Maria Serra

About Maria Serra

Maria is an accomplished Financial Services leader with a strong background in Risk Management, Operations, Business Transformation and Client Services within the Asset Servicing, Investment Management, Retail/Wealth, and Banking industry segments. She has a history of developing and implementing robust risk management strategies, leading significant middle office Operations organizations, and successfully implementing large operational complex strategic business initiatives, while improving the client experience, decreasing risk, and increasing efficiency, measured by client survey results. Maria has held key leadership positions, including Head of Operational Risk Management for Global Wealth and Asset Management, Operations at Manulife. In this role, she successfully implemented a strong operational control framework. Maria is highly skilled in fostering a risk-awareness culture and collaborating with executive stakeholders to align risk management initiatives with business objectives.Maria successfully provided leadership and subject matter expertise in Risk Management to the Investment Management and Retail/Wealth Operations organizations in the below areas leading to an enhanced operational control framework and decrease in financial exposure:Reportable events, root cause, and risk mitigation Risk Control Assessment program across 60 operational functions as well as Fraud and Conflict of Interest key topics Risk reviews on new operational initiatives, products, and third-party vendorsInsights on emerging risks and risk themes, including control mitigation inputCreated and presented comprehensive risk management reports to Senior Management Business Partners and Risk Management Committee meetings, highlighting the operational risk profile of the organization.Knowledgeable of Archer Governance, Risk, and Compliance Tool. Maria also possesses strong skills in strategic thinking and planning, collaboration, and change management. Her keen sense of data analysis, critical thinking and problem solving enables her to make informed decisions and drive successful outcomes. Maria is enthusiastic. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues to navigate risks and strategic initiatives with confidence and is dedicated to helping them achieve their goals by establishing a solid Risk foundation and a disciplined Operational and Program Management process.She is a team player, enjoys mentoring, and is passionate about adding value and making a positive difference.

Experience

1. Senior Business Risk Strategist Contracting at Prestigious Banking Organization in Boston, ma

   Stefanini Group

   Nov 2023 — Present · Southfield, MI, US

   Responsible for risk management processes associated with the 1st line of defense, including Risk Events, Risk Control Assessments (RCMs), Risk Acceptance, risk profile monitoring, risk analysis and reporting. Identifying process and control improvements to enhance the control framework, through the organization’s risk management assurance functions. Supporting the refreshment of an Operational Risk Profile through the enhancement of Risk Control Assessments (RCMs) to reflect the evolution of the service and processes. RCM refresh examples include Onboarding, Profile Maintenance, Transaction Processing and Release Management. Serving as a liaison with Enterprise Risk Management to support on-going alignment of practices. Contributing to the overall development of a Risk and Compliance monthly Executive Risk Management Dashboard Report, with significant focus on organization\'s Operational Risk Profile. Providing consultative support to Operational Business and Technical teams on observations associated with testing, risk events and risk assessment activities. Excel in collaborating with stakeholders in a collaborative and diplomatic approach to reach consensus on risk mitigation activities. Participating in Fraud Working Group focused on identifying Risks of the program and its solutions to ensure successful execution. Performed testing of COSO and Key Operational Controls.

Education

• Suffolk University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Political Science Major and Finance Concentration

Skills

• Investments
• Financial Services
• Strategic Planning
• Business Relationship Management
• Management
• Banking
• Mutual Funds
• Relationship Management
• Risk Management
• Asset Management
• Process Improvement
• Equities
• Business Analysis
• Project Management
• Fixed Income
• Financial Analysis
• Securities
• Global Custody
• Capital Markets
• Business Strategy
• Hedge Funds
• Leadership
• Asset Managment