Robert Swales
About Robert Swales
Robert Swales serves as the Senior Manager of Finance Technology and Process Effectiveness at Nationwide Building Society, where he has worked since 2021. He has extensive experience in finance systems management, having held various roles at Nationwide Building Society since 2008, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History from the University of Exeter.
Work at Nationwide Building Society
Robert Swales has held multiple roles at Nationwide Building Society since 2008. He began as a Procurement Specialist from 2008 to 2012, followed by a position as Operational Purchasing Manager from 2012 to 2013. He then served as Finance Systems Manager from 2014 to 2018 and progressed to Senior Manager, Finance Systems and Robotics from 2018 to 2021. Currently, he is the Senior Manager Finance Technology and Process Effectiveness, a role he has occupied since 2021. His responsibilities include managing the system strategy and roadmap for various financial systems.
Education and Expertise
Robert Swales has a diverse educational background. He studied at Sheldon 6th Form, focusing on History, Economics, and Geography from 1997 to 1999. He then attended the University of Exeter, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Ancient History from 1999 to 2002. Additionally, he studied Project Management at QA Swindon, achieving Prince2 Practitioner and Foundation certifications in 2014. This combination of education has equipped him with skills relevant to finance technology and process effectiveness.
Background in Procurement and Finance Systems
Before joining Nationwide Building Society, Robert Swales worked at Wincanton as an e-Procurement Specialist from 2005 to 2008. His experience in procurement laid the foundation for his subsequent roles in finance systems management. Throughout his career at Nationwide, he has developed expertise in managing teams that include accountants, system specialists, and developers, focusing on process effectiveness and financial technology.
Team Management and Collaboration
In his current role, Robert Swales manages a team that comprises accountants, system specialists, process effectiveness consultants, data managers, and RPA/BPM/App developers. He works closely with a development team that specializes in robotic automation, application development, testing, and deployment within the finance business function. This collaborative approach ensures the effective implementation of financial systems and processes.