Archana Balaji

About Archana Balaji

As the Head of PMO at HDFC Bank, I bring over 21 years of comprehensive experience in the banking and financial services sector, underpinned by professional certifications in Accounting, Project Management, and Agile methodologies. During my career, I have consistently delivered strategic IT solutions that enhance customer experience, optimise operational efficiency, and mitigate risk across diverse banking functions.In my current role, I lead the PMO for Banking as a Service (BaaS), driving critical initiatives with a focus on project governance, meticulous planning, and effective stakeholder management. I specialize in running PMOs for core banking migration along with multitude surround applications and merger integration. My expertise spans business process reengineering, system design and development, change management, vendor relations, and large-scale data migration. This is complemented by a strong techno-functional acumen in areas such as operational risk management, wholesale banking, treasury, and trade finance.I am a results-driven leader, dedicated to fostering cross-functional collaboration and nurturing talent within my teams. My approach is rooted in strategic foresight and a commitment to delivering transformative outcomes that align with business goals. Thriving on challenges, I bring a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset to every project, ensuring successful execution in a dynamic and evolving industry landscape. Key Areas of Expertise: PMO Strategy & Governance – Designing frameworks that drive consistency & control Portfolio, Program & Project Management – Aligning initiatives with business goals Strategy Execution & Business Management – Translating vision into measurable results Agile & Hybrid Transformation – Enabling adaptability in dynamic business environments Risk, Compliance & Performance Management – Strengthening project success rates Stakeholder Engagement & Change Leadership – Driving collaboration & adoption Budget forecasting, financial planning, and resource allocation – Efficient budget and resource management. Business operations and strategic execution – Driving efficiency & optimizationI am passionate about bridging strategy and execution, ensuring that every project contributes towards business growth, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage. Let’s connect to explore opportunities how strong PMO leadership can elevate project success and business impact!

Experience

1. Head-pmo, Strategy & Business Mgmt - Banking as a Service (Baas), Ecosystem & International Bkg

   HDFC Bank

   Oct 2023 — Present · Mumbai, IN

Education

• R A Podar College

  Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Accounting and Economics

  1991 — 1994

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

  ACA, Accounting

  1994 — 1997

• Institute of Cost Accountants of India

  ACMA

  1992

Skills

• Project Management
• Mis
• Analytics
• Relationship Management
• Corporate Finance
• Management
• Derivatives
• Operational Risk
• Business Analysis
• Finance
• Credit
• Program Management
• Internet Banking
• Investment Banking
• Vendor Management
• Financial Risk
• Core Banking
• Kyc
• Project Management Office (Pmo)
• Portfolio Management
• Wholesale Banking
• Banking
• Risk Management
• Team Management
• Credit Risk
• Commercial Banking
• Retail Banking
• Re-Engineering
• Requirements Gathering
• Leadership
• Operational Risk Management
• Business Process
• Business Process Re-Engineering
• Trade Finance