SIMON SKINNER

As IT Director at afx.com, I oversee the company's technology infrastructure, with a key focus on managing MetaTrader platforms and collaborating with Liquidity Providers to ensure seamless trading operations. My role involves optimising systems for performance, security, and reliability to support afx.com's innovative financial services. With a hands-on approach, I work closely with teams to streamline processes and implement technology solutions that enhance both client and business outcomes. afx.com's commitment to excellence drives my efforts to maintain a robust IT environment that meets the demands of the fast-paced financial sector.

• Oversee the company's technology infrastructure, with a key focus on managing MetaTrader platforms and collaborating with Liquidity Providers to ensure seamless trading operations.
• Optimise systems for performance, security, and reliability to support innovative financial services.
• Work closely with teams to streamline processes and implement technology solutions that enhance both client and business outcomes.
• Maintain a robust IT environment that meets the demands of the fast-paced financial sector.

igi Fund Managers specialise in providing tailored investment solutions, offering a range of services to help clients achieve their financial goals.

• Manage and develop the company's IT systems to ensure they meet the needs of both the business and our clients.
• Maintain reliable infrastructure, ensure robust security, and support the organisation's growth through practical and innovative technology solutions.
• Collaborate closely with teams across the business to implement IT strategies that align with our objectives and commitment to excellence.

As IT Director at DebtPanel Ltd, I lead the development and maintenance of software solutions designed to streamline the management of Debt Management and IVA cases from start to finish. My role involves ensuring the systems are secure, reliable, and efficient, supporting clients in navigating complex financial situations. By working closely with the team, I focus on creating user-friendly technology that simplifies processes and enhances operational effectiveness. At DebtPanel, we are committed to providing comprehensive solutions that empower clients and professionals in the debt management industry.

Refundable is the dream membership product. Not only does it give access to thousands of special offers being a paid member also ensures that should you die all your funeral expenses and more (parties, inheritance, etc) are covered with a £10,000 cash lump sum.

• But why is this the ultimate membership offer? Because, although you have to pay every month, as long as you don't die during your membership we'll refund 100% your membership fees. It's a win win situation.
• Gives access to thousands of special offers
• Covers all funeral expenses with a £10,000 cash lump sum upon death
• Refunds 100% of membership fees if you don't die during membership

During my time at Beyond Comparison, I was instrumental in developing white-label software solutions for the comparison industry. Our platform empowered external companies to offer comparison services for Life Insurance, Car Insurance, Mortgages, Pet Insurance, and more. We also integrated claims services, including PPI, PBA, and Flight Delay claims, creating a comprehensive suite of tools for businesses. This role allowed me to combine technical expertise with a focus on user-centric design, delivering flexible and scalable solutions tailored to diverse market needs.

In July 2015 the owner of CDW Bureau retired and as the only other director the ownership of the company was passed over to me. The next few months I learned more about the Claims industry than I had over the entirety of my career. Due to an increase of workload due to increasing the lead generation staffing I needed to quickly enhance our claims staff levels. In 2016 when I received an offer, I decided to merge the company with Beyond Comparison to allow us increased access to staff while also enhancing the portfolio of offerings and Beyond Comparison. This decision took me on to the next level of my career.

• Perform all support roles in a regulated environment
• Deal with customer complaints and action them alongside a complaints procedure
• Liaise with the Ministry of Justice and be part of regular company audits

Utilising the team available at my disposal due to my company Clix, with another business partner we decided to create Contact Rate. Contact Rate was a Call Center based in the Philippines, mainly specialising in generating leads for the financial industry. Utilising the survey software built in Clix we were able to quickly monetise our staff but also create a progression platform for them. This progression platform had the ability to analyse the successfulness of a member of staff during their work on basic surveys and then automatically progress them to a new (and more difficult) campaign when they were ready. There was also the ability to regress the staff down the campaigns if they were less successful at a certain campaign. During my time working at Contact Rate we were able to increase from 20 staff to around 300 staff in the space of two years. This was facilitated by a custom built Call Center building, with the network infrastructure built by, Clix.

• Personal Injury
• Claims Leads (PPI, PBA, Flight Reclaim etc)
• Debt Management / IVA leads
• Life Insurance
• Charity leads

After many years working in IT I decided (with a business partner) to create a company dedicated to providing services to a multitude of companies. We very quickly expanded offering many services through an excellent collection of staff supporting us. Our survey software was used by multiple businesses, especially based in call centres where nothing similar existed. Along with developing new software and business strategies I was also managing staff at multiple locations including a collection of staff based in the Philippines. Ensuring that all Clix were full staffed with customers and also bringing in new business.

• Remote IT Support - Ticket based support with a 1 hour response time SLA during work hours
• Diallers - Creating and maintaining custom cloud based Vicidial Diallers for thousands of users
• Survey Software - Simple rule based survey software used to allow staff to follow a flow chart like list of questions when on the phone
• Telephony - Creating cloud based VoIP PBX systems and VoIP Gateways
• CRM Systems - Custom cloud based CRM solutions fully integrated into above solutions

Continuing my work in the claims industry I progressed from Personal Injury Claims into financial Claims (PPI, PBA, Flight Delay, etc.) I applied all of the skills that I had previously used in my past positions to ensure the smooth running of the company. During my initial period as Director of IT I managed a number of pre-built systems. All of these were connected to a central leads management platform that was built in house to distribute leads between different departments. They were also all connected to a PBX system to enable click to dial to increase staff productivity. My work with CDW Bureau closely tied in with my job roles in Clix and Contact Rate all of which I owned and ran.

• Debtsolv
• Logican
• BrightOffice