£100,000 Debt "club"

Emmzi

D,

that's fab. I'm glad you are sticking together ok. And don't worry too much about the occassional blow up - this is a tense time for you both, it's bound to happen!

Debtomaniak

gerretl wrote:

debtomaniak. a few things occured to me while at work.
Lets go back to the restaurant thing, yeah.
A lot of restaurants are upgrading their computers to make use of bluetooth, touch screen. I did a search on google using the words 'catering epos systems' (epos stands for electronic point of sale), and got about 85,000 hits.
Your husband has huge experience installing systems, and again the restaurant thing. The skills picked up their would make him a natural for installing, setting up, and training staff and management.
First hit on google was https://www.haven-systems.co.uk
It may be worth a try, but the CV needs to show that time in the industry as a real learning curve. If I have time, and you don't think I'm being cheeky, I could write one up, and post it. I have done this for a few people, and they tended to get a shot at the job.

I don't think I will ever be able to thank everyone enough for all the kind help I am getting on here. Would you really write it for me? It would have been very handsome of you, wish I could be of any help to someone as well.:D

Debtomaniak

Emmzi wrote:

D,

that's fab. I'm glad you are sticking together ok. And don't worry too much about the occassional blow up - this is a tense time for you both, it's bound to happen!

Thank you. It was a relief to find that he has not got a hump with me.:D
I shall try to behaive myself:rotfl:

gerretl

Hello debtomaniak.
Had a few beers, and a bite to eat, and thought I would put a few comments on the CV you posted. I put it in italics in the CV. I hope these comments help.
SUMMARY
An experienced I.T. Banking Project Manager / Wholesale Banking Implementation Consultant / Business Analyst / Client Relationship Manager & Treasury Operations Manager specialising in International Banking. The role covers most facets of general banking, including FX, MM, FRA’s, IRS’s, Options, Futures, CD Settlements / Cash Management, Market Risk, International & Domestic Payment Orders, Customer Static Data, Commercial Lending, General Accounting, SWIFT, System / User Acceptance Testing, Customer Services and User Evaluation regarding system development. All of these functions have involved both internal and external customer contacts.
An experienced I.T. project manager with wide knowledge of all sectors of the banking industry. I have worked on international projects mainly Eastern Europe. I have spent time as a restaurateur, which gave me a great insight into the requirements of business clients.


SOFTWARE Alternanos General Bank, Irkutsk, Siberia Project Implementation

PROJECT Alterdelmi General Bank & Trust, Budapest Project Implementation
ASSIGNMENTS
Bank BPH, Krakow Project Implementation
Bank Pekao, Warsaw Project Implementation
Bank Ukraina, Kiev Project Manager
Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, Praha Project Manager
Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait Project Implementation
First Bank & Trust, Athens Project Manager
First Commercial Bank, Frankfurt Project Manager
Industrial & Commercial Bk of China, Beijing Project Manager
Kereskedelmi Bank, Budapest Project Manager
Komercni Banka, Praha Project Manager
Leumi-Hitel Bank, Budapest Project Consultancy
Magyar Kereskedelmi Bank, Budapest Project Implementation
Nat’l Bank of Irkutsk, Irkutsk, Siberia Project Implementation
Nat’l Bank of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Project Implementation
Stolochnibanka, Moscow Project Implementation
Zoloto Bank, Chita, Siberia Project Manager
What did he actually do on these projects? Were they on time and budget? Did he go to these places? How did he explain very complicated computer technology to foreigners? Did he enjoy being on the road?

SYSTEMS: IBS-90, Abraxsys, Midas, Kapiti Equation 3, XTAS, SWIFT, Reuters, Relational Data Warehouse, Crystal Reporting, ACS, FX Netting, Microsoft Word, Excel & Project, Word Perfect, Lotus 123 & SAGE Payroll.
Highly experienced in a range of software from basic one such as Word and Excel, to very specialised applications such (fill in the gap)
EDUCATION GCSE Level:
Maths; English Language & Literature; History; Geography; Science; Biology; Religious Knowledge.

MAR 06 – Present RABOBANK INT’L
Conversion Project / Business Analyst (Contractual) UTRECHT

· Assisting the project manager with reporting requirements in order to integrate the Devon Swap ledger into the bank’s main core PeopleSoft general ledger.
· Migration of data “financial; configuration; users and reporting changes” from the main PeopleSoft general ledger into the Financial Data Warehouse.
· Dealing with cases raised by specific user departments / resolving project-wide functional issues. Liasing with representatives, summarising concerns, documenting current operational processes and making recommendations.
Was part of a succesful team that converted an unusual financial ledger, to the more common PeopleSoft ledge. This required liasing with a wide range of departments, to allay their concerns, resolve unexpected issues, and record progress.

AUG 05 – MAR 06 ACTIMAX TELECOM PLC
Project Analyst/Consultant (Contractual)

· Responsible for the quality assurance of specific enhancements produced by team members against the client's business needs and departmental priorities.
· Reviewing the overall specification of deliverables, provision of estimates, plans and progress reporting.
· Engaging proactive and reactive business development activities transforming client business requirements into consulting solutions.
· Assuring high levels of client satisfaction leading to repeat business.
· Contributing to the development and dissemination of consulting guidelines.

MAY 2003 – JUL 2005 RESTAURANTEUR Proprietor of (fill in the name) restaurant in (fill in the place)
· Owner of a Bistro restaurant providing International Cuisine up to 40 covers.
· Responsible for 15 staff, recruitment and appraisals.
· Duties also include looking after the company accounts, payroll, stock control & ordering.
· Dealing with unforeseen circumstances.
Owned and managed a restaurant, specialising in international cuisine. This experience gave me a great opportunity to understand the daily concerns of a business. It gave me readily transferable skills in budgeting, stock control, marketing, and personnel.
MAR 1998 – JAN 2003 COR INTELLIGENT BANKING SOLUTIONS
Software Property Rights Acquired from:
ADVANCED BANKING SOLUTIONS, London

Project Manager / Business Analyst & Consultant / Client Relationship Manager (which one? There are three job titles here.)

· Project Management responsibility for new Implementations & Customer Upgrades.
· Responsible for large to medium sized projects ranging from £150k to £1.5m.
· Control of project resources over a period of 3-6 months with a team of 5, or up to 1 year with a team 20+.
· Preparation of project plans prior to the commencement of implementations & system upgrades.
· Ensuring delivery of products, systems and services occurs within acceptable timescale and cost and to an acceptable standard of quality.
· Ensure the project is within the terms of reference or contract and meets the client's business requirements.
· Handing over the completed project to the receiving authority in a satisfactory manner.
· Controlled budgets and project resources.
· Working with the business areas to develop process and control flows, establishing appropriate risk metrics and reporting, performing control reviews and presenting to senior management.
· Producing project impact and managing progress reports, critically examining existing processes, and suggesting improvements to efficiency and risk mitigation processes.
· Ensuring that all new products and processes are subject to risk review and approval.
· Customer communication and identification of pre and post issues during each project implementation.
· Business Analysis & Evaluation of Internal Processing Systems.
· Identify and seek to improve areas of business or financial risk. “Preparation, Consolidation & Delivery”.
· Documentation of business processes and workflows.
· Reviewing Data Mapping and Data Conversion issues.
· Compliance assignments, consisting of loading specific Static Data. Liasing with customers with respect to planning, data cleaning and specific system enhancements.
· Creation and Maintenance of Test Scripts.
· Performing Simulation, Sample, Stress and Volume Testing.
· Monitoring Test Discrepancies, Reconciling User Acceptance Tests, Tracking and Documenting Issues.
· Working within a Banking Consultancy team responsible for validating new programs and upgrades, ensuring that the environment is fully tested before software is delivered to a specific customer.
· Documentation of procedures and customer specifications.
· Client Relationship Manager role looking after customers based in Europe, Russia, South East Asia & Middle East.
· Regular liaison with customer's in order to address concerns or issues.
· Ensuring customer's are kept informed of new software enhancements / company developments.
· Provide input to the IT Analysis / Development team
· Quarterly site visits.
· Monitoring & chasing outstanding invoices.
As project manager I had overall responsibility of a series of projects lasting from 3 months to one year. From inception, I had to ensure the project specification was agreed with the client. This included the expected result, and the resources in terms of time and budget available. These clients came from a wide geographic range, and gave me the skills to dealing in complicated technology to people whose understanding was limited. I also had to undertake after project duties, such as monitoring the effectiveness of the scheme, and confirming payment of invoice (Did he ever break someone’s legs?).

JUL 1991 – MAR 1998 IDOM CONSULTANTS SA,
GENEVA
Project Manager / Business Analyst & Consultant Again, what was the title?

· Responsible for the implementation and delivery of projects and business initiatives from a technical and business environment.
· Responsible for large to medium sized projects ranging from £250k to £2m.
· Control of project resources over a period of 3-6 months with a team of 3, or up to 1 year with a team 15+.
· Preparation and implementing clear and precise project plans and time frames.
· Scheduling all business and systems resources, identifying and resolving issues, co-ordinating testing and project status reporting and final sign off.
· Leading a team to ensure the successful delivery of agreed scope on schedule and within budget
· Handing over the completed project to the receiving authority in a satisfactory manner.
· Experience of building and managing internal and external relationships.
· Performing a vital role within a high calibre project team responsible for the Business Analyst of the Bank prior to the implementation of banking systems.
· Business analysis and subsequent project delivery including: requirements gathering and scope setting.
· Documentation of current and proposed user department procedures.
· Ensuring appropriate controls are in place form the outset of the project.
· Analysis of the finance process flow in order to streamline it or determine the effect of changes made to it.
· Ensure that timely calculation & reporting of all trading credit exposure vs credit limits to ensure ongoing evaluation and control of credit risk
· Identifying and testing operational risk from front to back office.
· Validation of software and modification releases.
· Preparation of Test Scripts and User Acceptance Test data to check the integrity of the banking system prior to implementation.
· Training users in the functionality of the banking system and banking in general.
· Preparing user-training schedules with a high emphasis placed on meeting targets and deadlines.
· Responsible for defining the relationship between legacy data source and target data system analysis concerning Data Migration Implementation.
· Prepared data mapping and data transformation rules.
· Reviewed the validity of antiquated and dormant customer data.
Sounds similar to the previous job, except it deals with old information. Did he have to chuck out irrelevant data? In that case, it shows ability to be decisive, and separate the wheat from the chaff.


1976 – MAR 1991 EUROPEAN BANKING CO
LONDON (Name changed to
EBC AMRO BANK in 1987)
Senior Manager, Treasury Settlements (1983 – 1991)

· Controlled Back Office Treasury Operations and ensured efficient processing of Foreign Exchange, Money Market and Off Balance Sheet products including Inter-Bank Netting.
· Liased and dealt with market dealers and ensured smooth operations.
· Managed 1500 transactions with a turnover of $US 7 billion per day with 15 staff.
· Prepared specifications and introduced new systems with successful implementation and met target requirements.
· Improved efficiency with staff reduction of 15 from 30 over a period of 18 months.
· Recruited staff and organised in-house training.
· Dealt with Correspondent Banks and negotiated terms at general management level.
· Overcame reconciliation problems.

Assistant Manager, Treasury Operations (1979 – 1983)

· Supervision of 30 staff and dealing with all aspects of settlement procedures, staff training and development.

Bank Official, Treasury Operations (1976 – 1979)

· Carried out all general duties of the settlements area.
These jobs were years ago. Only include it if there is a distinctive skill that made it exceptiona.l The $7 billion per day bit is pretty neat. Shows he is comfortable with large volumes of business.

1973 – 1976 DRESDNER BANK AG
Bank Official, Treasury Operations LONDON

· Carried out all general duties, confirmation checking, invoicing and monitoring brokerage expenditure.
· Registered Foreign Exchange and Money Market deals.
· Confirmed settlement instructions and maintained files.
This was an office junior job. We all did them once. My first job was Saturday boy in a wet fish shop. It makes for a reasonable anecdote in the pub when talking about the worst smell you ever experienced. Drop it from the CV.


A CV is not a list of tasks you did, it is a statement of achievements. Your husband has a list of experiences I would die for. Just because the situation he is in is not the greatest, doesn't mean he is a failure. I firmly believe there is a spiral down and a spiral up. I truly sympathise with you. You have a lot of financial stuff on your plate, and have to try and kick start someone else. I don't wonder you lost it.
If you want more help on the CV pm me, I am away for the weekend, getting a new job, and moving home, but if I grab the odd minute, I will try and help.

Debtomaniak

gerretl wrote:

Hello debtomaniak.


A CV is not a list of tasks you did, it is a statement of achievements. Your husband has a list of experiences I would die for. Just because the situation he is in is not the greatest, doesn't mean he is a failure. I firmly believe there is a spiral down and a spiral up. I truly sympathise with you. You have a lot of financial stuff on your plate, and have to try and kick start someone else. I don't wonder you lost it.
If you want more help on the CV pm me, I am away for the weekend, getting a new job, and moving home, but if I grab the odd minute, I will try and help.

Thank you, please do let me know if I can be of any help to you. I really do appreciate your advice and the time and effort you put into the reply. Hubby looked through and said "why didn't I thought of writing that (your comments)" It helps when someone else looks at CV with a fresh pair of eyes and abviously a lot of common sense. He is going to sit down tomorrow and rewrite his CV with your adjustments to it. Thank you bucket lots.:rotfl:

gerretl

debtomaniak
If he gets a job I will consider today a success.
I will PM you.

Debtomaniak

Hi all,

estate agents are coming around tomorrow, getting so nerveous. So scared if they tell us our house is not worth as much as we need to get rid of debt! So scary!!! I can not wait till tomorrow is over. For some reason it feels like it is not estate agents are coming around, but the bailiffs. I know, I sound silly, can't help myself, feel very nerveous. Will write here tomorrow as soon as I know the news.... I hope it is a good one.....:o

Emmzi

D,

just remember the estate agent gives you their 'best guess' - the house is worth what someone will pay for it, no more, no less.

No counting chickens OR crying yet!

Debtomaniak

Emmzi wrote:

D,

just remember the estate agent gives you their 'best guess' - the house is worth what someone will pay for it, no more, no less.

No counting chickens OR crying yet!

Thank you Emmzi Just can't help myself, getting all worked up in advance. Think I'd beter go watch them Kumars on TV might take my mind of things for half an hour. Might be back though, for more panic atacks.:rotfl:

h4nym

D

Do what you can to avoid selling!

The problem, I suspect, isn't the level of debt that you're carrying, it's the level of income that you (don't really) have to service it. Selling won't increase your income. That's the bit to focus on far more tightly I think.

Good luck!

H