Implementing ISO20022 and More at a Major Retail Bank

Summary

A+O provided an interim Programme Director to lead this complex set of initiatives, achieving a turnaround from recovery mode and low morale to a highly motivated team and early delivery against two key external milestones, with very positive feedback from the regulatory authority.

The Challenge

With the biggest Commercial Banking business in the UK, implementing ISO20022, SEPA and NPA while simultaneously moving to a new payments engine, our client was faced with was one of their largest, most complex and strategically important programmes to date. Our client needed an experienced professional who could confidently lead this programme.

Our Response

When they came to us in April 2022, we were able to provide the same interim Programme Director who had successfully managed the Division’s Mandatory Change portfolio 2018/20. Having previously delivered multiple initiatives with A+O Associates including PSD2 and several other Payments regulatory and standards programmes, the client was confident that the associate placed was going to be able to deliver to their priorities. At the start of the assignment the programme was in recovery mode, with a number of unmet milestones, conflicting priorities and team morale at a low. Our Programme Director got the business leaders and steering committee aligned and agreed on priorities, then rebuilt team morale, including seeding a number of high calibre A+O business analysts and solution designers into workstreams to ease the load, supporting and mentoring permanent staff. She led a team of 50 mainly Bank staff for 18 months and managed the annual budget of £23m. 

The Outcome
Through her intense dedication and great leadership, the Bank was able to demonstrate full readiness for the first critical cutover deadline in March 2023 a month ahead of schedule, and they were ready for the next one in June 2023 two months before. Not surprisingly, our client received very positive feedback about their preparations from the Bank of England. With a strong team in place and the programme back on track, she was able to hand it back to Bank permanent staff for the next phase of delivery. A number of the other A+O professionals remain in place to support this.

Results

• One month ahead of schedule - the Bank was able to demonstrate full readiness for the first critical cutover. 
• Two months ahead of schedule - for the second critical deadline.
• Positive feedback from the Bank of England. BAU model implement upon delivery.