United States, Atlanta
Program Manager Penny Pitts, Business, Accounting, Human Resources & Legal
Penny R. Pitts
Qualifications Summary
To utilize my extensive customer-centric persona, project management experience and integration/implementation skills to provide significant and effective results. By leveraging my leadership skills in Life Cycle Management, I’ll be able to provide visible results to your organization.
Financial services experiences associated with migrations and conversions.
Financial services experience with 3rd party vendors for credit cards, core processors’ integration.
Financial securities industry experience including AML Risk Management, Risk Compliance: Archer (eGRC).
Highly organized individual with strong enterprise program and project management skills, including the ability to continually prioritize and meet deadlines.
Proven experience managing several major projects involving diverse operations and technology groups.
Proven ability to negotiate and influence business decisions and directions.
Results driven individual with experience in producing results in deadline driven and goal-oriented environments.
Skilled at directing Life Cycle requirements for various initiatives.
Prior project management consulting experience for a software vendor.
Facilitative leader able to manage team members at various levels.
Process Improvement experience and prior ISO writing guidelines experience.
Demonstrated ability to forge, lead, and motivate outstanding teams in order to accomplish desired outcome as lead project manager.
Considerable experience in the banking industry with exposure to banking products, software, and financial practices.
Technical Summary
Experience in Jira.
Experience in Sales Force.
Product Up sales.
RFQs for new products.
Experience in Actimize Anti-Money Laundering solutions: risk compliance and management.
Experience in Actimize Fraud solutions.
Experience in Treasury Management products, specifically Wire Transfers and ACH.
Experience in Day 2 Check Processing (FIS/Metavante/Federal Reserve guidelines)
Experience with internet banking applications but not limited to; CheckFree Bill Pay, Digital Insight, Fidelity Online Banking, and Princeton eCom.
Experience in Core Processors such as Fiserv Precision/Signature/Premier, Jack Henry, BancPac, BancLine, etc.
SDLC experience with creation of in-house financial/banking products.
Extensive knowledge in Microsoft Office Applications, MS Project, SharePoint SW, Case Management Software.
Experience in utilizing Access, Oracle, and People Soft databases.
Extensive use of Adobe Acrobat, Schedule Publisher, and Data Warehouse Requirements Gathering.
Career Experience
Q2 eBanking – Austin, TX (Remote)
Sr. Project Manager/ Product Owner - (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020)
Q2 is a leading provider of secure, cloud-based digital banking solutions headquartered in Austin, Texas. Q2 is driven by a culture of partnership and empower community-focused banks and credit unions with a single, comprehensive digital banking platform for retail and commercial customers.
Enterprise Program and Project Management & Communication
Creates and maintain project materials on a weekly basis (schedule, workbook, status)
Sets client expectations for delivery, risk, and quality
Manages project scope
Manages change control
Manages risks and mitigation plan
Develops and foster partnership
Completes items assigned to PO in project checklist
Manages digital marketing portion of the project (up sales)
Directs the team
Set goals for the team for each sprint
Manages and prioritizes the Backlog
Develops the sprint plan for the project with the team
Maintains the correct prioritization of the client backlog based on client input
Grooms the backlog at least once daily to ensure it is accurate, complete, prioritized, and clear to all
Gathers requirements
Works with team to understand dependencies and requirements for the sprint
Writes user stories
Quality Assurance
Reviews completed work and accept/reject results
Assists with testing as needed
Works with Test Lead to demo delivered items
The Project Manager is responsible for implementing Q2’s ebanking solutions in order to align with the business requirements of our customers.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Partner with clients to understand business requirements and expectations.
Design and execute project plans and documentation to deploy Q2 solutions.
Direct project resources to complete tasks in a timely manner.
Work closely with the client and team to problem solve issues that arise.
Track status and provide updates in relation to overall implementation process.
Train and educate clients on the product and configuration options.
Responsible for ensuring that all security, availability, confidentiality and privacy policies and controls are adhered to.
Familiarity with enterprise software deployment architecture and methodologies.
Experience building documentation and project plans using Excel, MS Project, and MS PowerPoint.
Experience managing client expectations with a Client first attitude and commitment to satisfaction; strong written and oral communication skills with excellent people and teamwork skills; Ability to remain calm, diplomatic, and cooperative under stressful conditions.
Ability to convey technical concepts to business-oriented banking project teams and interact with technical internal resources.
Attention to detail, exceptional follow-through, the ability to prioritize, stay organized, and multi-task in a fast-paced environment; experience in Financial Services and enterprise software experience is needed.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Collaborated with Project Manager on creating training curriculum for new project managers.
Created "Quick Training Notes" on Q2 Central (Admin tool/back office).
Created "Quick Training Notes" on UUX.
Created "Quick Training Notes" on creating/maintaining Groups in Apple Apps creation.
Nice Actimize – Alpharetta, GA
Senior Project Manager (Dec 2012 – Jan 2018)
Overall responsibility throughout the project lifecycle including defining mission and scope, requirements definition, digital marketing, business analysis, design, implementation, testing and deployment for AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and Fraud projects which included Risk Management & Risk Compliance (Archer (eGRC)).
Directed project team members and utilized time management skills in order to keep project in adherence with deadline. Enterprise Program & Project Management: Manage all project tasks including schedules, budgets, and resources, to ensure that quality solutions are delivered within time and cost constraints.
Build and manage client relationships.
Mentor staff with a hands-on approach and foster a learning and growth environment.
Actively transform business requirements into creative business solutions using existing products and new ideas that demonstrate out-of-the-box thinking.
Created and published project plan both in high-level and detailed formats. Prepare project status reports and presentations to keep management, customers and others informed of the project status and issues.
Responsible for communicating project status and potential risks to team members and executive management.
Defined success factors to achieve requested results.
Trained customers on processing formatted ACH files as it pertained to their core processor.
o Coordinated with Israeli counterparts to address product bugs and implement product fixes.
o Partnered with technical teams to determine product bugs and fixes as well as facilitated quality assurance.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. – Atlanta, GA
Sr. Consultant/Project Manager (June 2012 – Nov 2012)
Responsible for identifying risks, mitigation plan, and driving deliverables for advisory council launches and other customer-centric events.
Managing Communications for customers:
Compose/finalize external quarterly product updates & pilot opportunities
Drafting internal & external newsletters detailing customer feedback
Maintains iCEO Advisory Council Site, including post documents/videos to AC site & DCM
Managing Customer Feedback:
Tracking & reporting via the Customer Feedback System (CFS); Manages & tracks feedback submitted via internal channels, follows up with product manager on updates/responses to feedback, responds back to feedback submitter
Assist with communicating customer feedback to the various relevant organizations within Wells Fargo, with a primary focus on the Wholesale Services Group, including WITS, Treasury Management Sales, Client Services, Treasury Management Implementation, and International.
Assists with communicating bank responses back to customer/internal submitter; targeted feedback sessions focused on specific products or industries.
SunTrust Bank, N.A. – Atlanta, GA
Sr. Consultant (Apr 12 – June 12)
Responsible for identifying risks, mitigation plan, and driving deliverables for technology production launches and network/services expansion related to Wires and ACH products.
Validated operational readiness to include requirements, design, testing, documentation, training, tools, service level agreements (SLA’s), and service assurance.
Collaborated with existing officers and product vendors to deliver a GAP analysis of Treasury Management vendors.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. – Atlanta, GA
Sr. Project Manager (Mar 10 – Dec 2011)
Responsible for identifying risks, mitigation plan, and driving deliverables for production launches and network/services expansion.
Managed project teams with long-term and organizational-wide projects; all involving moderate risk, scope and complexity.
Validated operational readiness to include requirements, design, testing, documentation, training, tools, change management, service level agreements (SLA’s), and service assurance.
Evaluated and adjusted preventative measures such as policy & procedures, escalation procedures, and disaster recovery & business continuity.
Collaborated with existing customers, relationship managers, and bankers to present product conversion plans.
o Partnered in identifying product and service cross-sell opportunities.
o Determined issue resolution by completing account activity analysis.
o Provided additional sales focus for shared customers to ensure product strategy and usage is optimal.
FIS/Metavante – Norcross, GA
Sr. Project Manager (Aug 2006 – Oct 2009)
Established and developed the mission and scope for assigned projects.
Defined success factors to achieve requested results.
Directed project team members and utilized time management skills in order to keep project in adherence with deadline.
Created and published project plan both in high-level and detailed formats.
Responsible for communicating project status and potential risks to team members and executive management.
Trained customers on processing formatted ACH files as it pertained to their core processor.
o Coordinated with India counterparts to complete training and address product bugs and implement product fixes.
o Partnered with technical teams to determine product bugs and fixes as well as facilitated quality assurance.
MMBC – Tucker, GA
Education Program Director (Dec 2003 – May 2006)
Directed and correlated all aspects of various education departments.
Trained and mentored over 50 facilitators on a monthly basis.
Managed the departmental budget and coordinated reconciliation reviews with Finance Committee.
Maintained and improved vendor relationships and negotiated prices and services.
Created and implemented processes that resulted in saving over 40% in budget dollars.
Georgia Baptist Foundation – Atlanta, GA
Client Relations (Feb 2002 – Dec 2004)
Provided analytical and budgeting support to Executive Team.
Managed the Foundation budgets associated with allocating grant dollars.
Facilitated the monthly budget reviews with the Assistant Controller.
Implemented operational process, decreased financial and operating costs by over 15%.
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta – Atlanta, GA
Project Manager (2000 –2001)
Provided analytical, budgeting, and business development support to the President of the Central Implementation Team and district managers.
Duties included creating and distributing the Operating Budget for District Offices.
Managed Liaison for Atlanta CIT district.
Managed implementation responsibilities for 45 offices within the Federal Reserve System.
Romac International, The Coca Cola Company – Atlanta, GA
Financial Analyst - Consultant (1999 –2000)
Provided financial analysis and budgeting support to NCB’s Finance Supervisor.
Created and maintained Annual Operating & Sales Expense Budgets.
Analyzed month-end Rolling Estimate and Year-End Accruals.
Prepared and presented financial schedules to Bid Support Managers.
Collaborated with Sales Support and Marketing to successfully settle Bid Settlements for Bottlers concerning education funding.
Participated in year-end closing process, as well as monthly and bi-annual closings.
Sherwood, Davis+Geck – (Southeast Regional Office Program Support) Snellville, GA
Sales Support Analyst - (1996 –1998)
Provided project/program management, analytical, budgeting, marketing and sales support to the Area Vice President of the Southeast Region.
Duties included Client Bid Pricing/Contract Proposals and Communications; Commissions’ Analysis; Forecasting; Pricing Analysis; Trend Analysis; and Contract Management.
Reviewing and tracking vendor invoices to reconcile and manage Southeast Area Office spending.
Supported regional managers in developing financial and operating reports for their respective regions.
Education
Luther Rice University - Lithonia, GA
- Doctorate, Professional, Counseling and Public Communication.
- Master of Education, with an emphasis in Delivery (Training) and Curriculum Writing.
State University of West Georgia - Carrollton, GA
- Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.
Business, Accounting, Human Resources & Legal
Business Strategy
Property Management
Project Management
Project Management Office
Account Management