Dhiwakara R

Senior IT and Business Solutions Leader with 19+ years of experience in banking and financial services, driving large-scale digital transformation initiatives across business solution analysis, product management, and enterprise IT governance. Proven ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable, secure, and compliant technology solutions while owning end-to-end software lifecycle management in highly regulated environments. Strong expertise in business solutioning, product roadmap definition, and stakeholder management, combined with hands-on leadership in IT governance, regulatory compliance, vendor management, business continuity, and risk management.

Adept at aligning technology strategy with business objectives, optimizing cost and delivery timelines, and ensuring operational resilience of mission-critical systems. Experienced in leading cross-functional teams across business analysis, architecture, delivery, and compliance functions, with deep exposure to Agile and Waterfall methodologies, SDLC governance, estimation, backlog prioritization, and production readiness. Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance customer experience, ensure regulatory adherence, and support sustainable business growth.

Senior Manager - Business Solutions, IT Delivery & Governance at Equitas Small Finance bank (2022-03 – Present)

Senior manager role responsible for driving business solutioning, product strategy, and enterprise IT delivery for digital banking and payments platforms. Accountable for aligning business requirements with technology execution while ensuring IT governance, regulatory compliance, operational stability, and vendor management in a highly regulated banking environment. Experienced in leading cross-functional teams across business analysis, architecture, delivery, and compliance functions, with deep exposure to Agile and Waterfall methodologies, SDLC governance, estimation, backlog prioritization, and production readiness.

• Led business solution analysis and product roadmap definition for digital banking and payment initiatives including digital onboarding, customer servicing, and real-time payment platforms
• Translated complex business, regulatory, and operational requirements into scalable, secure, and compliant technology solutions
• Partnered with business heads and senior leadership to prioritize initiatives based on business value, customer impact, risk, and cost
• Oversaw preparation and review of BRDs, FRDs, functional specifications, and solution design documents
• Coordinated with delivery teams across end-to-end SDLC execution covering Agile and Waterfall models, guiding estimation, sizing, backlog prioritization, sprint planning, and release management
• Coordinated with application, infrastructure, and operations teams to establish production readiness and deployment governance, ensuring stability and performance of mission-critical systems post go-live
• Actively coordinated IS audits, internal audits, and regulatory reviews, ensuring timely closure of audit observations and compliance gaps
• Worked closely with Risk, Compliance, and Information Security teams to remediate VA/PT findings and track non-compliance issues
• Ensured adherence to RBI, NPCI, and internal IT security and governance standards across digital platforms
• Coordinated vendor evaluation and selection activities by working with business, architecture, and procurement teams
• Led product capability discussions and solution demonstrations with vendors and internal stakeholders
• Guided solution design and finalization in collaboration with architects and delivery teams
• Coordinated with vendors and internal delivery teams during implementation phases

Product Development Manager at Citibank India (2019-05 – 2022-03)

Digital Banking and Payments (UPI platform)

• Prepared high-level solutions along with architects and cross-functional teams
• Consulted with users and clients to solve complex system issues and problems through in-depth evaluation of business processes, systems and industry standards
• Acted as SME to senior stakeholders and other team members
• Coordinated with various technology partners including vendors for maintaining service levels of existing systems
• Delivered strategic projects and solutions in partnership with various stakeholders
• Practiced established project management disciplines including project plans, meetings and risk management
• Coordinated with risk and compliance teams to close identified vulnerability findings and shared VA reports to regulatory bodies with fix timelines and status
• Coordinated timely and quality delivery and thorough testing of enhancements with operations and business teams
• Coordinated development of test cases and supported execution of user testing
• Tracked End of Vendor Support and End of Life of software being used in applications
• Tracked non-compliance issues around applications and owned resolution and closure

Product Manager at Financial Software and Systems (2017-11 – 2019-04)

Working on eFinclusiv product suite for Banks, Financial Companies and Payment Banks. eFinclusiv is a product suite comprising micro services applications developed as white-label solutions. Solutions developed over three-tier architecture interfacing with multiple external host systems like CBS, NPCI, Bank ATM switch, Digilocker. eFinclusiv solution exposes partnered APIs in XML/JSON/ISO format.

• Participated in presales team to work on RFPs from clients
• Prepared requirement-related pre-bid queries and submitted solution proposal documents
• Created and delivered product presentations and demos for client opportunities
• Created solution approach documents and conducted reviews with key stakeholders including Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Design
• Prepared product roadmap and delivered product features in phases
• Built battle cards, case studies and brochures to enable Sales team
• Maintained strong knowledge in AEPS, BHIM AadhaarPay, and UPI

Business Analyst at Tata Consultancy Services (2011-10 – 2017-10)

Worked on Financial Inclusion project for Private and State-owned Banks in India. Financial Inclusion is the provision of a broad range of financial services such as deposits, loans, payment services, money transfers, insurance to poor and low-income households. The application leverages branchless banking concept, providing financial institutions extensive and easy reach to unbanked population, linking end users in remote areas to bank services through multiple delivery channels.

• Participated in requirement discussions to understand business requirements
• Prepared Functional and Solution Design documents once requirements were finalized
• Created process flow diagrams for finalized requirements
• Participated in SIT and UAT to help development and support teams develop and fix functional defects

Infosys Limited (2006-06 – 2011-10)

Bachelor of engineering