Bernard Okonye

Bernard okonye

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location of Bernard OkonyeLeeds, England, United Kingdom
Followers of Bernard Okonye94 followers
  • Timeline

  • About me

    Business Analyst |Financial Analyst |Customer Service and Support Specialist |International Student Advisor |Entrepreneur |Defect/Bug Manager

  • Education

    • University of bradford

      2022 - 2023
      Master of science finance and investment
    • Institute of management & technology (imt)

      2001 - 2003
      National diploma accountancy

      Rotaract Club of Enugu IMT

    • Ambrose alli university

      2004 - 2008
      Bachelor of science banking and finance

      Activities and Societies: Rotaract Club of AAU, Ekpoma, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria A team member that implemented the Ambrose Alli University Portal

  • Experience

    • Diamond bank plc

      May 2012 - Dec 2018

      • Ensure the completeness, correctness, and accuracy of the bank's Swift codes, IBAN, and bank code options for cross-border transfers to ensure and enhance prompt and fast fund remittance.• Process and authorise international money transfer requests from clients or internal departments.• Ensure the accuracy of all transfer details, including recipient information, bank details, SWIFT codes, and currency conversion rates.• Initiate and complete the transfer of funds through appropriate banking or financial systems.• Communicate with the initiating bank branches or customers to provide updates on the status of their transfers and address any inquiries or issues.• Investigate and resolve any issues or discrepancies related to foreign transfers, such as delays, incorrect amounts, or missing funds.• Ensure all transactions comply with international regulations, anti-money laundering (AML) laws, Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, and the bank’s internal policies.• Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with foreign transfers, including fraud and currency exchange risks.• Monitor and apply appropriate foreign exchange rates to transactions, ensuring competitive and accurate currency conversion.• Liaise with international banks and financial institutions to facilitate smooth transaction processing and resolve any issues.• Work closely with internal departments such as Treasury, Finance, and Compliance to ensure seamless operations.• Prepare and present reports on foreign transfer activities, including volumes, values, and any issues encountered.• Identify opportunities to improve transfer processes and systems, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy.• Contribute to the development and refinement of policies and procedures related to foreign transfers.• Provide training and support to junior staff or new hires on the procedures and regulations related to foreign transfers. Show less

      • Foreign Transfer Representative

        Nov 2017 - Dec 2018
      • Customer Service Specialist

        Jul 2016 - Nov 2017
      • Customer Service Representative

        Feb 2015 - Jul 2016
      • Head Teller

        Nov 2013 - Feb 2015
      • Teller

        May 2012 - Nov 2013
    • Access bank plc

      Dec 2018 - Apr 2019
      Foreign transfer representative

      • Reviewing and processing foreign currency (FCY) transfers processed across branches and making amendments to the details provided where necessary.• Ensuring the completeness, correctness, and accuracy of Bank Swift codes, IBAN, and bank code options for FCY transfers to ensure and enhance prompt and fast remittance of funds.• Posting of FCY conversion transfers to offshore accounts for both individual customers and corporate entities (USD/GBP/EUR/CAD/ZAR/CHF/AED), etc.• Manually process foreign currency transfers where and when necessary on the SWIFT application.• Exercising care and diligence in the course of duty to detect errors and wrong information provided by customers or inputted from branches.• Maintaining transfer concessions on accounts based on approval and ensuring updates are sent to branches and customers on charge concession expiry dates.• Providing support services to branches bank-wide where and when necessary in matters relating to FCY offshore remittance, FCY transfer charge, Telex copy, FCY transfer amendment, and confirmation of the status of the transfer where and when necessary for efficient service delivery to customers.• Providing and referring branches to issues relating to Treasury Bills, FX Bonds, RTGS, FCY cheques, FCY inflows, term deposits, etc. Show less

    • Globus bank

      May 2019 - Sept 2022

      • Oversee and manage the processing of various financial transactions, including payments, deposits, withdrawals, and transfers.• Develop and implement standardised procedures for operational tasks to enhance efficiency and reduce errors.• Continuously evaluate and improve processes to optimise performance.• Ensure all operations comply with relevant regulations, internal policies, and industry standards.• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with operational activities.• Generate and analyse reports for management review, providing insights into operational performance.• Perform regular reconciliations of accounts and transactions to ensure accuracy.• Liaise with external vendors and service providers to ensure seamless operational processes.• Maintain effective communication with stakeholders to align on operational goals and requirements.• Manage and oversee projects related to operational improvements and new initiatives.• Ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.• Implement quality control measures to ensure high standards of operational output.• Conduct regular audits and reviews to identify areas for improvement.• Provide ongoing training and development to enhance team capabilities.• Lead and manage a team of operations staff, ensuring they are well-trained and motivated.• Provide support to internal and external customers regarding operational processes and issues. Show less • Facilitate the clearing and settlement of financial transactions, including cheques, electronic funds transfers, and other payment types.• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with clearing and settlement activities.• Implement risk management policies and procedures to prevent fraud and manage counterparty risks through cheques clearing and settlements.• Ensure compliance with all relevant local and international regulations and standards in our clearing processes and settlement.• Prepare and submit regulatory reports related to clearing and settlement activities.• Perform daily reconciliation of clearing accounts to identify and resolve discrepancies.• Investigate and resolve any errors or issues in the clearing process.• Maintain and oversee the bank’s clearing systems and software.• Coordinate with IT and other departments to implement system upgrades and enhancements.• Provide support to internal and external customers regarding clearing processes and issues.• Address customer inquiries and resolve complaints related to clearing activities.• Streamline clearing processes to improve efficiency and reduce processing times.• Implement best practices to enhance the operational performance of the clearing service.• Collaborate with other financial institutions, central banks, and clearinghouses.• Maintain effective communication with stakeholders involved in the clearing process.• Ensure the security and confidentiality of transaction data.• Implement data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information.• Train and develop staff members to ensure they are knowledgeable about clearing processes and regulations.• Keep the team updated on industry trends and changes to regulatory requirements.• Monitor clearing activities and generate reports for management review.• Analyse the clearing data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Show less

      • Team Member Centralised Operations and Processing

        Sept 2021 - Sept 2022
      • Team lead Central Clearing Service

        May 2019 - Sept 2021
    • Yorkshire building society

      Jul 2024 - now
      Customer support representative

      • Handle incoming calls, emails, and chat messages from members regarding their savings accounts, mortgages, and other financial products.• Provide detailed information about YBS products and services, including current interest rates and account options.• Assist members with opening new accounts, making transactions, and other account management tasks.• Identify and troubleshoot issues related to accounts, online banking, and mobile app usage.• Escalate complex queries to appropriate departments, such as mortgage specialists or technical support.• Follow up with members to ensure their issues are resolved and they are satisfied with the service.• Offer guidance on financial products that best meet members' needs, such as savings plans or mortgage options.• Provide information on financial planning and advice on saving for the future.• Document member interactions and transactions accurately in YBS's customer relationship management (CRM) system.• Maintain detailed records of inquiries, complaints, and resolutions for future reference and compliance.• Ensure all interactions comply with financial regulations and YBS's internal policies.• Protect member information by following data protection guidelines and maintaining confidentiality.• Gather member feedback on products and services, reporting common issues and suggestions for improvement to management.• Participate in surveys and feedback initiatives to enhance the customer experience. Show less

    • Avenue impact limited

      Aug 2024 - now
      Junior business analyst

      Collaborate with stakeholders to collect and document business requirements.Aid in transforming business needs into functional specifications.Produce detailed business analyses, highlighting issues, opportunities, and potential solutions.Utilise data analysis to recognise trends, patterns, and insights that guide business decisions.Contribute to creating reports, dashboards, and other visual data representations.Document and diagram current business processes.Recognise areas for process enhancement and assist in designing optimised workflows.Support in project planning, execution, and monitoring.Monitor project deliverables and deadlines, ensuring timely completion.Facilitate coordination among different teams and stakeholders.Serve as a link between business stakeholders and technical teams.Effectively communicate findings, updates, and insights to stakeholders.Assist in testing new systems, processes, or changes to ensure they meet business requirements.Participate in user acceptance testing (UAT) and aid in identifying issues or areas for improvement.Offer insights that can inform business strategies and decision-making.Prepare user manuals, guides, and training materials.Facilitate training sessions for end-users on new processes or systems. Show less

  • Licenses & Certifications

    • Introduction to business analysis using spreadsheets

      Coursera project network
      Feb 2023
    • Customer service foundation

      Linkedin
      May 2024
      View certificate certificate
  • Volunteer Experience

    • UI/UX Tester or Usability Tester

      Issued by Yorkshire Building Society on Jun 2025
      Yorkshire Building SocietyAssociated with Bernard Okonye
    • Business Change Analyst

      Issued by Yorkshire Building Society on Apr 2025
      Yorkshire Building SocietyAssociated with Bernard Okonye