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SERVICES OVERVIEW

FROM STRATEGIC ADVICE AND ANALYSIS TO DELIVERY AND SUPPORT

We adapt our approach and our team to suit individual client’s organisation, and the requirements of their particular project.

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As ex-insiders, we understand how to resource individual projects appropriately and cost effectively. We know that budgets are increasingly under pressure. Part of our role is to work with clients to focus resources on projects that will optimise return on investment.

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In addition, we understand that the solution is not always about technology or the latest software. As we seek to improve operational performance, we also scrutinise people, processes and cross-functional relationships. It is this holistic approach that our clients value. We set out to solve a business problem rather than sell a pre-packaged solution.

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We can review the entire end-to-end process, and all the sub-processes within it. Alternatively, we can focus on discrete parts of the total operation, looking at those areas where the most significant benefits can be delivered swiftly.

"WE ARE PRAGMATISTS. WE KNOW THAT THE WHEEL CANNOT BE REINVENTED ONCE A WEEK. BUT WE DON'T LET THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL ALLOW THE WHEEL TO TURN MORE SMOOTHLY AND MORE SWIFTLY"

ADAM STERN, MANAGING DIRECTOR

STRATEGIC ADVICE & PLANNING

As independent practitioners, we are trusted to provide impartial advice focused on our clients’ real business needs. We are trusted because we have broad experience, in-depth market knowledge and an open minded view of what levers should be pulled to achieve a desired result.

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Our approach involves looking beyond the borders of the Asset Services function. We take account of the organisation as a whole, its strategic priorities, its existing initiatives (that might impact on our work or vice-versa), its constraints and its long term ambitions.

OUR STRATEGIC ADVISORS PROVIDE:

  • Market intelligence and advice regarding current best practice

  • Independent advice regarding 3rd party vendors and partners

  • High level advice on options for process re-engineering and improvements

  • Input into business cases and articulation of business rationale

  • Assistance with presentations to stakeholders

  • Provision of an Actionable Strategic Plan for process improvements.

"WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE PUZZLE. NOT ONLY THE PIECE WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED TO OPTIMISE."

BUSINESS ANALYSIS & SOLUTIONS

Our analysts have experience of a wide range of Asset Services projects, ranging from quick system fixes, through to the re-engineering of entire processes. This experience underpins our ability to diagnose critical issues swiftly, and at a lower cost than many of our larger, less specialised competitors.

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Ibacas analysts naturally take ownership of projects, and full responsibility for successful delivery. We are solution focused, and we place a high value on communications. Throughout an engagement, all Ibacas personnel act as translators. We facilitate understanding between Business Units and Asset Services operations. We help those in Asset Services to understand technology teams working with them, and vice-versa.

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Our aim is to cut through organisational complexity to deliver results. We go beyond project management and delivery. We lead our clients through each engagement, acting as a guide and facilitator combined.

IBACAS ANALYSTS LIAISE WITH CLIENTS:

  • Taking the Actionable Strategic Plan as a start point, and exploring viable options for its execution

  • Undertaking Current State Analysis, Future State Analysis and Gap Analysis, working with all implicated stakeholders

  • Developing Target Operating Models

  • Converting the Actionable Strategic Plan into a Recommended Achievable Project Plan

  • Working with the client team, key client stakeholders and sponsors to gain internal agreement and support for this plan

"WE GUIDE OUR CLIENTS THROUGH COMPLEX SITUATIONS TO ARRIVE AT EFFECTIVE, DELIVERABLE SOLUTIONS."

DESIGN, DELIVERY & TESTING

Our design, delivery and testing experts live and breathe Asset Services. As a result, we understand how best to elicit the key business requirements that are critical to a particular project. Given our experience within the domain, our analysts don’t start from a blank sheet of paper. We have an extensive understanding of the core business and functional requirements that are key to Asset Services Optimisation Projects, which gives our clients a head start at this crucial stage. In addition, we have a particular strength in functional and user acceptance testing.

 

Our experience allows us to prioritise resources intelligently, investing in the testing operations that matter most, and employing lower-cost techniques when appropriate – without compromising overall quality. As technical teams or other external delivery experts join projects, we work hard to share our understanding of the big picture. This ensures that everybody working with us fully understands where their work-stream interacts with the project as a whole.

OUR DESIGN & DELIVERY PROFESSIONALS:

  • Build on the Recommended Project Plan and take responsibility for the complete project lifecycle and its successful execution

  • Create fully specified Business and Functional Requirements Documentation

  • Deliver rigorous and detailed Process Flow diagrams

  • Define an intelligent and appropriate Testing Strategy and Plan

  • Take full responsibility for a smooth hand-over of the redesigned process or system

  • Deliver related training documentation

  • Manage migration as part of deployment

"WE FOCUS ON THE DETAILS THAT REALLY MATTER TO DELIVER RESULTS."

ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICE

Some clients retain us to provide specific services on an ongoing basis. The services we provide vary from client to client, and are designed around the needs of the individual organisation. For some organisations, we act as a strategic sounding board. For others, we offer more tactical and operational assistance.

ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE:

  • Regular market intelligence reviews, covering issues such as the impact of new regulations and new industry standards.

  • Facilitation of workshops

  • Tactical queue management and prioritisation

  • Training

  • Undertaking user surveys or research projects

"OUR SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO DOVETAIL AROUND OUR CLIENTS' LONG TERM REQUIREMENTS"

AD HOC ASSIGNMENTS

In addition, we offer one-off or ad hoc services to clients requiring a specific solution to a specific challenge. Once we have a working relationship with an individual client, we are often asked to plug a gap in the in-house team, or to deal with an urgent matter where our skill-set is of value. The range of services provided is highly varied, as we assist at all stages of a project’s lifecycle.

AD HOC SERVICES INCLUDE:

  • Assisting with the development & presentation of a buisness case

  • Assisting with selection of 3rd party vendors or long-term IT partners

  • Auditing the existing operational state for future review and upgrade

  • Functional and user acceptance testing strategy, scripting and execution

  • Data mapping exercises

"WE PLUG THE GAPS THAT OUR CLIENTS' CAN'T EASILY PLUG-IN HOUSE"

CURRENT STATE ANALYSIS

We support clients operating in a highly competitive Financial Services market where there is constant requirement from Senior Management to reduce costs whilst improving risk management and controls, as well as clients demanding more timely and accurate information and improved service levels. There is always pressure on our clients to improve their Asset Services function to meet those demands.

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The complexity associated with Asset Services processing means It is often difficult to know where those improvements can, or should, be made.

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We have developed a series of proprietary tools to undertake a detailed Current State analysis of the Asset Services function in any type of Financial Institutions. The output from this process gives our clients a detailed understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the existing process, identifying the areas they should focus on to deliver the most effective change.

OUR ANALYSIS INCLUDES AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Adherence to local and global Standard Market Practice Group (SMPG) guidelines.

  • Current Operating Model.

  • Levels of Automation / Efficiency.

  • Risk Mitigation and Management.

  • Architectural Efficiency focusing on data flows between upstream and downstream systems.

  • Visibility of Event Level / Business Unit / Organisational Level Processing Status and Risk Levels.

  • Client Communication / Interaction Capabilities.

  • Adherence to Organisational / Business Unit Goals and Standards / SLA Terms.

  • Client Service Levels.

  • In flight / planned book of work for process improvements.

  • Historical losses / near misses.

"WE HAVE BUILT PROPRIETARY TOOLS TO ANALYSE AND DOCUMENT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF OUR CLIENTS’ CURRENT STATE ASSET SERVICES PROCESSING MODEL"

BUSINESS CASE DEVELOPMENT: COMING SOON

We use our in depth understanding of both the Operational factors and Bigger Picture impact to identify all the potential benefits that can be included in a viable Business Case for Asset Services change. 

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