Val Luks

As a seasoned Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Manager, I've built a career spanning over 15 years in global project management. My expertise lies in vendor management, risk assessment, and financial planning, with a strong focus on CLM technologies such as Salesforce CLM and DocuSign.

At CloudHesive, Inc., I served as a Contracts Business Manager, where I was responsible for the full spectrum of contract management. I prepared, reviewed, analyzed, and approved various types of engagements including NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, and SaaS agreements. My role was crucial in managing revenue and funds globally. I implemented a Central Contracts Templates SharePoint, creating a repository of templates and current contracts. This streamlined our contract management process and improved accessibility across the organization.

One of my key achievements at CloudHesive was the creation of company and procurement policies. I developed reports and dashboards, and implemented cost optimization of billing and sales opportunities approval processes. My involvement extended to the company's acquisition/merger process, where I acted as the point of contact for the Crowe audit. I also contributed significantly to the design and execution of risk mitigation management frameworks, ensuring alignment with regulations and industry best practices.

During my time at FedEx as a PM - SharePoint Administrator, I utilized SharePoint Online Modern View to map and control a $120M budget for the FP&A Capital Plan team. This role allowed me to showcase my skills in creating Compliance/Regulatory Requirements material and Procure-to-Pay processes. I developed Planner lists and workflows for the FP&A team, gathering requirements, designing, documenting, and implementing custom web parts, lists, libraries, surveys, and workflows.

My experience at Chubb as a Latam VMO Leader - Financial Corporate Specialist was particularly impactful. I supervised the VMO team, implementing strategy development and controlling SOWs and Contract compliance. I established procedures for Controllership, Finance, PMO, and VMO, defined and implemented KPIs/CPIs, and strengthened analysis and reporting for both Latin America and headquarters. One of my proudest achievements was achieving a 30% decrease in vendor costs through strategic contract negotiations and consolidation.

At Citibank, as an IT Finance Business Sr. Analyst Global COS Strategy & Planning Finance SME LATAM, I was responsible for the accuracy of Vendors, Headcount, Programs, and Projects for Global Financial Industry Information Technology, Risk, FINCON, HR, and IT. I extracted, consolidated, reviewed, and presented financial applications metrics and benchmarks for multimillion-dollar transformation programs and projects.

Throughout my career, I've consistently demonstrated my ability to optimize processes and drive financial efficiencies. I've created and maintained SharePoint sites for finance tracking, implemented strategic initiatives for ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, and supported policy implementation. My experience spans multiple end-to-end project lifecycles within SAP FS-RI, driving operational excellence within Global IT teams.

My technical skills include proficiency in a wide range of tools and platforms. I'm adept at using MS Project, Confluence, SharePoint, Clarity, Lucid, Asana, Smartsheet, and the entire Office 365 suite. I have extensive experience with financial and business intelligence tools such as Oracle NetSuite, SAP, PeopleSoft, Hyperion Essbase, Cognos, and Power BI. My expertise also extends to procurement and contract management tools like Coupa, AWS Marketplace, Insights, P2P, PTSW, ServiceNow, Salesforce, and DocuSign.

One of my key strengths is my ability to manage multiple high-value contracts by applying strategic direction to ensure alignment with company goals. I've consistently led contract reviews, risk and intelligence data analysis, execution, lifecycle, and records retention management. This has showcased my strong coordination and relationship management skills.

I pride myself on maintaining awareness of internal processes and practices that may impact assigned projects and documentation. I utilize my influence skills for issue resolution and addressing business needs. My dispute resolution skills have been particularly valuable in mediating between teams during contract negotiations, which has led to improved overall business relationships, especially between Sales, Project Managers, and Operations teams.

Throughout my career, I've negotiated and managed vendor contracts with a focus on maximizing value delivery. I conduct thorough market research and evaluations to identify potential new vendors, ensuring compliance and controls. This approach has consistently demonstrated my ability as a creative problem solver.

A significant part of my role has always been creating processes and training materials. I've delivered training to users and stakeholders across various organizations, exhibiting my coaching abilities and teamwork skills. This has been crucial in ensuring smooth adoption of new processes and technologies across different teams.

My experience in financial management is extensive. I've worked on consolidating data to control POs, Contracts, SLAs, Invoices, project status, renewals, and approvals. I've created document libraries, templates, version control systems, content types, announcements, and tasks. This comprehensive approach to document and process management has significantly improved efficiency and reduced errors in the organizations I've worked with.

I've also been involved in implementing customer satisfaction surveys using O365 Forms, integrating them within SharePoint & Power BI. This has provided valuable insights into user experiences and helped guide improvements in service delivery.

My multilingual skills in English, Portuguese, and Spanish have been particularly valuable in my roles, especially when dealing with international teams and vendors. This has allowed me to bridge communication gaps and facilitate smoother interactions across different regions.

In terms of cost savings, I've consistently delivered results. At Chubb, I negotiated Master Services Agreements with over 20 vendors, securing 10-15% discounts. I performed quarterly assessments of vendor contracts, identifying $200K in cost-efficiency savings. At Citibank, I identified and executed over $2M in annual COGS reductions through consolidation and renegotiation.

My approach to vendor management goes beyond just cost savings. I've fostered strong vendor relationships and strategic partnerships focused on joint initiatives. I've developed top vendors loyalty programs for financial acumen services organizations, including oversight of rewards partners and point valuations.

In terms of compliance and risk management, I've implemented strategic initiatives for ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and legal requirements. I've supported policy implementation, assessed risks, addressed issues, and proposed solutions to reduce process failures.

My educational background includes a B.A. in Business Administration and International Business from Braz Cubas University in São Paulo, Brazil, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a GPA of 4.3/5. I've further enhanced my skills with certificates in Financial & Cost Accounting, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and Project Management Professional (PMP) from Florida Atlantic University.

Throughout my career, I've consistently demonstrated my ability to adapt to new technologies, manage complex projects, and drive significant improvements in contract management and financial processes. My combination of technical skills, business acumen, and interpersonal abilities has allowed me to succeed in diverse and challenging environments, always with a focus on delivering tangible results and value to the organizations I've worked with.

My education combines a strong foundation in business and international commerce with specialized training in project management, process improvement, and various aspects of global business operations.

1. Bachelor's Degree:
   • Institution: Braz Cubas University, São Paulo, Brazil
   • Degree: B.A. in Business Administration and International Business
   • Achievement: Graduated Summa Cum Laude with a GPA of 4.3/5
   • Note: Awarded an MBA Scholarship
2. Certificates and Courses:
   • Institution: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
   • Certificates obtained:
     • Financial & Cost Accounting
     • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
     • Project Management Professional (PMP)
   • Additional Courses:
     • Agile
     • International Transportation (import/export)
     • Supply Chain
     • Logistics
     • Leadership