Manene Rigala

Executive level IT and Operations professional with 18 years of experience demonstrating achievements and expertise to proactively enhance business operations, IT operations and governance, Vendor Management, IT Infrastructure, Service Desk, Application Support, Software development and maintenance. Able to visualize the big picture, value creation and sustainability within the IT and operations environment. Focused on compliance, risk reporting, prioritization, mitigation and Monitoring.

Possess well rounded background of the SDLC, its processes and methodologies, driving improvement of end user satisfaction with IT systems and services, creating long-term operating strategies for IT Operations, identify, develop, implement ICT frameworks, Business Continuity and Disaster recovery plans, standards, policies, procedures/ best practices, plan annual IT budgets, control approved budgets, reporting expenditures, manage internal/external audits. Report IT operational performance, identify, implement, monitor mitigating actions, manage external service providers to contractual agreements and lead Service Desk. I am enthusiastic and eager to contribute to team success through hard work, attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.

Clear understanding of Technology and the need for it in the market. I am motivated to learn, grow, achieve company goals, and excel in opportunities presented to me.

Head: Operations and Management Information Systems - Standard Bank (Standard Trust Limited) - Johannesburg, South Africa

(2023-09)

• Formulate business strategy with others in the executive team.
• Design policies that align with overall strategy and implement efficient processes and standards.
• Coordinate customer service operations and find ways to ensure customer retention.
• Ensure compliance with local and international laws (e.g., data protection)
• Oversee the implementation of technology solutions throughout the organization.
• Manage contracts and relations with customers, vendors, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate risk, mitigate with controls and lead quality assurance efforts.
• Oversee expenses and budgeting to help the organization optimize costs and benefits.
• Mentor and motivate teams to achieve productivity and engagement.
• Report on operational performance and suggest improvements
• Provide leadership in IT strategy, operations, security, innovation, and efficiency improvement.
• Design, develop, implement, and coordinate systems, policies, and procedures.
• Act in alignment with user needs and system functionality to contribute to organizational policy.
• Lead and participate in problem resolution activities related to system outages across the enterprise impacting IT systems.
• Ensure customer service level agreements (SLA) and availability metrics are met by addressing technical defects in a timely manner.
• Responsible for IT operations support for all production systems which includes, but is not limited to Active Directory, Web services, Application services, and Database services.
• Review IT security practices to streamline processes and address security gaps.
• Ensure best practice IT governance, security and reporting requirements are in place.
• Accountable for IT Production systems and services. Lead and Manage the Service Desk, Infrastructure and Production Application Teams supporting infrastructure and applications. Develop processes to meet strategic and operational objectives.
• Lead STL internal IT operations team and steer the production support and maintenance services provided internally and by external service providers.
• Partnered with stakeholders and senior leadership to create a strategic vision for IT growth in the company and act as an agent for positive change.
• Manage relationships with corporate department heads to secure resources for business needs and projects.
• Manage and build relationships with vendors providing key technology solutions to the business.
• Manage IT Ops budget and look for opportunities to reduce expenditure.
• Implement processes for local tax reporting compliance as the Tax portfolio is under Operations.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to avoid reputational risk.
• Maintain relationships with divisions, SARS, and industry bodies; and attend meetings.
• Monitor new regulations and advise on compliance.
• Collaborate with IT on tax reporting functionality and ensure compliance.

Head: Technology Operations - Curo fund Services - Cape Town, South Africa

(2020-04 - 2023-08)

• Accountable for IT Production systems and services. Lead and Manage the Service Desk, Infrastructure and Production Application Teams supporting infrastructure and applications. Develop processes to meet strategic and operational objectives.
• Lead Curo's internal IT operations team and steer the production support and maintenance services provided internally and by external service providers.
• Partnered with stakeholders and senior leadership to create a strategic vision for IT growth in the company and act as an agent for positive change.
• Provide leadership in IT strategy, operations, security, innovation, and efficiency improvement.
• Design, develop, implement, and coordinate systems, policies, and procedures.
• Act in alignment with user needs and system functionality to contribute to organizational policy.
• Lead and participate in problem resolution activities related to system outages across the enterprise impacting IT systems.
• Ensure customer service level agreements (SLA) and availability metrics are met by addressing technical defects in a timely manner.
• Provide IT operations installation, support, and expertise for Windows 10 and O365 strategy which includes all network connectivity, server operations, and desktop operations.
• Responsible for IT operations support for all production systems which includes, but is not limited to Active Directory, Web services, Application services, and Database services.
• Develop and set up disaster recovery plans, manage backups, archiving, and security systems.
• Review IT security practices to streamline processes and address security gaps.
• Ensure best practice IT governance, security and reporting requirements are in place.
• Manage relationships with corporate department heads to secure resources for business needs and projects.
• Manage and build relationships with vendors providing key technology solutions to the business.
• Manage IT Ops budget and look for opportunities to reduce expenditure.

Business Analyst Manager - Curo Fund Services - Cape Town, South Africa

(2019-04 - 2020-03)

• Manage and develop a high-performance team of Business Analysts to provide customer focused services to program/project teams, aligned to the core values of integrity, collaboration, excellence, and customer first attitude, through effective leadership, support, and feedback.
• Provide advice about the feasibility and suitability of proposed solutions to optimize business performance.
• Working with key stakeholders to define business requirements to enable informed business decisions and quality outcomes.
• Providing interface between business and IT, ensuring that both sides have full and equivalent understanding of all issues under discussion to ensure effective communications.
• Reviewing and implementing appropriate strategies and measures around developing a safe healthy and inclusive work environment.
• Create, Prioritize, and maintain product backlog in JIRA and conduct grooming sessions through the Scrum process.
• Liaison and relationship building with external vendors to ensure vendor delivery meets business and or industry.
• Lead and Mentor Junior and Intermediate Business Analysts.

Lead Business Analyst - Direct Axis - Cape Town, South Africa

(2013-11 - 2019-04)

• Defining Business rules and Functional, Non- Functional, and informational requirements, designing Process models, Data models and defining User Acceptance tests.
• Produce Business Cases which were gathered from series of interviews and JAD Sessions.
• Presentation of Business Cases and Specifications to Stakeholders.
• Liaise with Business and IT Stakeholders to satisfy business needs.
• Ensure that production support is effectively and timeously addressed.
• Identify and manage any risk introduced by changes.
• Identify inefficiencies and champion continuous improvement, not only on the system but also giving input into process improvements.
• Collaborating with system architects to define infrastructure to support reporting.
• Liaise with business users and developers regarding requirements for new or improved functionality.
• Create, Prioritize, and maintain product backlog in JIRA and conduct grooming sessions through the Scrum process.
• Liaison and relationship building with external vendors to ensure vendor delivery meets business and or industry.
• Lead and Mentor Junior and Intermediate Business Analysts
• Business Analysis Tools: Enterprise Architect, Microsoft Visio, Free Mind for Mind mapping and Screens.
• Business process Model: Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN), UML

Senior Test Lead - Direct Axis - Cape Town, South Africa

(2013-04 - 2013-10)

• Lead projects and assist in developing strategy to improve QA processes. Analyze systems and test them according to priority risks identified by QA team, Developers and Project managers.
• Audit test cases and ensure that peer review is done for all test packs. Clear understanding of Testing Methodologies. Mentor junior Testers and be part of recruitment process.
• Work with UNIX and Microsoft platforms running the following server applications: Oracle and DB2.
• Validate test results using QC and SQL database querying and log file analysis, managing evolving test requirements throughout the product lifecycle, covering test analysis, planning, design, test data preparation and test execution.
• Accurate and concise documentation of new and updated product features, create detailed test plans, test reports and other documents required within test process.
• Regression testing and maintenance of test script repositories for updates to existing software.
• SCRUM Practices: Daily stand-up, Sprints and story estimation, Story writing, backlog grooming and retrospective. Experience in working in both Agile and Waterfall methodology environments.

Test Lead - Old Mutual – Skandia UK - Cape Town, South Africa

(2012-05 - 2013-04)

• Lead Team of Testers and projects also assisted in developing strategy to improve QA processes. Analyses systems and test them according to priority risks identified by QA team, Developers and Project managers.
• Audit test cases and ensure that peer review was done for all test packs. Clear understanding of Testing Methodologies.
• Mentor junior Testers and be the part of recruitment process.
• Work with UNIX and Microsoft platforms running the following server applications: Oracle and DB2.
• Validate test results using QC and SQL database querying and log file analysis, managing evolving test requirements throughout the product lifecycle, covering test analysis, planning, design, test data preparation and test execution.
• Accurate and concise documentation of new and updated product features, create detailed test plans, test reports and other documents required within test process.
• Regression testing and maintenance of test script repositories for updates to existing software.
• SCRUM Practices: Daily stand-up, Sprints and story estimation, Story writing, backlog grooming and retrospective. Experience in working in both Agile and Waterfall methodology environments.

Senior Test Analyst - MWEB - Cape Town, South Africa

(2010-04 - 2012-04)

• Lead projects and assist in developing strategy to improve QA processes.
• Analyze systems and test them according to priority risks identified by QA team, Developers and Product Owners.
• Audit test cases and ensure that peer review was done for all test packs. Clear understanding of Agile/Scrum model as MWEB is currently using the methodology.
• Mentor junior Testers and be the part of recruitment process.
• Work with UNIX and Microsoft platforms running the following server applications: Oracle and DB2.
• Validate of test results using SQL database querying and log file analysis, managing evolving test requirements throughout the product lifecycle, covering test analysis, planning, design, test data preparation and test execution.
• Accurate and concise documentation of new and updated product features, create detailed test plans, test reports and other documents required within the test process. Regression testing and maintenance of test script repositories for updates to existing software.
• SCRUM Practices: Daily stand-up, Sprints and story estimation, backlog grooming and retrospective. Experience in working in both Agile and Structured methodology environments.

Test Analyst - Test and Data Services - Cape Town, Cape Town

(2007-01 - 2010-04)

• Systems Integration and User Acceptance Testing of Personal lines, Commercial lines, Agriculture, Claims Systems etc. Allocation of effort for quality risk items proportional to level of risk.
• Select test techniques in a way that matches the level of risk identified. Ensure that testing activities are carried out a priority order. Tools used include Quality Center and Quick Test Professional. Clear understanding of SDLC and formal model.
• Test Plans analyses test requirements, extract test cases from test oracle, execute test cases in a risk order (high risk being the first in the priority list).
• Log bugs and retest the system. Report on test progress and test closure activities like lessons learned. Mentor junior Testers and lead projects. Component, System Testing, Integration Testing, Regression Testing etc. Clients Contracted on: SAAB Avio Tronics (Centurion PTA), ABSA Online Banking (Randburg), CSIR Meraka (PTA) and MWEB (Cape Town)

Matric Certificate - Louw Wepener High School

Bachelor of Commerce - Management Information Systems - University of The Free State

ISTQ Advanced Test Analyst - Test and Data Services

Diploma - Business Analysis - Faculty Training Institute (FTI)

Certificate - Project Management - Faculty Training Institute (FTI)

Post Graduate Diploma - Business Acumen and Innovation - University of Cape Town

Executive Leadership Program - Henley Business School