v2015
Gary WOODS
Email:
LinkedIn:
Address:
Mobile:
– ORM Solutions Consultant
Gary@GRWoods.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/garyrwoods
One Shenton #12-09, Singapore 068803
+65 9322 6083
In Brief
A successful 30 year IT career ultimately lead to Gary moving from London to Singapore in 2012 for more
challenges and less rain. A rare combination of strong communication, analysis and technical skills, mean he is
ideally placed to work alongside operations teams in need of professional technical aide, and is now providing
Operational Risk Mitigation consultancy and structured solutions to the finance sector.
In Detail
An increasing dependence on Microsoft Excel since the mid-90s amongst the global finance community has
seen a comparable increase in operational risk amongst business units whose day-to-day productivity would
appear to benefit significantly from any form of automation. In most cases this is managed by existing team
members within the business on a best-efforts basis, rather than exploiting professional IT staff that are
preoccupied with longer term objectives.
The benefits of Excel are well documented. Extremely flexible, already installed on every client in every financial
institution and everyone knows, to some degree or another, how to use it. The problem with Excel is that the
majority of the solutions engineered by the amateur programming community are invariably slow, inflexible,
unstable, unmanaged and unauditable. This is neither the fault of Excel, nor VBA.
Since 2000 Gary has focused largely on resolving these issues by drawing on 20 years of strategic development
experience to evolve ultra-thin client architecture, with a list of features designed specifically to manage the
varied reporting demands of the dynamic finance arena. An established ORM Solutions expert, he has already
exploited these architectural principles to great effect in ING Barings, WestLB, HSBC and DBS amongst others,
where many of the products remain in use in key areas, such as Trade Floor, Credit Risk, Market Risk and Finance.
By focusing on the strengths of Excel, as a powerful, flexible and customisable reporting interface, and keeping
closely aligned with MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines, Gary has demonstrated that Structured Excel
solutions are fast to deliver, easy to use, robust, flexible, manageable and auditable, having passed 4 internal
audits at 3 banks, and resolving existing audit points.
Whilst solving immediate reporting issues often within days, they also provide a proof of concept and working
prototype for any strategic replication of a critical solution that may be required in future.
Benefits:
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Reduced operational risk
Reduced key man risk
Reduced data redundancy
Increased productivity
Management control
Accountability
Auditability
Re-runable processes
Multi-user processes
The development cycle often exposes previously unidentified flaws
The development cycle offers a documentation opportunity
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Gary@GRWoods.com
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Career Summary
v2015
A highly experienced IT Consultant, Gary currently specialises in bespoke, risk mitigation solutions delivery in Excel
VBA, with SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase and Access, in the finance community. Gary works closely with key
business users, or BA’s as appropriate, integrating with existing corporate databases, technologies and market
data as appropriate, to provide robust, efficient, flexible and auditable solutions in volatile business areas,
drastically reducing operational and key man risk.
He has built a solid foundation in IT, having been formally trained in structured programming, analysis and design
methodologies, as well as team management. He has gained extensive experience in the fields of support and
maintenance in addition to development, and has specialised in performance analysis, graphical interface
design and development standards at a number of sites.
Gary has worked exclusively in Banking since 1998, highlight roles include HSBC (Credit Risk Management, 5 yrs),
WestLB (Market Risk, 2 yrs), ING Barings (Trade Floor, 2 yrs), UBS Warburgs (Rates project, 2 yrs), Reuters (3.5 yrs)
and DBS in Singapore (Finance, 1+ yrs).
Determined to maintain a positive work/life balance and engage with new challenges, he paddled to victory
with the highly competitive DBS Dragon Boat team and has taken part in voluntary programs in Indonesia,
Cambodia, India and Singapore.
Technical Summary
Languages
Excel VBA (15 years), Visual Basic 6 to 3, Excel 2010 to 95, VB.Net, Access 2010 to 95, SQL, JavaScript, ASP, HTML
Utility/package software
Oracle Hyperion, SQL Server 2008, VSTO 2010, Frontpage, SourceSafe, TrueGrid, Aqua Data Studio, SQLPlus,
WISQL, Reuters TIB, MarketSheet, Bloomberg, SQL Server Manager, Outlook, Lotus Notes
Databases
ACCESS 97-2010, SQL Server, ORACLE,, SYBASE
Operating Systems and editors
Windows 7, XP, NT 4 and 3.51, 98, 95 and 3.11.
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Gary@GRWoods.com
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Career History
v2015
Standard Chartered Bank, MBFC, Singapore
Date:
Position :
Platform:
Products:
September 2014 – January 2015
ORM Consultant
Windows 7
Excel 2007/2010, VBA 6
Responsibilities
Carried out high level analysis of a number of areas of SCB’s HR operations teams on behalf of the COO,
primarily based in Chennai, India, to assess the level of risk currently engaged and the viability of an engineered
tactical architecture to manage the risk reduction exercise and improve performance. Analysed and reported
on Pensions, PRB Products, including Payroll Preparation, over a series of visits to the operations groups.
DBS, MBFC, Singapore
Date:
Position::
Platform:
Products:
September 2012 – December 2013
Technical Architect
Windows 7
Excel 2007, VBA 6, VB.Net, SQL Server 2008, VSTO 2010
Responsibilities
The replacement of user developed applications with robust and flexible structured Excel solutions, working with
Group Finance. Initially designing a robust GST management suite for the Tax team, then designing a VSTO
generated .NET strategic reporting platform, before moving to the Group MIS team to provide structured
Regulatory Reporting components using Excel and Oracle Hyperion.
HSBC, Canary Wharf, E14
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Products:
August 2006 – July 2011
Global Tactical Architect
Windows XP
Excel 2003, Access 2003, Oracle SQL, SQL Server
Responsibilities
Gary joined the Credit Risk Management team to assist with a number of risk reporting issues within the group. He
delivered a structured, robust, flexible and high performance tactical reporting architecture which used Excel as
a distribution mechanism for detailed corporate risk database analysis, as defined by specific user groups via
their BAs. In a 5 year period delivered more than 50 tactical solutions, including Wrong Way Risk, Excess
Manager, Reporter and HVaR Maintenance, for some a 60+ users in London head office, plus desk support and
formal training for Microsoft technologies. His efforts contributed to the resolution of 6 audit points.
This ultra-thin client architecture was ultimately requested by the Credit business to be deployed globally and
from 2011 supports Credit Risk reporting for the bank in the 3 global hubs, London, New York and Hong Kong.
KBC AIM, Old Broad Street, London, EC2N
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
Products:
June 2005 - December 2005
Tactical Development Lead
Windows XP
Excel VBA, Access 97/XP, Sybase SQL, Oracle SQL, HTML
WISQL, Aqua Data Studio
Responsibilities
Gary introduced an Excel based VBA framework for the deployment and management of structured tactical
solutions among a diverse client base and developed a series of fully integrated Excel and Access 2003 solutions.
These draw data from corporate data sources and included automated email confirmations, event logging and
product level security, made available via a library of procedures within the project AddIn. This included a NAV
Database which daily harvested market data from the corporate database to allow accurate daily and historic
NAV figures to be generated for investors and administrators.
WestLB, Basinghall Street, London, EC2V
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v2015
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
Products:
February 2003 – March 2005
Tactical Development Lead
NT4, Windows XP
Excel VBA, Access 97/XP, Sybase SQL, Oracle SQL, HTML
Visual Interdev, IIS, Netscape, IE6, Paint Shop Pro 7
Responsibilities
Gary joined WestLB’s Market Risk Management team initially to overhaul its existing user-developed tactical
solutions that had become unmaintainable due to a lack of structure and professional IT input. After successfully
creating a tactical structure, he then went on to develop Market Risk reporting tools monitoring interest rate,
credit spread, FX, equity delta and equity volatility risk, and a suite of local reports and interfaces to the central
VaR System, MPiRE.
As the bank approached a common global XP platform, Gary demonstrated that the RM Tactical products were
already cross platform compliant. He also provided tactical assistance to Tokyo, Düsseldorf and New York
regional offices, having acted as technical liaison for Risk Management in the latter two. All products were
documented and formally handed over to RM IT upon departure.
ING Barings, London Wall, EC2M
Date:
November 2000 – August 2002
Position:
Tactical Development Mgr
Platform:
NT4
Languages:
Excel 97, Access 97, Visual Basic 6, Sybase SQL
Tools & Utilities: Reuters TIB, PowerPlusPro, MarketSheet, Bloomberg, Sybase 11, SQL Server Manager, WISQL,
Outlook 2000, ARS Remedy
Responsibilities
Gary established the Tactical Development desk in the dynamic high-pressure environment of the Trade floor,
providing solutions and support to Equity and FX traders, researchers and analysts, exploiting dynamic Market
Data as required. Some were in use in New York and Hong Kong. Products included:
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Automated upload of client supplied spreadsheets of trades to strategic trading and order
management systems (Boris, ORS, Trepik), saving 3-4 man-hours per day
A tool allowing the trader to publish a formatted table of bids via his Bloomberg account – this also
provided IOI information to Autex and Bloomberg
An instant report of ADR/GDR positions, highlighting their risk
A DR Charges report indicating the cost of depository receipt charges at any point in the month
To improve the accessibility of the desks applications, and to reduce the maintenance overhead, Gary
developed a structured server-side Excel environment, to manage the application library and
associated application permissioning.
Gary managed multiple user requirements, paying particular attention to performance and maintaining a
consistent, graphical approach whilst scheduling work according to constantly changing priorities. He was able
to significantly improve the working relationships between the trade floor and IT, liaising with members of
strategic IT group as necessary.
First eCom Solutions Ltd, Southend-on-Sea, SS1
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
Products:
June 2000 – November 2000
Technical Director
NT4, Windows ‘98
Visual Basic 6, HTML, JavaScript, VBScript, ASP, Office 2000
Visual Interdev, Personal Web Server, Netscape, IE5, Paint Shop Pro
Responsibilities
An ISP providing e-commerce advice and solutions to small business and personal clients, Gary formulated its
technical strategy.
Activities included designing and building client web sites, domain and security
administration as well as being a key member of the team involved with client liaison, consultation and design.
UBS Warburg, Broadgate, London, EC2M
Date:
November 1997 – January 2000
Position:
Senior Analyst Programmer
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v2015
Platform:
Languages:
Products:
NT4, NT3.51
Excel 97, Visual Basic 6/5, Access 97/7, SQL
MKS, MSDN, ODBC, SQLNet, NetTest, TechNet, CC:Mail
Responsibilities
Gary joined PC Apps Support & Maintenance, supporting over 100 PC based live apps of varying client server
architectures. Liaised with users daily, managing upgrades, UAT and rollout. Designed and built the UBS Decom
System (Access 97) to manage decommissioning of redundant UBS applications during the UBS/SBC merger.
He joined the Socrates project, supporting UBS Rates business, implementing Euro Compliance for P&L reporting
projects, then assisted with development of the Socrates Phase III GUI. He rewrote a number of Excel VBA
reporting templates improving flexibility and performance, including SuperRec processes, which reconciled the
entire Credit Fixed Income and Government and Derivatives business areas by currency, a highly articulate tool
incorporating custom toolbars and exploiting Socrates Client Engine functionality (VB6). He also wrote CFI
Adjustments Summary, a potential performance hazard, reconciling all Credit Fixed Income adjustments, with
excellent performance results.
Personal initiatives included GUI Performance Evaluation and Environment Stability programs, and production of
the resulting Socrates Front-End GUI Development Guidelines document for use with Excel 97 VBA.
AGSolutions at British Gas, The Causeway, Staines
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
Products:
November 1996 - November 1997
Senior Analyst Programmer
Windows 95, VMS
Visual Basic 3 & 4, SQL, SQL*Plus, Oracle Glue, Pro*COBOL
TrueGrid, Intersolv PVCS v5.2 (Source Control)
Responsibilities
Senior Analyst Programmer providing VB3, VB4 and Oracle 7 expertise (SQL using Oracle Glue middleware) to the
Domestic Supply Point Administration Development Group, providing functional enhancement and performance
tuning of the DSPA system. Conducted Performance Scope review of DSPA system (approx. 70 screens) then
documented a phased revision based on priorities and dependencies. The review highlighted a lack of
adherence to the accepted Microsoft GUI standards for the appearance and usability of a Windows
application, and a critical issue with the application causing loss of client virtual memory, degrading
performance. This resulted in the re-engineering of eight primary screens with regard to their use of the Oracle
Glue middleware.
Datasure Ltd, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS1
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
Products:
April 1994 - August 1996
Consultant Analyst Programmer
Windows, Novell NetWare 3.12, VSE
Visual Basic, Access, RDM CICS COBOL (Supra), MANTIS
MS Office, SourceSafe, Chartist, IBM PC 3270 Workstation, Dumpmaster
Responsibilities
Gary joined the Maintenance of Broking Ledgers (MABL) project to assist with initial system build. User interface in
VB3. MABL successfully implemented in May 1995, subsequently implemented functional and performance
upgrades. Gary developed Event Manager in VB to manage timed events including parameter updates,
impacting the status of the primary application to improve performance during processing peaks and troughs.
Utilities developed included a Space Manager (VB) to analyse disk space usage at directory level on a client or
server PC, and a StopWatch (VB) for performance analysis during VB development.
Reuters Limited, Fleet Street, City Road and Great Sutton St., London
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
June 1990 - January 1994
Consultant Analyst Programmer
Windows 3.11, MVS/ESA, UNIX
MANTIS, COBOL II, CICS, SELCOPY, PRO*COBOL, SQL, PL/SQL, FOCUS
Responsibilities
Specialised in the core client admin. system, COMPASS (MANTIS), and the audit applications Account Audit and
PDS Reconciliation (MANTIS, COBOL and FOCUS). Designed and built two phases of Account Audit to include
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v2015
Irish reporting and a migrated account filter to prevent the inclusion of data that had already been migrated to
ISIS (new client admin. system). Appointed Deputy to Head UK Business Systems.
Later assigned to the ISIS project to develop the Management Reporting sub-system. ISIS provides complete
client administration for REUTERS UK business, including, account maintenance, product definition, invoicing, etc.
M&G Finance Limited, Chelmsford, Essex
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
April 1989 - May 1990
Consultant Analyst Programmer
Mainframe environment
CICS COBOL, MANTIS, RDM COBOL (Supra)
Responsibilities
The development and support of the Investment Management Systems, primarily in MANTIS 4GL with some CICS
COBOL, using the site structured development methodology. Notably developed a Quarterly Pensions Reporting
system to generate detailed client reports on request, successfully implemented within a highly ambitious
schedule to meet legislative obligations.
CentreFile Limited, London, E1
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
August 1987 - April 1989
Project Team Leader, (5 staff)
IBM Mainframe environment
CICS COBOL, MANTIS
Responsibilities
Built and lead a team to develop a Customer Profiling system from the existing Building Societies account based
system. User interface was MANTIS 4GL, with SUPRA backend relational DB, with COBOL interfaces ensuring
legacy VSAM system consistency. Initial design employed Joint Application Design methodology, involving
intensive 3 day workshops with selected Building Society Executives. Other responsibilities included the coordination of the Development Standards Handbook and the Systems Design Guidelines Manual.
Lloyds Bank International, London, SW1
Date:
Position:
Platform:
Languages:
November 1986 - August 1987
Senior Analyst Programmer / Team Leader (3 staff)
IBM 370 Mainframe environment
CICS COBOL
Responsibilities
Managing upgrades to the Data Dictionary Service (DDS), an in-house developed dictionary maintenance
product. This was a component of a CICS interface system, Foundation Software Architecture (FSA), jointly
developed by LBI and a third party software house responsible for the product marketing. The group also
produced Development Aids for use by the rest of the department.
Joint Credit Card Company Ltd. (Access), Southend-on-Sea, SS1
Date:
Positions:
Platform:
Languages:
August 1979 - November 1986
Senior A/P, Team Leader (12 staff)
IBM 370 Mainframe environment
COBOL, Assembler, CICS COBOL and Macro Level Assembler
Responsibilities
After 4 years in Development, Gary moved to Support, initially supporting critical batch systems, then learning
Assembler and additionally supporting on-line systems. He joined the elite 24-hour callout team shortly after
joining support (its youngest ever member), responsible for all critical batch and on-line systems. He eventually
headed Systems Support Group, a team of 12, liaising with joint Bank representatives and other user departments
on fault resolution and enquiries.
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Gary@GRWoods.com
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