Neil Starkowitz

Experience

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  NetTalk

  Jan 2000 - Nov 2001

  System Administrator

  (Start-Up)Responsible for maintaining company IT systems

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  Retalix Limited

  Nov 2001 - Aug 2010

  (Scale-Up)In my role as QA manager, I was responsible for the quality assurance of a large and complex retail solution. I built and managed a team of 10 Quality Assurance Analysts establishing quality assurance methodologies and constantly working on process improvements.Led the team on multiple projects in parallel, managing plans, tasks, issues, priorities, allocating resources and providing estimates. As Release Manager I was responsible for preparing, managing, and releasing versions.Supported the customer on the product, implementation, and deployment issues.Developed an automated build process for build point of sale systems Responsible for preparing and executing test plans, performing various types of tests on a large retail solution

  • QA Manager

    Nov 2003 - Aug 2010

  • Release Manager

    Nov 2002 - Nov 2003

  • QA Analyst

    Nov 2001 - Nov 2002
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  NCR Corporation

  Aug 2010 - Dec 2022

  NCR are a global leader in retail technology, hospitality & banking solutions, providing Professional Services & Consultancy ⭐As Programme Manager I led the portfolio of NCR software solutions on a Tier 1 global account (Tesco) leveraging a proven blend of leadership, technical expertise, and strategic planning.➡️ Managed multiple projects concurrently through all phases, delivering large and complex applications & integrations running on tens of thousands of touch points in the customer’s global estate, processing millions of transactions a day➡️ Led 3 multi-disciplined Agile Scrum teams (including offshore) enabling the efficient delivery of business priorities, key projects included:A business critical Clubcard pricing project delivered on time and in budgetA complex development to a cash management system, allowing the retailer to cut costs and improve operational efficiency➡️ Through good communication and collaboration, I created trusted partnerships with stakeholders, customers, and teams, enabling effective management of tasks, priorities, risks, issues, and escalations➡️ Managed a multi-million pound a year budget, resourcing, forecasting, governance, and contracts Show less ⭐ As Project Manager I led cross-functional teams in the successful planning & execution of software projects delivering into multiple customers (Tesco, Morrisons, Boots, Superdrug, WHSmith and Welcome Break)During this role I led the Self-Checkout solution into the Tesco estate.➡️ Successfully led a very large software development project, delivering a major software transformation to 13000 self-checkouts, improving customer experience and operational efficiency.➡️ Collaborating with internal teams, 3rd parties and customers, I led the delivery for the UK implementation of a new fraud prevention solution across multiple customers, reducing theft at self-checkouts➡️ Successfully managed the end-to-end delivery of numerous business enhancement and change management projects, consistently meeting project milestones, budgets, and deadlines➡️ Implemented a transition from a waterfall methodology to an Agile Scrum methodology, and led the Scrum team (including offshore) resulting in improved collaboration, faster delivery cycles, and increased adaptability to changing requirements.➡️ Cultivated strong relationships through good communication and collaboration, enabling me to effectively manage priorities, risks, issues, and escalations. ➡️ My role included responsibility for budgeting, resourcing, forecasting, governance and contracts Show less ⭐ As Technical Project Manager, I managed the implementation of a new large SaaS omni-channel retail platform into a Tier 1 customer➡️ Working with the product team & solution architects I defined the technical requirements needed for implementing the flagship platform into the retailer’s estate➡️ Worked in close cooperation with operations and technical teams planning pilots and deployments➡️ I forged an excellent working relationship with the customer establishing myself as an important link netween the customer and NCR teams, ensuring the teams understood the customer’s environment and how the solution needed to work➡️ As part of my role I provided technical consulting, solved problems, and resolved issues Show less

  • Programme Manager

    May 2021 - Dec 2022

  • Project Manager

    Jan 2015 - May 2021

  • Technical Project Manager

    Aug 2010 - Jan 2015
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  GSS - Global Screening Services

  Apr 2023 - Sept 2023

  Client Delivery Manager

  GSS are a FinTech startup creating a cloud platform for transaction sanction screening, using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to more effectively & efficiently fight financial crime and improve regulatory compliance ⭐As Client Delivery Manager, I managed the programme of Proof-of-Concept (PoC) projects delivering into some of the largest banks across the globe.➡️ Through good communication and collaboration I managed multiple projects concurrently through all phases using a hybrid approach, working with internal teams and banks on scope, requirements, plans, risk and data privacy➡️ Established a blueprint for project delivery, defining a strategy and framework for ensuring the correct tasks are completed at the correct stage of the project lifecycle➡️ Fostered strong relationships with teams, clients, and stakeholders, enabling effective & efficient management of tasks, priorities, risks and issues Show less

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  SBS

  Nov 2023 - now

  Senior Project Manager

  SBS is a global financial technology company that’s helping banks and the financial services industry to reimagine how to operate in an increasingly digital world.⭐As senior project manager I lead key client projects that transform their financial systems.➡️ Currently leading a multi-year programme delivering new financial systems and transitioning the client’s systems to the cloud.➡️ Working with cross-functional teams, I manage the whole project life cycle, from initiation and scoping, through, delivery, implementation and go-live.➡️ Implementing a new hybrid delivery model using agile scrum, wrapped in a traditional project methodology, we are able to deliver projects more efficiently and effectively both for SBS and the client.➡️ Led the data migration project of a banks mortgage system from a legacy system to a cloud environment, incorporating a 6 week cut in timelines.Working with SMEs, 3rd parties, and the client, I utilised my collaboration and planning skills to carefully plan and manage the tight timelines to ensure we hit the go-live dates. Show less