Barbara Bower
Senior Consultant

barbara.bower@oysterllc.com

Senior Consultant

Richmond, Va

Barbara brings over 20 years of experience in project management, business continuity, process improvement, risk management, and internal audit to Oyster Consulting. Based on her experience and strengths, she was appointed the first Business Continuity Manager at Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Advisors). Barbara’s extensive project management experience also includes leading teams to complete assignments for different business divisions related to business process improvements, risk mitigation, and new trading platforms.

Engagement Expertise

• Worked with the AML Compliance Department of a national Broker/Dealer in multiple capacities including evaluating alerts of Politically Exposed People (PEP), preparing monthly reporting of high risk Foreign Financial Institutions, performing enhanced due diligence reviews of Non-Governmental Organizations for appropriate research and documentation, fielding questions from the sales force relating to Restricted accounts and as an Analyst for the Patriot Act Certificate validation project
• Partnered with Information Technology, business units, internal auditors, and regulatory agencies to develop and lead the business continuity program for a national brokerage firm, involving all offices and branches throughout the U.S. and South America
• In various capacities ranging from Internal Audit to firm’s Project Management Office, evaluated adequacy of procedures and internal controls and implemented recommendations for process improvements across administrative and operational departments of a national brokerage firm
• Representing Financial and HR Resource Systems, partnered with financial team to evaluate and implement new enterprise-wide financial systems including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed assets, payroll, and employee benefits

Career Highlights

• Senior Vice President, Business Continuity Manager, Wachovia Securities
• Vice President, Sr. Project Manager, Project Management Office, Wachovia Securities
• Senior Business Analyst, Information Systems Development, Wachovia Securities
• Senior Internal Auditor, Wachovia Securities
• Director, Business Process Improvement, Swedish Match North America
• IT Manager, Financial and Human Resource Systems, Swedish Match North America

Education, Accolades and Industry Commitments

• M.S. Business, and Information Systems, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, Virginia Tech
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Business Continuity Planner
• FINRA Series 7, 63 (Registrations are typically inactive, but may be used when appropriate to perform interim functions for our clients)