilitated professional liaisons with B2B and B2C relationships, customers and representatives.
- Maintained and improved database management and filing systems.
- Mentored and training customer service team with escalation resolutions. Setting up, monitoring, and dealing with high level complaints both on the telephone and via email, documenting cases and working to resolve issues for both customer and company.
- Events coordinator, part of a small team to plan, organise and oversee company team building exercises, overseas visitor meetings, social events such as summer and Christmas parties, charity work and product launches.
- Created a new system to handle customer complaints. Mentored outsourced agents to improve and maintain client relations. Improved visibility of the department to BU and maintaining SLAs.
- Drafted monthly KPI reports detailing trends, and common complaints, enabling product team to adjust strategy.
Education
BSc (Hons) Degree - Tourism
Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
GNVQ - Travel & Tourism
East Berkshire College
GCSEs -
Windsor Girls School
Windsor, Windsor and MaidenheadSkills
- Thorough minute-keeping
- Business administration
- Financial services
- Travel coordination
- Results-orientated
- Schedule management
- Dedicated team player
- Professional correspondence
- Staff relations
- Technical support
- Inbox management
- Efficient under pressure
- Document transcription
- Event planning
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Incoming and outgoing mail management
- Fast typing speed
- Document proofreading and editing
- Microsoft Office, SAP & ServiceNow
Languages
English
Native
Urdu
Elementary
Spanish
Beginner
Timeline
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Buckinghamshire Council
06.2021 - Current
BUSINESS SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Buckinghamshire Council
11.2020 - 06.2021
PROJECT COORDINATOR
MLL Telecom
09.2019 - 09.2020
OFFICE MANAGER/PA
Alfriston School
08.2016 - 01.2019
ASSISTANT REGISTRAR/PA
GEMS Wellington International School
09.2012 - 03.2016
Relocation/Maternity
04.2010 - 09.2012
CUSTOMER SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR
Intuit
03.2008 - 03.2010
BSc (Hons) Degree - Tourism
Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
GNVQ - Travel & Tourism
East Berkshire College
GCSEs -
Windsor Girls School
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