Simbarashe Chikuni

I am a seasoned and motivated individual with extensive experience in business analysis, project management, and enterprise software project delivery. Throughout my career, I have held key positions at leading financial institutions such as ABSA and Old Mutual in both local and international capacities. I have  extensive knowledge and proficiency in project planning and management utilizing Waterfall, Agile, Lean, DevOps, and Scrum methodologies, enabling me to deliver enterprise software projects and consistently meeting delivery milestones.

My expertise in gathering, analyzing and documenting business and functional requirements is supplemented by my sound knowledge of process modelling and design. I am a result-driven individual with exceptional analytical, stakeholder management, problem-solving, negotiating, and document writing skills. I am committed to my professional and personal development, which has earned me numerous qualifications and certifications over the years.

RPA Project Manager at ISB Optimus (April 2023 - Present):

• Provide expert guidance to projects, ensuring successful team dynamics and integration.
• Develop a deep understanding of project scope and deliverables.
• Plan, monitor, and implement projects throughout the SDLC.
• Create project plans, assign responsibilities, and foster effective communication.
• Utilize project management tools like Jira to track progress and mitigate risks.

Senior Business Analyst at CyberPro Consulting | Old Mutual (June 2022 - February 2023):

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in the Old Mutual Service Automation department.
• Analyze business processes and design digital solutions to enhance customer experience and premium collections.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and provide project analysis to senior management.
• Produce documentation such as business requirements, use cases, and process flow diagrams.

Project Manager (Freelance) at Bluevine Group (October 2021 - May 2022):

• Provide expert guidance to projects in terms of process, tools, and communication.
• Develop a deep understanding of project scope and deliverables.
• Plan, monitor, and implement projects, ensuring effective stakeholder communication.
• Support the Operations Director in project management activities, including tracking time, resources, and budgets.

Senior Business Analyst | Salesforce at ABSA (Retail and Business Banking) (November 2020 - July 2021):

• Ensure full utilization and tailoring of the Salesforce platform to support business objectives.
• Review and analyze current business processes, services, and information needs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve user experience and increase productivity.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and oversee system maintenance and configuration.

Senior Business Analyst at ABSA (Robotics Process Automation) (November 2016 - July 2021):

• Evaluate and understand current business processes for RPA implementation.
• Analyze business processes, identify automation opportunities, and propose solutions.
• Track delivery milestones, present findings to stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement.
• Serve as Delivery Lead for RPA implementation in specific divisions, collaborating with leadership and ensuring operational gains.

System Analyst at ABSA (WIMI Africa Technology) (September 2014 - October 2016):

• Convert business requirements into system specifications and enhance system functionality.
• Prepare documentation such as functional specifications, use cases, and user manuals.
• Assist software developers and testing teams in understanding requirements and conducting testing.
• Ensure system testing meets requirements and contribute to the decision-making process for system deployment.

Junior Change Consultant at Growth in Motion (May 2012 - September 2014):

• Assist in the analysis and documentation of business processes and identify opportunities for automation.
• Review system functionality and ensure quality standards are met.
• Compile test reports, update user manuals, and conduct user training.

FAIS Regulatory Workshops and Exams Consultant/Facilitator at Growth in Motion (June 2010 - April 2012):

• Provide support and assist in the facilitation of workshops.
• Schedule workshops, provide student support, and manage the process.
• Report progress to Financial Service Providers.