Regina Pascual
Irvine,CA
Summary
Forward-thinking seasoned Operations Manager bringing extensive years of expertise in Wealth Management for Investments, Risk & Compliance focus. Cultivates rapport with individuals to optimize project goals and output, resolve complex problems and deliver innovative improvement strategies. Results oriented and a deadline driven leader with extensive experience working and leading in large and small teams with the ability to adapt to and foresees opportunities in the rapidly changing financial services landscape. Proficient in Bloomberg, FIS, SWP Core, Appian, Microsoft Office.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President, Administration & Operations Mg
Bank Of The West (recently Acquired By BMO Bank)
05.2017 - Current
- Managed team of 6 senior cross-functionally trained analysts (Risk, Operations, Financial/Regulatory Reporting, Investments, and Technology) that provided support across 19 state footprint/multiple time zones.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities of Trust and Investments group (staff of 68) in addition to mentoring direct team members.
- Developed and implemented business strategies to achieve business goals and stay competitive.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Manages risk assessment daily to prevent financial loss.
- Established and maintained productive staff relationships to improve workplace morale (dept off-sites), increase productivity and enhance personal growth.
- Introduced new methods, practices, and systems to reduce turnaround time.
- Implemented WM projects which helped achieve goals, tasks and milestones that aligned with organizational strategy.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Dedicated Administrator for Sales Incentive Plan for all client facing Wealth Management officers. Performed role for 52 consecutive quarters.
- Set, enforced, and optimized internal policies to maintain responsiveness to demands.
- Implemented process improvements to shape organizational culture, optimize procedures for higher efficiency and help department evolve and grow.
- Identified and resolved unauthorized, out of compliance or outdated practices.
- Supervised operations staff and kept department employees compliant with bank and regulatory policies and procedures.
- Led hiring, onboarding and cross training of new hires to fulfill business unit's requirements.
- Analyzed and provided reporting on key performance metrics to executive senior management and oversight committees MoM.
Vice President, Investments Operations Manager
Bank Of The West, BNP Paribas
03.2014 - 05.2017
- Supported Executive Team in reviewing, identifying and prioritizing investment strategic initiatives.
- Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders, auditors and legal counsel to confirm all investment processes, reporting, transactions, engaged vendors are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Collaborated on multiple integration investment projects
- Led team of 3 investment focused operations analysts.
- Increased profit by streamlining investment team's operations thru adoption of BOTS, Appian, Power BI, and new CRM tool
- Reduced process bottlenecks by training and coaching employees on practices, procedures, and performance strategies.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to obtain best pricing and terms.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and third party providers (TPP).
Asst. Vice Pres, Investments Compliance Officer
Bank Of The West, BNP Paribas
09.2010 - 03.2014
- Established Wealth Management investment compliance monitoring program
- Implemented improvement initiatives and developed compliance testing program to monitor and identify gaps in new and existing practices.
- Responded to employee inquiries regarding compliance regulations and procedures.
- Monitored and assessed compliance risks associated with operational processes and procedures.
- Annually assisted with both internal and external audits to confirm compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Trained YoY junior financial examiners, explaining procedures and protocols.
- Managed practical action plans to respond to audit discoveries and compliance violations.
- Identified, investigated and documented compliance violations and recommended corrective measures.
- Developed and maintained 6 reports system for tracking and reporting compliance violations.
- Reviewed, revised and updated on quarterly basis average 5-10 compliance policies and procedures to ensure continual compliance with applicable laws.
- Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders, auditors and legal counsel to confirm compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Prepared and submitted regulatory filings in timely manner YoY.
Events & Marketing Coordinator
ROTH Capital Partners
04.2006 - 12.2008
- Created and managed marketing budgets to monitor expenditures, control costs and increase ROI.
- Managed relationships with external vendors and contractors to acquire mutually benefiting contracts and successful project delivery.
- Developed and executed marketing plans for conferences (2000+ attendees) and trade shows and other events to increase brand awareness.
Corporate Trust Escrow Officer
Wells Fargo
04.2004 - 04.2006
- Administered over Mergers & Acquisitions portfolio of Corporate Trust Escrow Division
- Consistently averaged between 2-25 deals per month.
- Followed industry standard escrow procedures and maintained awareness of regulations governing escrow process.
- Provided proactive, high quality client service and administration.
- Prepared documents for closing and handled complete disbursement and follow up of escrow transactions
- Compiled closing packages for drafting and presentation accuracy
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business And Managerial Economics
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CASkills
- Management
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
- Account Management
- Policy and Procedure Development
- Incentive Plans/Bonus Administration
- Project management
- Business operations organization
- Customer Service Solutions
- Strategic Planning
- Judgment and Decision-Making
- Budget Oversight
- Recruiting and Hiring
- Relationship and Team-Building
Accomplishments
- Established the controls & monitoring team tasked in providing direct testing across the combined Trust & Investments managed book of business.
- Achieved 100% employee retention rate in the past 36 months despite pandemic conditions and overall bank employee turnover in early 2022
- Reduced out of balance asset allocation exceptions across 2000+ managed accounts by 65% in the last 5 years.
- Oversaw successful implementation of Bank of the West's fee schedule overhaul, rollout and client communication across the bank footprint. Project was completed on time (1 month prior to the start of the pandemic WFH mandate) all under business budget.
- Reorganized middle office operations staff twice in the span of 8 years to align with organizations' internal restructuring program and the recent acquisition to create centers of excellence, reduce cost and improve efficiency.
- Led annual regulatory and corporate compliance examinations for the Trust & Investments department for the past 13 years.
Certification
Designation
- Accredited Fiduciary Investment Manager (AFIM), Cannon Financial Institute
Certifications
- Certified Fiduciary & Investment Risk Specialist (CFIRS), Cannon Financial Institute
- Certified Trust Operations Professional (CTOP), Cannon Financial Institute
Timeline
Vice President, Administration & Operations Mg
Bank Of The West (recently Acquired By BMO Bank)
05.2017 - Current
Vice President, Investments Operations Manager
Bank Of The West, BNP Paribas
03.2014 - 05.2017
Asst. Vice Pres, Investments Compliance Officer
Bank Of The West, BNP Paribas
09.2010 - 03.2014
Events & Marketing Coordinator
ROTH Capital Partners
04.2006 - 12.2008
Corporate Trust Escrow Officer
Wells Fargo
04.2004 - 04.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Business And Managerial Economics
University of California, Irvine
Designation
- Accredited Fiduciary Investment Manager (AFIM), Cannon Financial Institute
Certifications
- Certified Fiduciary & Investment Risk Specialist (CFIRS), Cannon Financial Institute
- Certified Trust Operations Professional (CTOP), Cannon Financial Institute
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