IS Chief Project Manager

Time flies indeed! Freshly graduated from an information systems management school, I’ve been working in a stimulating and formative environment for almost four years now, which has given me a holistic view of all the bank’s business lines.

I’m currently IS Chief Project Manager, which is a demanding and highly visible position as regards the Group’s directors.

How would you describe the position of “job title”?

The Project Manager is the general inspectorate’s representative with the audited parties and also supervises a team of inspectors and deputies throughout the mission: from the preparation of the work programme to the drafting of the report and the recommendations to be presented to the Group’s decision-makers. As IS Chief Project Manager, I work particularly on IT missions (project, application software and security audits), and I interact primarily with the business departments, whose needs I audit, and the IS Department with whom I check the measures implemented to meet business requirements.

What are the peak periods of your job during the year?

What I like the most about the General Inspectorate is the vast range of subjects. Every three months, I get a new team, new audited parties and new problems! For example, this year, in addition to IS missions, I was able to work on missions in collaboration with general and model auditors on regulatory issues relating to interest rate risk and accounting.

Each mission is divided into 3 phases:

• Preparation and scoping of the mission (drawing up of the work programme and definition of the auditing scope)
• Investigations (conducting of interviews with the audited parties – operational staff and executive officers – and analysis of documentation)
• Drawing up of the final report of the mission and debriefing to general management (presentation of conclusions and recommendations to audited parties).

In between assignments, I continue to broaden my knowledge through the training courses proposed by the IG, and I’m also contacted to train new hires.

Can you describe your typical day?

On a day-to-day basis, I make sure that the inspectors and their deputies are improving their skills within their audit scope and that the team works well together. We always work together as a team, which allows us to get to know each other and generate teambuilding opportunities outside of work!

Depending on the phases of the mission, I may have to travel to the audited entities to conduct interviews, or stay at the General Inspectorate headquarters to draft recommendations and the final report and answer questions from the IS supervisor.

What career path is required to reach your position and what are the possibilities for development?

I joined the Group General Inspectorate right after I graduated with a Master’s degree in Information Systems Engineering. I work every day with junior auditors who have graduated from university or business/engineering school and also with more experienced staff with an IT background.

Aside from the academic background, you must above all be motivated, curious and not be afraid to learn during the six-year programme.

There is a vast range of career opportunities: I could join the Group’s IS Department or a business unit, specialise in a technical field or manage a team.

Thanks to the diversity of the missions and professions I have encountered, as well as the cross-functional skills I have acquired throughout my career, I am able to identify my preferences for the various professions.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of taking up a similar position?

The General Inspectorate is one of the rare places where you can learn about the entire banking universe! It teaches us not only to develop our technical and managerial skills, but also to be flexible in order to prepare ourselves for a position of greater responsibility. If you have such ambitions, take the jump!