Royal Bank of Scotland - Lending Book Migration

Introduction

Contributing to the Migration Programme, tasked with simplifying the Group's legal entity structure, operating model, and client service model, was a pivotal responsibility. My focus was on transferring the acquisition of ABN Amro's equity business, emerging markets, and lending onto RBS current systems, through two major projects: Entity migration and System migration.

The Challenge

The challenge lay in seamlessly migrating ABN Amro's systems into RBS's existing lending systems while ensuring compliance, efficiency, and minimal disruption to business operations. Understanding lending products, finance systems architecture, and coordinating complex migration tasks were crucial amidst evolving regulatory requirements and market dynamics.

Objectives and Strategy

My core objectives were to swiftly grasp lending products and finance systems architecture, facilitate the smooth initiation of projects by preparing and reviewing (BRDs), and act as a key liaison between lending IT and finance change. Supervising pre-novation User Acceptance Testing (UAT), collaborating with business unit controllers, and providing UAT sign-off were integral parts of the strategy to ensure meticulous implementation.

Implementation

My role encompassed overseeing and participating in pre-novation UAT testing, conducting regular meetings with business unit controllers to assess impacts on Business as Usual (BAU), and aiding UAT teams in drafting test cases. Crafting a detailed Runbook for Dress Rehearsal and Go-Live weekends and managing project milestones were critical components of implementation. In addition, maintaining a comprehensive Risks and Issues log, providing status reports, and capturing lessons learned post-implementation were essential tasks undertaken during project management.

Results and Benefits

The diligent efforts in guiding entity and system migrations within the Migration Programme yielded positive outcomes. By successfully transferring ABN Amro's acquisitions onto RBS systems, the organization achieved enhanced operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and streamlined client service models. The meticulous planning and execution ensured minimal disruptions and smooth transitions, culminating in successful project milestones and comprehensive UAT sign-offs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the project within the Migration Programme exemplified the significance of adept project management, deep financial expertise, and effective stakeholder coordination in executing complex migration tasks. By leveraging a combination of technical proficiency, strategic planning, and diligent oversight, the objectives of simplifying the legal entity structure and enhancing client service models were realized. The commitment to recording lessons learned and maintaining robust communication channels underscored the organization's dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in project delivery.