Kristy O'Brien
Melbourne,Australia
Summary
With a foundation in financial services, I offer a sharp analytical approach and attention to detail. My passion for English teaching enables me to convey various concepts clearly. Coupled with my love for travel and the outdoors, I seek to transition into travel and tourism, leveraging my skills and experience to create enriching journeys that educate and inspire travellers globally.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER
International House - Angielski Toruń
Toruń, Poland
09.2022 - 06.2024
- Experience teaching levels varying from very young learners, young learners, teenagers, and adults at different CEFR levels from pre-A1 to C1.1.
- Developed and implemented age-appropriate lesson plans that fostered engagement and catered to diverse learning styles.
- Collaborated with colleagues to exchange resources and brainstorm ideas for lessons.
- Evaluated student progress and provided valuable feedback to optimise their performance and promote educational success.
- Actively participated in professional development and teacher training events to enhance skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in language teaching.
- Assisted with the organisation of and participated in school events and activities for students of varying age ranges. This included an Escape Room Day with teenage students, a Mad Scientist morning for young learners doing various science experiments, and an adult student pub quiz evening.
- Acted as the 2023/2024 academic year staff representative, effectively prioritizing teaching staff well-being.
WORKFLOW ANALYST
Insignia Financial
Melbourne, Australia
09.2020 - 08.2022
- Conducted regular quality control checks of approximately 30 client files per week pending advice preparation to identify areas of improvement and recommend appropriate actions.
- Liaised between teams and management to provide updated status reports for workflow distribution.
- Regularly reviewed workload distribution for equitable assignment balancing across a team of 15 paraplanners, which led to increased morale among colleagues.
- Produced detailed and relevant daily and weekly reports for use in monitoring new files and outstanding SoAs to be completed to manage and distribute accordingly.
PARAPLANNER
In Wealth Financial Services
Melbourne, Australia
03.2020 - 06.2020
- Collaborated with financial planners across various dealer groups to develop customised Statements of Advice (SoAs) and Records of Advice (RoAs) for clients to meet their long-term goals.
- Evaluated financial statements and records to identify critical details and confirm calculations for strategic planning that matched clients' objectives.
- Prepared and delivered accurate cash flow forecasts using Xplan financial analytics tool to inform strategic decisions for clients' portfolios.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends through continuous professional development training.
TRAINER
StatePlus
Melbourne, Australia
04.2018 - 06.2019
- Conducted training workshops introducing new business operating model during First State Super's acquisition of StatePlus to over 200 financial planners nationwide.
- Facilitated virtual, in-person, and blended learning sessions to cover advice preparation and required compliance standards under the new business operating model.
- Collaborated with subject matter experts to create accurate and relevant training materials, enhancing the user-learning experience.
- Adapted quickly to new technology and software applications such as Midwinter and CRM.
- Managed time efficiently, delivering all training workshops within the required 3-month deadline.
PARAPLANNER
First State Super
Melbourne, Australia
07.2013 - 04.2018
- Collaborated with financial planners to develop customised Statements of Advice (SoAs) and Records of Advice (RoAs), meeting and exceeding sales targets of $40,000 per month while receiving positive feedback for quality of work.
- Examined financial statements and records to gather crucial information and validate calculations to develop optimal strategies aligned with clients' best interests.
- Prepared and delivered precise cash flow forecasts through the utilisation of Xplan analytical finance software, informing strategic decisions on client portfolios.
- Conducted internal peer reviews of work files, exchanging knowledge and insights for future enhancements that contributed to team achievements and success.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements by staying current on industry rules, regulations, and standards through ongoing CPD.
CASE MANAGER - PARAPLANNER
M.W. Vincent & Associates
Melbourne, Australia
11.2011 - 07.2013
- Conducted pre-appointment phone consultations with clients to gather relevant financial and lifestyle details required for custom recommendations.
- Collaborated with a senior financial planner to determine optimal strategies when preparing Statements of Advice (SoAs) and Investment Review Statements of Advice (IRSoA).
- Managed deadlines to ensure timely completion of post-appointment tasks, including implementing new business and transcribing appointment file notes.
- Ensured efficient portfolio maintenance between reviews, providing ongoing client support that enhanced client satisfaction.
- Trained new staff regarding company operations, policies, and services, as well as guidance on in-house systems and financial planning software, notably COIN.
ADMINISTRATOR
Plum
Melbourne, Australia
02.2011 - 09.2011
- Effectively managed the processing of diverse fund member forms, including applications, contributions, benefit payments, and external transfers. Entered all information accurately into a secure digital database.
- Maintained effective communication with various business departments to resolve member inquiries and carefully reviewed incoming forms for quality assurance before final processing.
- Investigated and reconciled member and employer contribution discrepancies promptly.
ADMINISTRATOR OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Superpartners
Melbourne, Australia
03.2007 - 07.2010
- Handled the daily processing and reconciliation of superannuation contributions in HESTA Super Fund, effectively responding to member and employer queries.
- Promptly investigated and reconciled member and employer contribution discrepancies within the Financial Investigations Services Team.
- Assisted the Customer Service Center with overflow during the end-of-financial year period, handling member queries and escalations with professionalism and empathy, ensuring resolution and customer satisfaction.
Education
Cambridge CELTA - Education
Teaching House Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia06.2019
Diploma of Financial Services - Financial Planning
Kaplan Professional
Melbourne, Australia01.2010
TEFL Certificate (100 hours) - Education
ITTT (International TEFL Teacher Training)
Melbourne, Australia01.2009
High School - Victorian Certificate of Education (Year 12) -
Catholic Regional College
Melbourne, Australia12.2000
Skills
- Effective Communication
- Professionalism
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Multitasking Abilities
- Attention to Detail
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Data Entry
- Research and analysis
- Reporting and documentation
Volunteer Experience
- TEACHER OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, EVOLC - Aliarse Foundation, 11/2019, 03/2020, Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica, Delivered English classes to adults with varying backgrounds and English-speaking levels as a part of a Costa Rican government initiative to promote new behaviours and improve the employability of youth and people in vulnerable conditions.
- VOLUNTEER HOMESTAY TUTOR, Greenheart Travel, 09/2019, 11/2019, Lleida, Spain, Lived with a host family in Spain as part of a program for language and cultural exchange, teaching conversational English to a family with children aged 8 and 11 years old.
- VOLUNTEER TUTOR, AMES Australia, 08/2016, 04/2017, Melbourne, Australia, Provided weekly English language tutoring sessions (focusing on reading, writing, and speaking) to recently arrived migrants learning English for settlement within the Australian community.
- VOLUNTEER TUTOR, Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program (SAIL), 09/2009, 10/2010, Melbourne, Australia, Provided tutoring and educational support to the Sudanese Australian Community that included homework assistance, exam revision, and conversational interaction.
References
Available on request
Timeline
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER
International House - Angielski Toruń
09.2022 - 06.2024
WORKFLOW ANALYST
Insignia Financial
09.2020 - 08.2022
PARAPLANNER
In Wealth Financial Services
03.2020 - 06.2020
TRAINER
StatePlus
04.2018 - 06.2019
PARAPLANNER
First State Super
07.2013 - 04.2018
CASE MANAGER - PARAPLANNER
M.W. Vincent & Associates
11.2011 - 07.2013
ADMINISTRATOR
Plum
02.2011 - 09.2011
ADMINISTRATOR OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Superpartners
03.2007 - 07.2010
Cambridge CELTA - Education
Teaching House Melbourne
Diploma of Financial Services - Financial Planning
Kaplan Professional
TEFL Certificate (100 hours) - Education
ITTT (International TEFL Teacher Training)
High School - Victorian Certificate of Education (Year 12) -
Catholic Regional College
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