Open To Work
Awantha Bandara
147 Nelson street, Auckland Central,New Zealand
Summary
Dynamic banking professional with over 12 years of experience in banking, financial services, and retail across Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and New Zealand. Expertise includes credit analysis, account management, sales coordination, customer relations, recovery, and back-office operations. Proficient in core banking systems such as Finacle, BPM, Siebel CRM, and Oracle. Seeking a challenging role in Auckland to leverage international experience and contribute to organizational success.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Customer Service Representative
Hertz Australia Pty Ltd
02.2025 - Current
- Hands- on experience in serving domestic and international customers visiting Hertz branch.
- End-to-end customer interactions including financial transactions and document verification.
- Process payments and contract documentation with a focus on accuracy and customer satisfaction.
- Liaise with clients to ensure timely delivery and return of vehicles, applying strong problem-solving skills.
- Managed high-stress situations effectively, maintaining professionalism under pressure while resolving disputes or conflicts.
- Developed strong product knowledge to provide informed recommendations based on individual customer needs.
Customer Service Team Member (Part-time)
Domino's Pizza
11.2023 - 02.2025
- Provided fast, friendly, and efficient service in a high-volume, customer-facing environment.
- Handled phone and in-store orders, processed payments (cash, EFTPOS), and ensured order accuracy.
- Acted as a first point of contact for customer queries and complaints, resolving issues with a focus on satisfaction and efficiency.
- Assisted in shift operations, maintaining service quality and hygiene standards during peak periods.
- Supported back-office processes, including inventory tracking and daily reconciliation.
Senior Processing Associate – Accounts Maintenance & Projects
Emirates NBD Bank Group
04.2021 - 10.2023
- Perform Account maintenance activities for Priority, Corporate and Retail Banking Customers
- KYC updates for Priority, Corporate and Retail customers
- Handling Restrictions / Central bank complaints mailbox for urgent restrictions placement and removals.
- Involved in projects for Central bank - remediation and blacklisting
- Providing excellent customer service by handling and resolving customer inquiries and complaints
- Contributed significantly to the achievement of departmental goals through consistent delivery of high-quality results under tight deadlines.
- Managed high-volume tasks efficiently, prioritizing workloads for optimal time management.
Executive – Credit Analysis & Customer Relations
Asset Line Leasing Company Ltd
08.2017 - 09.2019
- Supported Senior Relationship Manager to Handle a portfolio (Property Mortgage Loans, Personal Loans, Vehicle Finance) worth of LKR 8 BN (NZD48MN)
- Engaging in day today client requirements and support, advise and assisting them to execute their business transactions.
- Excellent knowledge in processing lending applications from end to end including financial and risk analysis
- Periodically review customer credit lines and providing recommendation for amendments.
- Analysis f customer project reports in financial and risk terms and preparing the lending appraisals accordingly.
- Monitoring whether the customers comply with bank's credit terms and necessary actions are taken if any breaches are identified
Branch Credit Analyst
DFCC Bank PLC
06.2014 - 07.2017
- Successfully managed a total portfolio worth of LKR 2.5BN (NZD 15 Mn) with diversified business ventures ranging from general trading enterprises, contracting companies & service organizations etc. (Average annual lending portfolio growth was 20%)
- Analyzed credit data and financial statements to assess risk and determine creditworthiness
- Improved overall portfolio quality, conducting regular reviews of existing accounts and recommending appropriate actions.
- Completion of all collateral details with perfection of Security documents according to the policies & procedures of the bank.
- Liaising with the credit risk division on approvals and attending credit committee meetings on deal negotiations.
- Looking after Branch Over Counter transactions (Cash Operations, Branch Vault Operations, Prepare Cash Reconciliation etc.) in the absence of Branch Officer in Charge.
- Coordination with CAD to ensure that facility documents are lodged, and limits are encoded.
- Monitoring activities for non-performing assets in the portfolio and taking steps to ensure recoveries. (NPA was 2 % - 2.5%).
- Constantly liaising with the clients in order to maximize the account profitability and growth of both the asset base and the liabilities with cross selling across different markets.
- Monthly MIS and Reconciliations
- Oversaw branch operations in the absence of branch manager.
Education
Master of Applied Management (Level 9) -
Southern Institute of Technology
Invercargill12.2024
Bachelor of Business Administration (Level 7) - Accounting (Special)
University of Colombo
Sri Lanka01.2014
Applied Payroll – Micro Credential (Level 5) -
Southern Institute of Technology
Invercargill10.2024
Diploma - Banking & Finance
Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka06.2017
Chartered Accountancy (Intermediate Level) -
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka03.2008
Skills
- Mortgage and personal/corporate loan assessment and approval
- Credit and financial documentation analysis
- Risk and credit administration
- Customer service
- Branch operations
- Account maintenance
- Compliance, AML, KYC, regulatory adherence
- Core banking systems
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Problem resolution
- Relationship building
- Product knowledge
- Administrative support
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
- Coordination
- Account management
- Escalation management
- CRM software
- Computer proficiency
- Complaint handling
- Payment processing
Additional Information
Full New Zealand Driver's License (Class 1)
Timeline
Customer Service Representative
Hertz Australia Pty Ltd
02.2025 - Current
Customer Service Team Member (Part-time)
Domino's Pizza
11.2023 - 02.2025
Senior Processing Associate – Accounts Maintenance & Projects
Emirates NBD Bank Group
04.2021 - 10.2023
Executive – Credit Analysis & Customer Relations
Asset Line Leasing Company Ltd
08.2017 - 09.2019
Branch Credit Analyst
DFCC Bank PLC
06.2014 - 07.2017
Master of Applied Management (Level 9) -
Southern Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Business Administration (Level 7) - Accounting (Special)
University of Colombo
Applied Payroll – Micro Credential (Level 5) -
Southern Institute of Technology
Diploma - Banking & Finance
Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka
Chartered Accountancy (Intermediate Level) -
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka