Michael Ratay
Harmony,PA
Summary
Managerial professional with proven record of streamlining processes and leading high-performing teams. Known for strong analytical skills and commitment to achieving results.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager – Oversight & Non-Card First Line Risk
Merrick Bank
07.2025 - Current
- Led Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) program execution, completing year-end certifications and site assessments to ensure enterprise resilience and regulatory readiness.
- Redesigned the 2026 Business Continuity process, streamlining approvals and documentation workflows through SharePoint, reducing manual effort and improving governance efficiency.
- Created, maintained, and governed a centralized SharePoint BC landing page, serving as the primary source of truth for continuity processes, documentation, and approvals.
- Partnered with third-party vendors and internal stakeholders to onboard new applications into the Business Continuity Management program, ensuring alignment with recovery and risk requirements.
- Tracked, assessed, and documented crisis events, activating the Business Continuity Committee as required and coordinating cross-functional response efforts.
- Delivered executive-level communications during active events, providing final recommendations, status updates, and ongoing impact assessments.
- Collaborated with team members to design and build BC/DR data capture and reporting solutions using PowerApps, improving data quality and operational visibility.
- Provided oversight of test account processes and management, ensuring appropriate controls, access, and operational compliance.
- Managed oversight of vendor payments and invoice validation, including cardholder agreements, cardholder applications, and OnBase triage queue processing.
- Owned and provided ongoing support for Issue Management and Change Management processes for the Non-Card team, ensuring timely resolution and governance alignment.
- Newly integrated into the Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) process, supporting the creation and documentation of new job functions within the Non-Card space.
- Led the testing phase of the Payment Protection product launch, successfully delivering the solution to market ahead of schedule in early 2026.
- Continued project and operational support for Ollo brand Payment Protection, partnering with stakeholders to ensure stability, risk mitigation, and program success.
Manager – Automated Operations
Merrick Bank
12.2024 - 07.2025
- Managed oversight and direct leadership of two Team Leads and their analyst teams, providing guidance, performance support, and execution alignment across multiple workstreams.
- Led a cross-functional project group for Change in Terms initiatives, successfully supporting fee revenue increases through coordinated execution and governance oversight.
- Reviewed, evaluated, and approved pending control enhancements, new control implementations, and related coding changes, ensuring alignment with risk, compliance, and operational requirements.
- Provided strategic input into work prioritization efforts, ensuring high-impact initiatives and risk-critical items were completed first and stayed on track.
- Ensured Archer issues and action items were properly supported, tracked, and completed within established timelines.
- Supported day-to-day operational execution, working closely with Team Leads and Analysts to remove blockers and maintain delivery momentum.
- Identified and implemented process efficiencies and ROI improvements, including reduction of manual work, revamping existing processes, and eliminating broken or non-functional reports.
- Led efforts to enhance and streamline reporting and workflows, improving data quality, visibility, and operational effectiveness.
- Reviewed existing workstreams and processes to compare legacy operations with Ally Group standards following acquisition, identifying gaps and opportunities for alignment.
- Partnered with stakeholders to support process integration and optimization during post-acquisition transition activities.
Team Lead - Automated Operations
Merrick Bank
06.2022 - 12.2024
- Led and supported direct reports in daily operations through structured weekly meetings and ongoing guidance.
- Reviewed and approved requests for new operational code designs and modifications to existing coding.
- Oversaw direct reports and managed their assignments related to automated processing initiatives.
- Identified, escalated, and resolved customer- and company-impacting issues in a timely manner.
- Ensured all reporting deliverables were completed accurately and within established deadlines.
- Led and supported project initiatives involving major organizational and operational changes.
- Presented weekly status updates and project progress to cross-functional stakeholders and leadership.
- Managed escalated account reviews submitted by direct reports and partner departments.
- Developed and implemented initiatives to enhance employee engagement and team collaboration.
Automated Operations Analyst
Merrick Bank
10.2021 - 06.2022
- Reviewed and resolved daily and monthly exception reports within established timeframes to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Completed assigned administrative tasks in support of management and operational needs.
- Performed monthly call monitoring activities, including documentation, tracking, and escalation of identified issues to Operations Management for follow-up.
- Developed, documented, and implemented procedures outlining day-to-day operational responsibilities.
- Analyzed and compiled data from multiple business reports, communicating insights and findings to management through written and verbal summaries.
- Organized and analyzed large datasets, identified and corrected data errors, interpreted results, and ensured ongoing data quality assurance.
- Oversaw assigned operational processes, including both automated and manual workflows.
- Served as the subject matter expert for assigned processes, providing timely responses to inquiries and support requests.
Financial Solutions Specialist
First Commonwealth Bank
04.2021 - 10.2021
- Open consumer and business accounts.
- Open special ownership accounts i.e Trusts, Estates.
- Handle daily banking transactions.
- Complete and verify domestic and foreign wires.
- Call off lead lists for correlating company campaigns.
- Have conversations with customers on lending opportunities.
- Complete secured and unsecured home equity loan applications.
- Complete personal and auto loans.
- Make referrals for financial advisors and wealth management.
Branch Operations Coordinator
OHIO SAVINGS BANK A DIVISION OF NYCB
03.2020 - 03.2021
- Interview, hire, and train new incoming staff members.
- Review daily as well as monthly reports in correlation to individual branches and their source documentation that occurred each day.
- Travel from branch to branch to assist and fill in any short staffing along with missing members of management.
- Manage daily branch flow and day to day operations.
- Review current and implement new policies to strengthen bank procedures.
- Account opening for businesses and consumers. As well as opening individual trust and IRA accounts.
- Cross-sell products that fit the customer’s need including investment and mortgage referrals.
Financial Services Associate
OHIO SAVINGS BANK A DIVISION OF NYCB
12.2018 - 03.2020
- Greet incoming customers and handle transactions that relate to them.
- Maintain a book of business and onboard new customers while maintaining strong relationships with prior customers.
- Cross-sell products to customers when identifying what their needs are.
- Ability to work within multiple computers systems.
- Provide all documents that are require to customers and file them accordingly after.
- Handle finances for Trusts/IRA/Businesses.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration And Management
Kent State University
Kent, OHSkills
- Team leadership
- Time management
- Decision-making
- Complex Problem-solving
- Staff training and development
- Project management
- Project planning
Timeline
Manager – Oversight & Non-Card First Line Risk
Merrick Bank
07.2025 - Current
Manager – Automated Operations
Merrick Bank
12.2024 - 07.2025
Team Lead - Automated Operations
Merrick Bank
06.2022 - 12.2024
Automated Operations Analyst
Merrick Bank
10.2021 - 06.2022
Financial Solutions Specialist
First Commonwealth Bank
04.2021 - 10.2021
Branch Operations Coordinator
OHIO SAVINGS BANK A DIVISION OF NYCB
03.2020 - 03.2021
Financial Services Associate
OHIO SAVINGS BANK A DIVISION OF NYCB
12.2018 - 03.2020
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration And Management
Kent State University