Ashleigh De Wet

Project Manager/ Personal Assistant

CV. Ashleigh De Wet

PERSONAL DETAILS

Last Name: De Wet
First Name: Ashleigh
Nationality: South African
ID Number: 7812150227081
Availability: Notice Period Not Applicable / Immediate
Location: Johannesburg
Gender: Female
Languages: English
PROFILE SUMMARY

Experienced Project and Office Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications industry. Skilled in Business Process, Negotiation, Microsoft Word and Project Management. I am a strong project management professional with previous work experience as an executive PA.

 

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

1998
Damelin
Diploma: Travel and Tourism

2003
Damelin
Diploma: Personal Assistant

2004
Damelin
Diploma: Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
2019

Axelos
Prince 2 Certification- Foundation and Practitioner
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

By Design Crafts                                                                January 2022 – Current

Owner

Responsibilities:

–       Running and managing my own business, allowing me to creatively come up and manage a customer’s concept from end to end.

Virgin Mobile                                                                     March 2010 – December 2021

Various Roles (As seen below)

Senior Project Manager

Responsibilities:

–       Planned projects in order to accomplish its goals within constraints such as time, cost and agreed standards.

–       Scheduled tasks, deadlines and milestones for all stake holders and resources.

–       Created Gantt charts in MS Projects.

–       Ran SCRUM / daily standup sessions to manage defects, issues and deliverables.

–       Facilitated stakeholder- and project prioritisation and acceptance sessions.

–       Assessed and identified risks for both client and the company.

–       Ran requirements sessions and drafted Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM).

–       Managed/ Coordinated/Escalated project tasks on a day-to-day basis.

–       Troubleshooting of delivered work during project and post-project.

–       Constantly monitor and report on the progress of projects to all stakeholders.

–       Managed stakeholder sign off for new and amended business- and system processes.

–       Maintained relationships with business stakeholders (business users, change management resources, developers, testing and training teams).

–       Documented Business Requirement Specifications and Functional specifications aligned with business strategies and stakeholder expectations.

–       Identify process improvements (cost savings and efficiency).

–       Define and map business processes (Visio) and requirements.

–       Weekly and monthly release and pipeline reporting. User and team support.

–

Projects and Office Manager (2014 – 2019)

Responsibilities: Project Manager

–       Plan projects in order to accomplish its goals within constraints such as

–       time, cost and agreed standards.

–       Schedule tasks, deadlines and milestones for all stake holders and

–       resources

–       Create Gantt charts in MS Project

–       Identify schedule uncertainties and risks for both client and the company.

–       Manage/Coordinate/Escalate project tasks on a day-to-day basis.

–       Responsible for multiple projects at one time

–       Coordinate field techs, subcontractors, service providers, other staff and

clients

–       Assemble assets required for Installation team to perform tasks.

–       Disseminate information to team members through task and sub-tasks assignment based on requirements.

–       Coordinate communication between staff and third parties acting on behalf of the client.

–       Efficiently and competently manage problems – when things go off plan (due to scope-creep, changed requirements, missed deadlines etc) bring them back on plan or create a new plan with the assistance of key-stakeholders.

–       Intimately understand the requirements of the project and ensure that work proceeds on-spec.

–       Evaluate deliverables prepared by the team to make sure the work meets requirements and maintains a high level of quality.

–       Constantly monitor and report on the progress of project to all stakeholders.

–       Work directly with Director Operations, Account Manager, Requirements Analyst and Sales to contribute wording estimates, charts, samples etc to proposals.

–       Work with business analyst and installation team to estimate costs and budgets.

–       Present work to the Program Manager, client (as applicable) at milestones throughout the production

–       Obtain, discuss and follow-through with feedback from client.

–       Work with client against cope creep and endeavour to keep project focused within scope.

–       Investigate and answer clients’ questions.

–       Trouble-shoot delivered work during project and post-project.

–       Ensure client expectations are met and exceeded in terms of quality of product and service delivered.

–       Delivered projects.

o    The opening, closure, and refurbishment of the Virgin Mobile Stores

o    In-house technical projects (product propositions, bringing new

o    partners on board)

o    New PBX system

o    New SIM card Vendor

o    WAN implementation

Responsibilities: Office Manager

–       Setting up and managing the client-facing services in consultation with partners.

–       Setting up and managing the office services.

–       Management of the reception and office services staff such as cleaners and security personnel.

–       Responsible for maintaining a clean, neat and presentable office space, with the assistance of the cleaning staff.

–       Managing all 3rd party contracts related to the running of the office, including cleaning, maintenance, stationery supplies, external catering, events and functions.

–       Travel arrangements for Executive management where necessary.

–       Processing of visa requests, contacting the labour office and other governmental interactions.

–       Managing the relationship with the landlord to ensure that the building services provided such as security, mechanical and electrical services, meet the needs of the company.

–       Responsible for and the management of the Data Room.

–       Setting up and managing health and safety arrangements and business continuity plans for the office, in conjunction with HR and the established Health and Safety Committee.

–       Establishing facilities contracts with vendors for permanent office premises and stores, etc.

–       Responsible for the day-to-day running of the office.

–       Supervising client services, office services and secretarial staff.

–       Managing the performance of these staff, including carrying out the company’s performance management and appraisal processes.

Executive Assistant (2010 – 2014)

Responsibilities:

–       Screening of all calls to CEO and CFO

–       Diary management for CEO and CFO; scheduling appointments, arranging meetings internal and external.

–       Coordinate meetings (agenda, refreshments, catering, venue, equipment)

–       Personal duties for CEO

–       Meet and greet all CEO’s visitors and arrange refreshments.

–       Handle all customer complaints to the CEO and ensure that they are dealt with timeously and in the correct manner.

–       Ensure confidentiality in the CEO’s office.

–       All travel arrangements (local and international) for CEO, Executives and Management Team

–       Provide feedback and reports to ISB HOD.

–       Organization and execution of all CEO events: Year-end functions, Golf Days, Staff briefings and Company Fun Days

–       Attended Executive meetings, preparation and distribution of minutes.

–       Coordination and maintenance of action lists for Executive meetings

–       Petty cash for CEO’s office

–       Stationery Management

–       Line Manager for the receptionists

–       Document and information management

–       Ability to engage professionally with clients.

–       Executive Reports/Presentations compilation

–       Type and distribute correspondence.

–       Answer calls and channel messages appropriately

–       Processing of all invoices for the CEO’s office and legal department and ensuring timeous payment thereof.

Reason for Leaving: Company closed following a business rescue process.

Conexus                                                                           August 2008 – February 2010

Executive Assistant

What I Did:

–       Screening of calls to the Managing Director

–       Diary management for MD; scheduling appointments, arranging meetings internal and external.

–       Personal duties for the Managing Director

–       Attended all meetings and provided minutes and agenda.

–       Preparation of presentation for Sales meetings for Synovate Group.

–       Preparation of presentation for operations meetings.

–       Assisted Customer Service Manager with any administration.

–       Preparation of all Debtors reports.

–       Preparation of all monthly billings for the company

–       Key account manager for projects: Business Women’s Association and Volvo (Data Clean up)

–       Travel bookings for all staff.

–       Stock control and ordering of stationery.

–       Liaised with Building management.

–       Management of staff attendance

–       Maintenance of office

–       Arranging payment of all accounts for the company

–       Management of Petty Cash

–       Preparation of all business functions

–       Line Manager for office cleaner

Reason for Leaving: Numerous changes within the group at executive level, I felt the need to

find a new challenge and opportunity.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE – Previous Roles

March 2005- July 2008
Mi-Holm Properties
Personal Assistant

What I Did:

–       Liaising with sellers and purchasers

–       Liaising with bond originators

–       Liaising with transferring attorneys

–       Ensuring that all documentation was available to enable the sale to go smoothly.

–       Company Petty Cash

–       All month end duties for the company and Managing Director

–       Setting up appointments for the Managing Director and purchasers/sellers

January 2003 – February 2005
Birgit Kleyenstuber Physiotherapy
Office Manager

What I Did:

–       Booking of all appointments

–       Reception Management

–       All accounts and debt collection

–       Management of petty cash

–       Stock ordering of supplies

September 2000 – December 2002
Travelled overseas
Worked on a cruise ship for 6 months and spent the remainder of the time working in hotels and restaurants across the United Kingdom

January 1999– September 2000
Dr Snyman and Partners
Practice Manager

What I Did:

–       Monthly accounts

–       Management of the dispensary

January – December 1998
Dive The Worlds
Travel Consultant

What I Did:

–       Sold holidays and dive packages to Mauritius, Mozambique, Malawi and Egypt

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY

–       Passion for Project Management and process analysis | Able to work under pressure.

–       Professional and systematic approach | Problem-solver | Analytical thinker

–       Good oral and written communication and interpersonal skills

–       Good time management and organisational skills | Accountable

–       Influencer, negotiation, and conflict resolution | Detail-oriented | Relationship management

–       Teamwork | Change management | Ability to learn & adapt to continuously changing technology.