RACHEL SPENCE
Jonesboro
Summary
Dynamic PMO and program management leader with over 20 years of experience driving critical enterprise initiatives in fintech, financial services, and regulated environments. Expertise in PMO governance, methodology, intake and capacity planning, KPI reporting, and escalation management ensures consistent project delivery aligned with strategic priorities. Recognized for executing complex IT transitions, including M&A integration, carve-outs, platform migrations, data security and compliance programs, process automation, and portfolio wind-downs. Currently leading a PMO practice that supports enterprise strategic initiatives through day-to-day delivery leadership, coaching, standards development, and escalation support for a team of four Project/Program Managers in a matrix leadership structure.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Project Management
GREENSKY, INC.
Atlanta, GA (Remote)
04.2024 - Current
- Lead PMO operations and delivery consistency for enterprise strategic initiatives; serve as the link between executive priorities and project execution through intake governance, prioritization, and capacity planning.
- Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and delivery oversight to a team of 4 Project/Program Managers (matrix leadership; no formal direct reports), including standards adoption, delivery discipline, and escalation support.
- Serve as the PMO escalation point—anticipate bottlenecks, remove blockers, and drive cross-functional alignment across IT, Operations, Legal/Compliance, Security, Finance, Accounting, and Capital Markets.
- Strengthened PMO reporting transparency by transforming intake/capacity tracking from a detailed Excel model into an automated JIRA-based intake workflow, improving portfolio visibility and executive decision-making.
- Support PMO leadership continuity as second-in-command—maintain operating cadence, stakeholder communications, risk escalation, and team 1:1 coverage during leadership absences.
- Promoted from Sr. Program Manager.
Sr Program Manager
GREENSKY, INC.
Atlanta, GA (Remote)
04.2022 - Current
- Strengthened PMO reporting transparency by creating an intake/capacity tracking form in Excel to provide leadership with insight to overall PMO capacity and strategic alignment as well as individual capacity which provided improving portfolio visibility and leadership decision-making.
- Support PMO leadership continuity as second-in-command—maintain operating cadence, stakeholder communications, risk escalation, and team 1:1 coverage during leadership absences.
- Conducted risk assessments, proactively identifying and mitigating potential project issues.
- Facilitated stakeholder communication, leading to improved alignment between business objectives and program goals.
- Delivered engaging presentations to stakeholders at all levels, effectively communicating complex information in a clear and concise manner.
- Fostered stakeholder relationships to facilitate collaboration and support project success.
- Designed project timelines and milestones, tracking progress against key deliverables.
- Developed and implemented process improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
- Led cross-functional teams to align project objectives with strategic business goals.
Sr Project Manager
GREENSKY, INC.
Atlanta, GA
12.2019 - Current
- Successfully recovered projects at risk of failure, implementing turnaround strategies that restored client confidence and secured project objectives.
- Negotiated conflicts within project teams to ensure smooth project execution and maintain high morale.
- Improved stakeholder communication by establishing regular update meetings and clear reporting channels, resulting in increased trust and partnership.
- Led cross-functional teams in successful completion of multimillion-dollar projects, ensuring they met all scope, time, and budget requirements.
- Collaborated with product owners to gather requirements, ensuring projects met business needs and expectations.
- Crafted and maintained project plans and schedules to meet organizational objectives.
- Conducted detailed post-project evaluations to identify key learnings and areas for improvement, fostering culture of continuous improvement.
Senior Partner | Senior Project Manager
WEALTH & WISDOM LLC
Atlanta, GA
02.2015 - 11.2019
- Lead multi-stakeholder client initiatives requiring governance, structured execution, measurement, and executive-ready reporting.
- Led strategic planning initiatives to align organizational goals with client's strategic objectives.
- Mentored junior partners, enhancing team performance and fostering professional growth.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders to identify new business opportunities.
- Analyzed market trends to inform strategic decision-making and risk management.
- Delivered exceptional customer service by implementing best practices and fostering a culture of accountability within the organization.
- Developed and executed strategic initiatives to drive business growth, resulting in higher revenues.
- Enhanced company performance by implementing new strategies and streamlining operations.
- Strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, fostering trust and collaboration across the organization.
- Influenced organizational change initiatives that resulted in significant improvements in organizational efficiency and volunteer satisfaction.
Senior Vice President | Project Manager
KREATIVE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, INC.
Atlanta, GA
01.2002 - 01.2010
- Led strategic and operational initiatives and managed complex portfolios in regulated financial environments.
- Led cross-functional teams in executing complex financial projects and initiatives.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Business Management
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC07-1993
Skills
- PMO Governance, Standards & Methodology (playbooks, templates, controls)
- Portfolio/Intake Management & Capacity Planning
- KPI Dashboards, Executive Reporting & PMO Metrics
- Risk/Issue Management & Escalation Leadership
- Cross-Functional Leadership in Matrix Environments
- IT Transitions: Migrations, Integrations, Carve-outs, Separations
- Cybersecurity / Data Security & Regulatory Compliance Programs
- Vendor/Partner & Stakeholder Management
- Tools: JIRA, MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook
Certification
- PMP - Project Management Professional
Timeline
Director of Project Management
GREENSKY, INC.
04.2024 - Current
Sr Program Manager
GREENSKY, INC.
04.2022 - Current
Sr Project Manager
GREENSKY, INC.
12.2019 - Current
Senior Partner | Senior Project Manager
WEALTH & WISDOM LLC
02.2015 - 11.2019
Senior Vice President | Project Manager
KREATIVE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, INC.
01.2002 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Business Management
North Carolina State University