Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Timeline
Hobbies and Interests
Generic

Paula Cook

Singapore

Summary

A qualified CIMA member with over 20 years international experience in Banking and Financial Services. Significant expertise in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), cost management and business partnering to help align financial objectives and business goals. Highly skilled problem solver with a proven ability to analyse complex issues, identify actionable solutions and implement strategies that drive efficiency and business growth. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with proven and recognised ability to develop trusted advisor status with senior level stakeholders.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

APAC Portfolio Lead (VP)

Barclays plc
02.2021 - Current
  • Company Overview: A British multinational investment bank and financial services company with approx. 80,000 employees and a presence in more than 40 countries
  • Responsible for overseeing 13 Project Managers across APAC ensuring adherence to Barclays change standard governance, assisting and advising throughout the lifecycle of a project.
  • Own monthly portfolio reporting across all business areas covering APAC key strategic initiatives, and Mandatory, Regulatory & Control initiatives, highlighting any thematic issues to senior management for action.
  • Single point of contact for APAC project financials, business partnering with global finance, local PMs, regional CFO, regional CIO and Technology leads, acting as translator between finance and business.
  • First to introduce and lead monthly project financial forums for key APAC initiatives, across multiple technology areas, covering all aspects of cost management (actuals vs budget (RTB vs CTB); resource management; COUPA 3rd party spend management; business allocations; AUC management and capitalisation). This led to identification of £2m (10%) opportunity due to budget duplications.
  • First year in role department interlocked all £23m APAC specific technology project spend with global finance teams.

Dedicated Asia Cost (VP)

Barclays plc
11.2017 - 02.2021
  • Reporting to the Asia CFO, responsible for the reporting of over 2000 FTE and effective cost management of £700m across all business/infrastructure areas for the APAC Franchise.
  • Reporting to all 12 regional functional leads including preparation of budgets and forecasts, monthly reporting on Budget vs Actual across each entity, by detailed account
  • Management of 4 staff across multiple locations
  • Working with Regional CFOs to ensure accurate country reporting
  • Working with local financial control to ensure processes and costs are aligned to local regulatory requirements/reporting to enable better and effective reporting by legal entity
  • Partnered with Global finance teams to integrate ServCo simplification (recharge process for infrastructure areas to charge to business) into the region
  • Set up, implemented and led first global Hold co reporting and associated processes.

CRES Finance Business Partner (VP)

Barclays plc
06.2015 - 11.2017
  • Reporting to Global CRES Finance Director (UK), led the management of £70m APAC Real Estate cost base aligning with the Bank’s location strategy.
  • Strategic financial management of APAC CRES cost base including short term and long term forecasting, financial reporting and governance with the assistance of 1 direct report and 2 offshore team members
  • Led financial capital modelling, working closely with technology RTB, on various Real Estate options to feed into business case submissions, enabling effective financials decisions on the Banks location strategy. This included one of the largest deals ever signed off in Real Estate, India and the BNC wind down (exit of 7 countries).
  • Worked closely with technical accounting to implement IFRS16 reporting, leading all related comms and education sessions on expected impact to relevant country CFOs.

Sourcing Finance Business Partner (AVP)

Barclays plc
06.2011 - 06.2015
  • Reporting to Finance Director, responsible for the successful management of the Sourcing financials, effectively managing costs to target and balancing risks and opportunities to meet the department’s objectives.
  • Lead contact for Sourcing financials, now across all clusters, with overall responsibility of monthly P&L report production, including budgeting/forecasting process, to senior stakeholders with insightful commentary to drive better business decisions. Sourcing were one of the first functions to be fully functionalised in preparation for ServCo stand up (known costs across all clusters and entities).
  • Upon moving to Singapore, successfully helped to implement an Agency Fee billing model allowing cross entity billing without any implications on management reporting
  • Accountable for the auditing of 3rd party sourcing savings, and the reporting of results to the Sourcing Managers and Leadership Team.
  • Manage and maintain an effective relationship between finance, COO Office and Executive level stakeholders
  • Management of a team of 3 (2 in Singapore, 1 in Chennai, India)

Sourcing Finance Analyst (AVP)

Barclays plc
12.2007 - 05.2010
  • Reporting to Business Performance Manager, responsible for the Retail Bank’s global sourcing operating cost base as well as the management and tracking of global 3rd party savings.
  • Preparation and maintenance of Global Sourcing’s budget (and individual project budgets where applicable) identifying cost savings to align to targets set.
  • Introducing structure into the finances of the department to allow management of departmental spend to be more rigorous.
  • Building strong working relationships with the finance teams and senior stakeholders in business clusters and SBUs/SSUs within the Bank (both Group and International).
  • Support the Analytics team to analyse, interpret and communicate spend data and provide financial analysis on a wide range of complex technical/business issues as required
  • Provide financial analysis support to help analyse individual company’s performance along with the financial stability of key suppliers.

Client Financial Management (CFM) Analyst

Accenture
04.2004 - 12.2007
  • Financial Analysis & reporting - managing financial budgets and forecasts, tracking expenses. Analysing and identifying financial drivers to improve cashflow, revenue recognition and profitability.
  • Advisory Role – provide insights and advice to clients throughout the contract lifecycle, supporting business decisions through deal shaping, pricing and financial performance reviews.
  • Compliance & controls – ensuring compliance with US GAAP, Accenture’s financial policies and statutory requirements.

Education

BA Hons - Accounting & Finance

Nottingham Trent University
01.2002

Skills

  • Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
  • Cost Management
  • Investment Management
  • Compliance & Controls
  • Portfolio and Project Management
  • Senior Stakeholder Management
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Data Analysis

Certification

CIMA Member since 2007

Timeline

APAC Portfolio Lead (VP)

Barclays plc
02.2021 - Current

Dedicated Asia Cost (VP)

Barclays plc
11.2017 - 02.2021

CRES Finance Business Partner (VP)

Barclays plc
06.2015 - 11.2017

Sourcing Finance Business Partner (AVP)

Barclays plc
06.2011 - 06.2015

Sourcing Finance Analyst (AVP)

Barclays plc
12.2007 - 05.2010

Client Financial Management (CFM) Analyst

Accenture
04.2004 - 12.2007

BA Hons - Accounting & Finance

Nottingham Trent University

Hobbies and Interests

Gym, Travel

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