ANS Group

We are [the new] ANS. We’re a strong team of straight-talking tech and business experts. Our mission is to make digital transformation accessible to all.

We make enterprise-grade technology, knowledge and processes accessible and affordable for all companies, large or small, no matter the size of their budget. We hack the tech adoption curve, bringing technology usually reserved for large corporates first, to small and medium organisations too. We’re on a mission to help companies Think Bigger.

We’re trusted by our customers because we help them achieve their goals. Be it a digital transformation project for a 2000-person government body or helping a 10-person labels maker take their business online.

Our people are the lifeblood of our business. They dream up solutions that have never been delivered before. They dare to tackle problems no one else can. Every day they wake up and challenge the status quo. It’s no wonder we’ve been hailed the mavericks of the tech industry.

Dynamics 365 Solution Architect 

A2Dominion Group

• Partnered with Solution Architects and Functional Consultants from a globally recognised Microsoft Gold Partner, both on-shore and off-shore, across multiple phases to successfully design, deliver and implement a cloud-first architected, customised Microsoft Dynamics ERP system, covering full integration of bespoke IP CE, CRM, Logic Apps and Cloud flow Integrations, Finance & Operations, Power BI, and Customer and Partner Portal solutions.  

 • Delivered ideation and design workshops with a team of expert Business Analysts and Project Managers, to elicit business objectives, functional and architectural requirements, fit/gap analysis, potential barriers to success and value outcomes. 

 • Completed solution proposal design and evaluation, using Azure DevOps, MS Visio and Power Apps prototyping. Produced high-quality documentation that facilitated successful offshore build delivery, with particular focus on tailoring, refactoring and regression work. 

 • Provided technical guidance and strategic business acumen to the organisation’s SME's throughout Quality Assurance, intuitively understanding pain points to deliver on the realization of high-quality business solutions that disrupt and solve their most complex and challenging problems. 

 • Lead Solution Architect on AIS (Acceptance into Service) process, including Service Transition and Cutover, Solution Handover and Hypercare. 

 • Lead Solution Architect on pre-sales engagement with third party providers for future provision of PCI DSS compliant Digital Contact Centre Solution and re-tendering of Joint Venture Repairs Service, including evaluation of bid offers against corporate plan and strategic IT roadmap. 

 • Mentored and coached a team of Solution Architects, enhancing resilience whilst working remotely in a fast-paced environment. Introduced a Fusion team mentality, improved technical skills through a heuristic approach to learning, deepening collective understanding of Microsoft Business Applications.

Senior Solutions Architect

• Provided technical guidance and strategic business acumen to tailor the design and build of Microsoft Gold Partner’s OOTB IP Solution into customisations for bespoke business solutions.

 • Delivered ideation and design workshops with a team of expert Business Analysts and Project Managers, to elicit business objectives, functional and architectural requirements, fit/gap analysis, existing barriers to success and value outcomes.
 
 • Completed solution proposal design and evaluation, using Azure DevOps and high-quality documentation that facilitated successful offshore build delivery, with particular focus on tailoring requirements, refactoring and regression work.

 • Carried out Gap Analysis and Options Appraisals for change requests to Microsoft Gold Partner’s OOTB IP Solution, producing Business Cases and successfully presenting these to Senior Executives for agreement.

 • Provided end-to-end technical guidance on the solution’s full Implementation Lifecycle, through design, build, Quality Assurance testing, and training, to go-live implementation, hypercare and continuous benefits realisation.

 • Maintained and monitored Risk and Issues Registers.

 • Worked collaboratively with peers to evaluate and share good practice, introduce CI/CD ways of working and transitioning to OKRs including Viva Goals as part of IT roadmap. 

 • Worked transparently with a strong emphasis on customer focus.

Solutions Architect

• Acted as Technical Lead and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Service Charges with the implementation of new Group-wide IT systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP) and improvement and change projects, ensuring that systems meet the needs of the Department and where appropriate the wider needs of the Operations Directorate. 

 • Ensured Users and Customers are supported through co-production of the discovery, design, adoption and change processes, to enable successful business-wide end to end programme / project management delivery and change impact analysis. 

 • Worked with project sponsors, third party contractors and consultants, and end users in an Agile Project environment to carry out detailed research and create project scope and implementation documents, including QC audit measures.   

 • Ensured all project documents are maintained as live resources, to keep up to date with fluid Statutory, Regulatory and governance requirements, as well as industry external events. 

 • Tracked project milestones and deliverables, identifying and managing potential risks, dependencies, and change requests within the programme scope.  

 • Liaised with relevant teams and individuals to ensure contingency plans and tolerances are in place and being regularly monitored and reported on. 

 • Enabled the documentation and optimisation of processes using Microsoft Visio and other tools to produce reports, implementation plans, and recommendations based on outcomes.   

 • Carried out 360° reviews to ensure endorsed recommendations and outcomes are validated and lead to enhanced working practices and customer experiences.  

 • Lead on all post go live reviews and the creation of recommendation reports, to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements in conjunction with stakeholders and project team members. Agreed, planed, and implemented agreed recommendations to further improve functionality.

Project Manager (Technical Lead)

• Ensured new IT systems’ functionality and usability met the needs of the Leasehold Services Department, and of the Operations Directorate where applicable. Led in the procurement of new IT systems to affect this for Service Charges and Leasehold Account Management (Qube PM). 

 • Led and co-ordinated the work of team members, third-party contractors and consultants to deliver new IT systems and related projects (Qube PM; TriPartum document engineering and related data insights for Rent and Service Charge Review and Actuals notifications) in line with work programmes, business requirements and budgets. Ensured all timescales and outcomes were met. 

 • Built, developed and grew business relationships vital to the success of the project by liaising with internal and external stakeholders of A2Dominion. 

 • Contributed to the instigation and delivery of project post go-live reviews and the creation of recommendations reports, to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements, in conjunction with central IT Project Managers.  Implemented agreed recommendations relevant to the Leasehold Services Department to further improve functionality and enhance usability. 

 • Tracked project milestones and deliverables, identifying potential crises and requirements for changes in project scope.  Liaised with the relevant central IT Project Managers to devise contingency plans.  Reported to the Director of Leasehold Services for delivery to IT Programme Board where appropriate to obtain agreement. 

 • Coached, mentored, motivated and supervised project team members and contractors, and influenced them to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work. 

 • As a member of the Leasehold Management Team, contributed to the strategic and operational effectiveness of the Directorate and provided specialist advice to the department and others as needed.

IT Project Manager

•	Member of the Leasehold Services Department’s Senior Management Team.

•	Client-managed the Group’s Commercial Portfolio (Commercial units, Market Rented flats, Community buildings and Telecoms Rentals sites) with a rental stream of more than £1m pa.  Ensured high performance delivery by Managing Agents of the day-to-day operations such as rent collection and arrears recovery, enforcing Lease conditions, and maximising rent reviews and Lease renewals. 

•	Delivered all strategic and operational requirements for the Commercial portfolio not dealt with by the Managing Agents.  Including providing early specialised input into new schemes, with a focus on increasing the marketability of Commercial elements and avoiding problems with long term voids.

•	Responsible for driving forward excellence within the Leasehold Services Department, including acting as Lead Officer for evaluating and implementing new Group-wide Best of Breed IT systems (CRM Microsoft Dynamics for repairs; Proactis Purchase to Pay system for invoices).

•	Developed and analysed performance data and other such appropriate management systems to ensure effective business planning and performance management of Leasehold Services.  Co-ordinated the delivery of annual Business Activity Plans, ensuring services were responsive to changes in the external environment and internal priorities.

•	Provided support to managers in the development and implementation of new operational policies and organisational strategies, ensuring they complied with current legislative and regulatory requirements and reflected best practice.  Assessed the effectiveness of improvements through the use and analysis of various performance monitoring methods.

•	Led on and contributed to special projects related to the work of the Leasehold Services Department as required, including acting as its Lead Officer on LVT/FTT applications and defences, internal audit reviews, Section 20 Notices, and stock rationalisation programmes.

Commercial and Policy Manager 

•	Led a team managing various cross-departmental Special Projects to resolve outstanding complex legal and service charge issues for Leaseholders, Shared Owners, and Freehold service charge payers, achieving 100% completion within agreed timescales.  

 • Provided comprehensive, transparent responses to all parties involved, including where applicable MPs, Councillors and Board members.

•	Carried out regular risk assessments of the Special Projects programme, providing reports and presentations to the Home Ownership Department’s Senior Management Team and the Audit and Risk Board.

•	Improved working practices and inter-departmental working protocols, including implementing the Universal Housing information system for all Home Ownership stock.

•	Developed a suite of policies, procedures, and information guides. Introduced internal and external benchmarking.

Special Projects Manager

•	Developed and managed a multifunctional team of eight advisors and administrators to provide a one-stop-shop service for 2,500 Leaseholders (including Supported Leasehold Schemes for the Elderly), Shared Owners (including Key Workers and SHI Equity Loans), and Freehold service charge payers.

•	Monitored and controlled expenditure against budgetary requirements.

Senior Leasehold Advisor 

L&Q Beacon

•	Managed a team of three staff to provide a comprehensive, customer-orientated service relating to Leasehold Management, Service Charge Administration, Right to Buy and Shared Ownership.  

•	Held overall budgetary responsibility for both capital works and revenue activities associated with the Leasehold Management Team, monitoring, and controlling expenditure through data driven analytics.

Leasehold Manager

Beacon Housing Association 

•	Led on the implementation of Best Value for all parts of the organisation, ensuring that all officers and managers pursued continuous improvement objectives.

•	Developed and reviewed all policies and procedures, including introducing innovations in practice, in response to and in line with legislative requirements and evidence-based best practice.

Performance and Policy Manager 

The Guinness Partnership

•	Maintained up-to-date policies and procedures to meet changing legislation and incorporate best practice.  Led project teams to facilitate this work and carried out regular staff and tenant training and advice sessions.

•	Provided statistical information and associated reports for the Corporate Management Team, Boards, and other senior staff.

Housing Policy Officer 

Wycombe District Council

•	Recovered arrears of rent owed by current tenants through to eviction proceedings, including providing general advice on the availability of financial and other assistance.

•	Dealt with the general management of a designated area, including dealing with breaches of tenancy conditions, neighbour disputes, and all other management issues.

Area Management Officer 

•	Supervised a team of three staff responsible for the recovery of arrears owed by former tenants.

•	Maintained the Rent Accounting System and assisted in the management of service charges from Leasehold properties.

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