Summary
Overview
Work History
Curriculum Vitae
Skills And Experience
Communication Skills
Personal Qualities
Personal Achievements
Personal Statement
References
Timeline
Generic

Carissa Thomas

Hobsonville,AUK

Summary

Insightful Manager with experience directing and improving operations through effective employee motivational strategies and strong policy enforcement. Proficient in best practices, market trends and regulatory requirements of industry operations. Talented leader with analytical approach to business planning and day-to-day problem-solving.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience

Work History

Customer Response Manager (Secondment)

Resolution Life
05.2023 - 12.2023
  • Complaint investigation, management and resolution, dealing directly with customers and/or advisers
  • Management of Insurance Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) referrals, of which none were upheld
  • Risk evaluation and compensation recommendations
  • Identification of systemic/service issues
  • Customer communications support to frontline teams

Maternity Leave

06.2022 - 05.2023

Line 1 Risk Manager

Resolution Life (Formally AMP Life Limited)
02.2021 - 06.2022
  • Led implementation and embedding of Risk Management (incidents, controls) frameworks, policies and procedures
  • Assisted with bi-annual risk profiling workshops for leadership team members
  • Assess Issues and Incidents logged in the incident management tool to determine the following: correct details recorded, remedial items to resolve the problem are adequate, examine if the event is a result of poor control design effectiveness or operational effectiveness and determine if the event is a reportable breach, ensure correct risk is linked to incident/issue
  • Carried out enterprise-wide incident management training and Governance Risk and Compliance system training.

Maternity Leave

01.2020 - 02.2021

Client Quality & Incident Manager

AMP
01.2019 - 01.2020
  • Oversaw Client Quality framework for customer calls and communications
  • Completed weekly updates to business units on targets for completion and how they were tracking
  • Completed monthly reporting to key stakeholders
  • Managed all incidents loaded for the business, this included setting up meetings with key stakeholders, facilitating incident meetings, ensuring remediation tasks are on track and completed by agreed timeframes, ensuring accountability for actions required
  • Completed monthly reporting on incidents, root cause and trend analysis
  • Presented at monthly Business Risk and Compliance Committee meetings.

Operational Risk & Compliance Manager (Quality & Oversight)

Westpac
06.2017 - 12.2018
  • Completed first line Operational Risk and Compliance Assurance reviews on branches to ensure they were complying with Westpac Risk and Compliance standards in normal day to day business
  • This included a debrief of findings with the Bank Manager, Assistant Bank Manager and Regional Manager, producing a report of issues identified and an action plan to assist the Bank Manager in addressing these
  • Completed coaching and training on Risk and Compliance aspects, from Bank Manager onboarding, Bank Manager monthly meetings, and general Risk and Compliance queries from staff
  • I was selected to be interviewed by the FMA (Financial Markets Authority) on Westpac's sales conduct and incentive process
  • Assess and provide Level One approval where appropriate to accept documents outside Westpac's Positively Identifying Customers policy when onboarding customers, ensuring Westpac still complies with AML/CFT obligations
  • Completed high performance sales testing to ensure staff are adhering to Westpac guidelines.

Operational Efficiency Manager

Westpac
03.2016 - 06.2017
  • I have been involved in the implementation of a centralised support group to complete back-office tasks for frontline staff enabling them to have more quality, value add, face to face interactions with customers
  • I worked with multiple business partners such as IT, Risk and Fraud to ensure a streamlined centralised process to manage workflow and complete tasks most efficiently for the business and customers
  • Reviewed and analysed data captured to support process improvement changes.

Process Excellence Coach

Westpac
11.2014 - 04.2016
  • I worked with other business units to simplify and implement changes for process improvement
  • I was in regular contact with Bank Managers and Assistant Bank Managers to bring awareness of branch errors to coach and assist in reduction of these errors
  • Provided weekly cash error report to retail managers highlighting top errors and branches for their region
  • This data was used to raise awareness and for process improvement
  • Relieving Team Leader when required

Process Excellence Analyst (Secondment)

Westpac
10.2013 - 11.2014
  • I was seconded to this role of Process Excellence Analyst for 12 months
  • In this role I learnt a lot about establishing and building relationships with other business units
  • I was involved in a number of projects for the wider team, such as organising and overseeing the move to a new premises
  • Technology champion across Merchant and Financial Services for Microsoft 2010 and Windows 7 system upgrades
  • Created, updated and maintained process and risk documentation such as User Guides and Business Continuity Plans for NZ Operations.

Branch Reconciliation Officer

Westpac
07.2012 - 10.2013
  • As Branch Reconciliations Officer I was involved in the project to centralise branch suspense accounts
  • As a member of this project team, I successfully brought awareness of errors occurring to the retail network, resulting in a reduction of errors by 45% in 6 months
  • My positive interactions with branches helped break down negative perceptions of centralising branch accounts
  • I was able to build great relationships with our business partners and develop a deeper understanding of how they operate
  • From this project I have been able to contribute, implement, and suggest initiatives of how we as a team could function and operate efficiently.

Curriculum Vitae

Carissa Elaine Thomas

283 Hobsonville Road

Hobsonville

Auckland

Skills And Experience

  • System Implementation
  • Analytical thinker
  • Communication skills
  • Proven problem solver
  • Incident Management
  • Experience in Anti Money Laundering (AML) & Counter Financial Terrorism (CFT) from a customer onboarding perspective
  • Excellent track record and time management
  • Policy Implementation
  • Workforce Management
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Complex Problem-Solving
  • Effective Communication
  • Process Improvement
  • Risk Management
  • Quality Assurance
  • Emergency Response
  • Documentation and Reporting
  • Employee Coaching and Mentoring
  • Managing Operations and Efficiency
  • Problem Resolution

Communication Skills

  • Written and verbal English to a high standard
  • Fluent in New Zealand Sign Language

Personal Qualities

  • Accurate
  • Loyal
  • Dedicated
  • Trustworthy
  • Reliable
  • Self-motivated
  • Fluid and adaptable

Personal Achievements

  • Horse of the Year title holder (pre)
  • New Zealand National Champion (pre)
  • Member of New Zealand 2012 London Paralympics Team

Personal Statement

I am an experienced financial services industry professional; I have had a successful and progressive career, and have utilised my time within the industry to gain a valuable and transferable set of skills, through the varying roles I have had. These stand me in good stead to develop my skill set further, whilst bringing immediate and strategic value to a future role.

As a mature, confident person I am able to develop and maintain successful working relationships, with both customers and staff. I possess an excellent ability to motivate others; coupled with the ability to communicate comfortably at all levels, therefore ensuring an excellent working environment for all members of the team to perform at their bests. I pride myself on my loyalty and dedication and ability to successfully problem solve without constant direction, with a clear, logical mind. I have a great eye for detail, and my drive is to see things through to completion. I am eager to learn, and I enjoy overcoming challenges.


My strong interest in sport and health motivated me to become the integral support person for an Auckland based Paralympian, which culminated in my inclusion in the New Zealand Paralympic team, assisting this athlete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. My personal pursuits and passion are in equestrian sports, and I have achieved some regional and national titles in this discipline, it requires the fitness, dedication and training that I enjoy, and apply the same methodical and professional approach to everything in my life.

References

Jennifer Hill-Mackintosh

Senior Customer Response Manager - Resolution Life

Phone : 021 226 6782


Gerald Joe

Head of Legal, New Zealand and Chapter Lead, External Dispute Resolution - Resolution Life

Phone : 027 886 0789


Kedra Egan 

Chapter Lead, Line 1 Risk - Resolution Life

Phone : +61 437 609 668


Timeline

Customer Response Manager (Secondment)

Resolution Life
05.2023 - 12.2023

Maternity Leave

06.2022 - 05.2023

Line 1 Risk Manager

Resolution Life (Formally AMP Life Limited)
02.2021 - 06.2022

Maternity Leave

01.2020 - 02.2021

Client Quality & Incident Manager

AMP
01.2019 - 01.2020

Operational Risk & Compliance Manager (Quality & Oversight)

Westpac
06.2017 - 12.2018

Operational Efficiency Manager

Westpac
03.2016 - 06.2017

Process Excellence Coach

Westpac
11.2014 - 04.2016

Process Excellence Analyst (Secondment)

Westpac
10.2013 - 11.2014

Branch Reconciliation Officer

Westpac
07.2012 - 10.2013
Carissa Thomas