Mariam January
Lead Associate
Athlone
Summary
With a high cognitive and emotional capacity, possess strong problem-analysis competencies. Versatile and flexible nature, coupled with passion, vision, and ability to provoke others to learn, allows for placing a high value on innovation, action, and transfer of workplace knowledge. Dedicated to empowering personal growth, self-awareness, and fostering a collective understanding of impact on the workplace to create a more intentional and productive environment. Alongside postgraduate degree in business administration, advanced diploma in management from University of the Western Cape, and TESOL qualification for English foreign languages, self-driven and self-reliant, approaching objectives with a logical mindset. Assertiveness and persistence in striving for excellence complemented by disciplined approach to optimizing performance. Meticulousness, versatility, and ability to synthesize new ideas make resourceful and receptive to advice and recommendations from peers and superiors. These qualities enable excelling both within a team and independently, allowing for overcoming challenges and adding tremendous value to any organization. As a Lead Assistant, possess talent to support senior managers and upper management in decision-making processes while enhancing overall productivity. Expertise lies in managing administrative and clerical functions, scheduling, logistics, meetings, as well as providing follow-up on important projects and initiatives. Strong organizational skills and effective communication abilities, pay meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of work.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Associate
Willis Towers Watson
07.2016 - Current
- Drafting agendas for Investment Committee and Board of Trustee meetings.
- Minute taking at the Investment Committee meetings
- Drafting of client resolutions, to ensure any Investment Committee and Board of Trustee decisions are executed timeously
- Updating the respective clients’ Investment Policy Statements (IPS), ensuring that all changes recommended and accepted by the Board of Trustees are documented
- Facilitating presenters for Board of Trustee meetings
- Performing analytical work: Collection and interpretation of asset manager holdings data
- Liaise effectively with colleagues regarding data collection, analyses, and project execution
- Calculating net returns using portfolio manager values
- Liaising with Asset managers regularly
- Extracting data from Morningstar
- Producing monthly factsheets on Morningstar
- Onboarding on new clients
- Report generation on the in-house system: Producing quarterly client fact sheets
- Production of monthly and quarterly investment reports for pension and retirement funds
- Peer reviewing reports: Checking clients' Reg 28 reports
- Checking performance fees generated by the asset managers
- Checking reports generated by other analysts.
- Most of our staff are on a hybrid working arrangement, hence we use MS Teams for meetings, training, and most colleague interactions
- We are required to work in the office once a week.
- Initiated timely response to emails, voicemails, and written correspondence.
- Maintained team flexibility and embraced change to adapt within dynamic markets.
- Mentored junior associates, providing guidance on best practices and professional development opportunities.
- Coordinated weekly meetings for internal and external groups.
- Built strong relationships with customers through positive attitude and attentive response.
- Established clear lines of communication between team members for better collaboration and overall efficiency.
- Evaluated team member performance regularly, providing constructive feedback for continuous improvement.
- Built strong relationships with clients through exceptional customer service skills, which led to repeat business opportunities over time periods measured in years, not months or weeks alone.
- Demonstrated knowledge of company mission and goals, and mentored employees in reaching objectives aligned with company core values.
Office Administrator
Ginsburg Asset Consulting GAC
11.2015 - 06.2016
- Investment performance reporting
- Quantitative analysis of manager performance data
- Data management input and ensuring accuracy thereof
- Liaison with asset managers
- Ensure client portfolio information is updated for analyses, reporting and valuation purposes
- Generate monthly and quarterly reports
- Produce monthly Fund fact sheets
- Peer review reports compiled by other analysts
- Prepare monthly Regulation 28 reports for clients
- Investigate all non-compliance on monthly Regulation 28 reports
- Generate compliance letters and distribute to various clients’/ retirement funds.
Compliance Administrator
Sygnia Asset Management
04.2013 - 10.2015
- Investment performance reporting
- Quantitative analysis of manager performance data
- Data management input and ensuring accuracy thereof
- Liaison with asset managers
- Ensure client portfolio information is updated for analyses, reporting and valuation purposes
- Generate monthly and quarterly reports
- Produce monthly Fund fact sheets
- Peer review reports compiled by other analysts
- Prepare monthly Regulation 28 reports for clients
- Investigate all non-compliance on monthly Regulation 28 reports
- Generate compliance letters and distribute to various clients’/ retirement funds.
Head of Training Development
Citizen Surveys
04.2010 - 03.2013
- Training individuals on specific projects for market research purposes
- Developing training manuals for various projects
- On-boarding and orientation
- Assessing training needs
- Evaluating training effectiveness
- Workshop facilitation
- Coaching and mentoring
- Facilitating peer learning
- Once the field staff is in the field, daily catch-up meetings with various team leaders to assist with queries and to ensure efficiency.
Head of Administration
Trinity Holdings / Trinity Asset Management (Pty) Ltd
11.2003 - 03.2010
- Responsible for all administration in company
- Managed communication with 620 clients
- Ensured all client accounts were FICA and FAIS compliant
- Managed client fees and billing
- Was the company’s Anti-Money Laundering Officer
- Responsible for maintaining the all relevant registers FAIS
- Procured all office supplies
- Managed HR for 13 staff members
- Supervised 5 staff members.
Office Manager
Affinity Holdings (Pty) Ltd
02.2003 - 10.2003
- Responsible for entire office function
- Responsible for the procurement of office suppliers
- Managed the HR function for all 8 staff members
- Supervised 5 staff
- Responsible for the payroll using the VIP payroll system and all statutory payments
- Performed similar functions as at Finanzplan.
Head of Administration
Finanzplan Broker Network (Pty) Ltd: back office support for insurance brokers
06.2000 - 01.2003
- Responsible for the entire back office function which included a broker base of 300 brokers and liaising with 12 different insurance companies
- Managed the management fees for the company and the commission payments for all brokers
- Responsible for ensuring all client accounts are FICA compliant
- Supervised 5 staff.
Accounts Administrative
CT International Finance Development (Pty) Ltd
12.1997 - 05.2000
- Responsible for 3 Corporate accounts total value of R10 million
- Credit checks
- Monthly statements
- Payments
- Corporate Debtors.
Supervisor
CT International Finance Development (Pty) Ltd
08.1994 - 12.1997
- Office Administration, responsible for 2 permanent electricians and 50 contracting electricians
- Despatcher of stock to electricians countrywide
- Stock control
- Liaising with clients for installations
- Arranging route planner for the electrician's field trip
- Securing accommodation for electricians’ country wide and beyond the South African borders
- Saving cancellations (basically reselling).
Education
No Degree - English Language Instructure
Cape Town TESOL/TEFL Training Institute Cape
Cape Town, South Africa 04.2001 -
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration - Business Administration And Management
University of The Western Cape
Cape Town, South Africa 04.2001 -
Advanced Diploma in Management - Business Management
University of The Western Cape
Cape Town, South Africa 04.2001 -
No Degree - Financial Accounting And Bookkeeping
Varsity College
Cape Town, South Africa 04.2001 -
Skills
Cross-functional Team Coordination
Accomplishments
- Marketer of the Year
- Select Circle Award
- Numerous monthly BDO awards
Educationexperience
- TESOL Certificate (120 hours in-class), Cape Town TESOL/TEFL Training Institute, Cape Town, 2024, 01/01/24
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) (NQF 8), University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 2021, 01/01/21
- Advanced Diploma in Management (NQF7) and Certificate in Project Management, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 2011, 01/01/11
- Higher Certificate in Manager Development, Damelin College, 2002, 01/01/02
- Certificate in Financial Accounting and Certificate in Bookkeeping, Varsity College, 1999, 01/01/99
Languages
English
Afrikaans
Running
I love road running. I have completed more than 20 half marathons. I did my first full marathon in 2023.
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
HybridImportant To Me
Career advancementWork-life balanceCompany CultureFlexible work hoursPersonal development programsHealthcare benefitsWork from home optionPaid time offTeam Building / Company RetreatsPaid sick leave401k match4-day work weekWork Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.
Barack Obama
Timeline
Lead Associate
Willis Towers Watson
07.2016 - Current
Office Administrator
Ginsburg Asset Consulting GAC
11.2015 - 06.2016
Compliance Administrator
Sygnia Asset Management
04.2013 - 10.2015
Head of Training Development
Citizen Surveys
04.2010 - 03.2013
Head of Administration
Trinity Holdings / Trinity Asset Management (Pty) Ltd
11.2003 - 03.2010
Office Manager
Affinity Holdings (Pty) Ltd
02.2003 - 10.2003
No Degree - English Language Instructure
Cape Town TESOL/TEFL Training Institute Cape
04.2001 -
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration - Business Administration And Management
University of The Western Cape
04.2001 -
Advanced Diploma in Management - Business Management
University of The Western Cape
04.2001 -
No Degree - Financial Accounting And Bookkeeping
Varsity College
04.2001 -
Head of Administration
Finanzplan Broker Network (Pty) Ltd: back office support for insurance brokers
06.2000 - 01.2003
Accounts Administrative
CT International Finance Development (Pty) Ltd
12.1997 - 05.2000
Supervisor
CT International Finance Development (Pty) Ltd
08.1994 - 12.1997
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