Jayalakshmi Chandrasekaran

• Align Financial Markets Operations business strategy with the Bank’s overall objectives, driving operational efficiency, and process improvements (STP/ZTP).
• Manage complex client service scenarios, offering tailored solutions, and identifying opportunities to expand wallet share across FMO products.
• Act as the primary escalation point for client operational queries, strengthening relationships with senior operational contacts, and ensuring swift issue resolution.
• Support the rollout of the Differentiated Client Service Model in the U.S., and enhance service delivery by collaborating with Sales, Relationship Managers, and internal teams.
• Assist with the onboarding of new-to-bank clients, reviewing operational documents and requirements, including ensuring the best first trade experience.
• Capture and act on the Voice of the Customer feedback, driving continuous service improvements.
• Ensure compliance with Group Risk Management standards, and work with Risk, Legal, and Compliance teams to mitigate potential operational risks.

• Develop and execute strategies to meet departmental goals, ensuring efficient and accurate transaction processing for Financial Market Operations.
• Implement controls to ensure smooth operations, and provide leadership and guidance to the management team.
• Drive team participation in process and project improvements, while maintaining strong relationships with all stakeholders.
• Focus on continuous productivity improvement to meet process standards, upholding the Group's and Company's values.
• Ensure compliance with Money Laundering Prevention policies, report suspicious transactions, and adhere to all relevant regulations and policies.
• Promptly inform senior management, and take corrective actions in the event of regulatory breaches or risk violations.
• Demonstrate exemplary conduct by adhering to the Group’s Values, Code of Conduct, and regulatory standards.
• Lead the FMO team to achieve fair outcomes for clients, effective financial markets, and strong financial crime compliance, while collaboratively addressing risks and compliance matters.

• Ensure error-free transactions and timely settlements, addressing discrepancies within cut-off timelines.
• Comply with settlement guidelines, escalate exceptions, and seek necessary approvals.
• Identify risks, implement controls, and regularly update operating instructions.
• Maintain zero outstanding Nostro/Suspense entries beyond three days, and ensure audit readiness.
• Identify training needs, and manage team productivity and performance.
• Proactively manage customer expectations, and drive solutions.
• Support project initiatives, standardize processes, and drive improvements.
• Conduct service reviews, analyze system capacity, and address non-STP transactions.
• Adhere to group policies, BCP/BIA, and perform key control self-assessments.
• Submit regular MIS reports to senior management.

I have held various roles in Global Financial Markets (GFM) and Treasury Operations, focusing on back-office settlement processing for foreign exchange, money market, and other treasury products. GFM includes teams for static data setup and Nostro/suspense reconciliation, providing support to countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, New York, London, and Taiwan.

As head of NY Settlements, the team was responsible for processing transactions covering various products, such as Foreign Exchange, Money Market, Non-Deliverable Forward, Call and Notice, and Delivery Versus Payments, etc.

Lead the Global Reconciliations Department for Far East and Europe sites. The team was responsible for the reconciliation and investigation of Nostro, suspense, and internal accounts. The support function assists in activities like overdraft interest, compensation/penalty claims, USD balances, etc.

During my 10-month stint in the Global Reconciliation Hub, I managed Nostro Reconciliation for regions including Africa, and MESA. Responsibilities include the reconciliation of accounts, the investigation of open items, and the preparation of daily/monthly reports, including MIS.

For the subsequent seven months, I was part of Global Market Operations, covering MIS reporting for the UK, the US, and India operations. Responsibilities include the preparation of productivity and Key Risk Indicators report, analyzing processes and identifying areas for process improvements, and ensuring quality service delivery through Six Sigma.