Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Robert Taylor-Smith

Douglasville,USA

Summary

Ambitious Senior Program Officer aiming to utilize an aptitude for improving and protecting organizational efficiency. Focused and effective with a passion for contributing to team goals. Bringing many years of industry experience to a professional role with a new team. Competent Administrator with many years managing and implementing risk mitigation solutions. Evaluated segregation of duties within finance and other functions to protect sensitive data and processes using "SOX as best practice". Interaction with internal and external auditors on software vulnerability, access and advised/instructed organization on best practices to minimize risks. Knowledgeable professional, effective in updating and optimizing secure configurations and procedures. Competent Security Administrator with many years of experience managing and implementing security solutions. Ability to maintain register of controlled access to financial software, to protect sensitive data and processes.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Program Officer – ATM Managed Services

Fiserv Inc
Berkeley Heights, USA
12.2023 - Current
  • Providing daily status reports on the operations of ATM machines or 25 Banking and Credit Union clients
  • Providing monthly summary reports on ATM performance vs SLAs
  • Ensuring vendors effect immediate repairs to ATMs on breakdown
  • Ensuring vendors provide/pick up and deposits of cash to ATMs at agreed times
  • Assist with cash settlements and claims via US Bank on vendors
  • Ensuring all relevant services Programmed and delivered to Bank clients on ATM swaps and installations

Senior Consultant – International Development

Agence France de Developement - Aye & Partners Consultants
Paris, France
02.2022 - 06.2022
  • Review of activities and staffing complement of private sector financing activities of major international development agency client (PROPARCO)
  • Provided strategic counselling and advice on way forward 2022/2028 with regards to their staffing requirements worldwide in view of expected increase in donor activity

Senior Finance Advisor

Development Bank of Rwanda
, Rwanda
01.2019 - 12.2020
  • Providing results based management expertise to Senior Energy Manager on Project Management of World Bank funded Renewable Energy Fund
  • Develop detailed work plans and specifications for yearly installations of units
  • Assisting commercial banks in obtaining loans from fund for on lending to clients in renewable energy space
  • Ensuring risk management profile of clients matches Development Banks tolerances
  • Ensuring all project reporting at an acceptable standard for World Bank Task Manager review
  • Innovative capital markets fund raising ideas
  • Ensuring installations of solar home systems in rural areas along guidelines and government projections
  • Review of all Rwanda Government documentation on the award of the Fund to BRD, production of Inception Report and monthly reports on project progress and Fund disbursements

Senior Consultant

African Development Bank
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
01.2017 - 08.2017
  • Displayed a thorough knowledge of bank business lines & functional areas by providing expertise to Senior Vice President on the review, application of Delegation of Authority Matrix of the Bank, following the restructuring of the operations departments of the Bank with the creation of the Regional Office structure, taking into account SOX requirements as 'best practice'
  • Assisted with scoping and needs assessment of the Internal Service Level Standards Project in support of the Delegation of Authority Matrix as part of a Consulting Team of four consultants
  • Ensured compliance with accounting, audit, segregation of duties, making adjustments to ensure effective using SOX requirements as the 'best practice' guide
  • Complete desk review of all bank reorganization documentation and preparation of Inception Report, Progress Report (mid term) and Final Report with recommendations on Bank Reorganization and interdepartmental Service Level Agreements

Senior Finance Officer

International Labour Organisation
Geneva, Switzerland
12.2012 - 12.2015
  • Provided financial & management counsel to the Africa Regional Director, management, ILO Treasurer based at ILO headquarters in Geneva
  • Reviewed and monitored field foreign exchange transactions to identify best financial savings, ensure compliance, exemption from taxes enforced in countries
  • Directed business continuity planning installation for headquarters & all field offices
  • Assisted Deputy Director General Field Projects, ILO Bangladesh with Bangladesh Clothing Factory rehabilitation project’s start-up, relocation, management
  • Ensured Africa Regional Biennial Budget conformed to the prevailing strategic objectives of the ILO
  • Ability to identify and resolve exceptions and to analyze data from financial results from Africa Region
  • Assist internal and external auditors on SOX audit queries in relation to Africa Region financial results
  • Launched Business Continuity system in 80 ILO offices on four continents within three months
  • Identified, secured & relocated project offices for Bangladesh Rana Plaza Project within two-week deadline
  • Reviewed and secured approved of all Bangladesh Rana Plaza Project operations plans, schedules, consulting agreements and other program documents
  • Ensured successful completion of all tasks related to Rana Plaza Project start up including technical, financial and business development activities

Chief ILO Regional Finance & Administrative Services

International Labour Organisation
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
09.2001 - 12.2012
  • Operational & financial oversight for all administration, Finance, IT & HR in Africa
  • Performed risk management reviews at all Offices in Africa
  • Demonstrated an ability to identify, resolve issues and manage risk within the Region
  • Oversaw preparation of quarterly budgets, financial reports, statements
  • Generated and reviewed quarterly financial statements via Financial Module of SAP Hana
  • Ensured Africa Regional biennial budget conformed to the strategic objectives of the ILO after consultations with Program, Regional Director, Country Directors, HQ
  • Ensured Africa spending more strategic, rational and orderly by planning spending according to strategic objectives of the Region, its priorities, initiatives
  • Introduced 'Results based financing'
  • Oversaw treasury compliance, segregation of finance duties within offices, directed financial accounting, reporting, expense review, tax exemption privileges ensured
  • Assisted with Project start ups and closeouts all over the Africa Region
  • Ensured compliance with HQ banking & treasury procedures in all field locations
  • Facilitated internal implementations of SOX audit recommendations, internal and external audit relations, follow-ups
  • Administrated infrastructure, human resources selection, management, documentation, security of Staff, office infrastructure for the Africa Region
  • Served as Project Manager interface with HQ IT experts to review, select, install, maintain information technology, communications equipment & system
  • Demonstrated ability to work successfully with demanding customers, difficult schedules and technically challenging projects
  • Provided financial & management counsel to Regional Director, Africa Region Offices & ILO Treasurer management in Geneva, Switzerland
  • Employed strong organizational skills in closing out completed Projects and transferring material to host governments
  • Developed critical operational financial systems & delivered training to ensure operational
  • Assured quality of continental recording of data and office projects products, services and deliverables including participation in reviews, audits and site visits
  • Assisted internal auditors with Regional readiness for SOX audit and external auditors with SOX audit queries as regards Africa Region
  • Liaised for Africa Region with external and internal auditors, implemented all audit and SOX related recommendations in 15 offices, 40 projects throughout Africa
  • Performed office program financial management services and financial analysis, budget and cost reviews, management, reconciliations and profit enhancements
  • Developed & implemented strategy to increase Africa regions’ financial administrative efficiency response to HQ needs by recruiting high-caliber personnel; increasing in-service bi-yearly Africa finance staff development learning; training to increase, standardize streamline data input quality
  • Supervised assigned technical administrative staff including subordinate managers and directors and performed personnel actions including hiring and performance evaluations
  • Supervised update & installation of ILO Africa office data communications infrastructure prior to Oracle based IRIS-ERP system regional launch and SAP Hana migration

Budget Director

Maryland Aviation Administration
Baltimore, USA
07.1999 - 08.2001
  • Managed operations budget for Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWIA), the fastest growing airport in the US, with an annual expense budget of $80M annual capital budget of $250M
  • Developed & defended the BWIA annual budget to the Maryland Department of Transportation & State Governor’s Office
  • Collaborated with team that successfully raised US$1Billion from capital markets for BWIA Airport runway, terminal, hotel additions, extensions, rehabilitation
  • Performed financial management services including financial analysis, budget and cost quote preparations, cost management, reconciliations and profit calculations

Education

Sarbanes Oxley Compliance - Requirements Training – Financial Institutions

12.2002

Masters (MSc) - Finance

Boston University/Vreij University
Boston, MA, USA
12.1984

Postgraduate Certification - Computer Information Systems

Boston University/Vreij University
Boston, MA, USA
12.1984

SAP Hana Finance Module - functional Central Finance Training & review

Skills

  • Policy analysis
  • Quality deliverables
  • Quality management
  • Effective Project Coordination
  • Interdepartmental Teamwork
  • Collaborative Relationship Management
  • Technical Troubleshooting Support
  • Collaborative Partnership Building
  • Access control management
  • Security risk assessment
  • Security awareness training
  • Application security
  • Firewall administration

References

  • Camerica Nchami-Quan, Manager, FISERV, ATM MS, +1 678.725-4313, USA
  • Francois Aye, Managing Partner, Aye & Partners Consultants, +41 78 2075151, Switzerland
  • Hector Mutijima Esq, Project Director, Rwanda Development Bank, +250 788306846, Rwanda
  • Adnan Chughtai, Treasurer, ILO, +41 227996111, Switzerland
  • Ricky Smith, Administrator, BWIA Airport, +1 410 859 7001, USA

Languages

French
Professional

Timeline

Senior Program Officer – ATM Managed Services

Fiserv Inc
12.2023 - Current

Senior Consultant – International Development

Agence France de Developement - Aye & Partners Consultants
02.2022 - 06.2022

Senior Finance Advisor

Development Bank of Rwanda
01.2019 - 12.2020

Senior Consultant

African Development Bank
01.2017 - 08.2017

Senior Finance Officer

International Labour Organisation
12.2012 - 12.2015

Chief ILO Regional Finance & Administrative Services

International Labour Organisation
09.2001 - 12.2012

Budget Director

Maryland Aviation Administration
07.1999 - 08.2001

Sarbanes Oxley Compliance - Requirements Training – Financial Institutions

Masters (MSc) - Finance

Boston University/Vreij University

Postgraduate Certification - Computer Information Systems

Boston University/Vreij University

SAP Hana Finance Module - functional Central Finance Training & review

Robert Taylor-Smith