Sylvie Seksek

Professional experience

-present

1. HR Consultant (self-employed)

Independent consultant, trainer and facilitator. My areas of expertise are secretarial and office management fields. I provide auditing & optimization (ie redesigning jobs), recruitment services and support for office manager and executive assistant jobs. I speak French, English and Italian.

My clients are companies of all sizes.

2014-2014

2. CONSOLIDATION ET DEVELOPPEMENT GESTION (Independent Management Cie)

Transition office manager

Transition office manager (includes filling the position then re designing it and supporting in recruiting the permanent office manager).

Overseeing the smooth day to day running of the office
Serve as point person for duties including maintenance, mailing, supplies, equipment, access control, cultural events and overall workplace experience
Own and manage vendor relationships, agreements and price negotiations including suppliers. Review supplier agreements and service level agreements regularly
Maintain a safe and effective workplace for staff and oversee Health & Safety Compliance and implement necessary procedures including First Aid Officer, Fire Warden duties
Greeting and directing visitors, answering main office telephone system, respond to direct requests for information and/or forward messages to appropriate staff
Maintain cleanliness and safety of kitchen, conference rooms, equipment, and tools.
Coordinate all desk assignments, moves, and changes
Oversee and manage conference room scheduling
Manage the budget provided and work closely with Corporate Secretary to create a good office experience within a strict budget.
Make recommendations for cost savings, manage corporate credit card expenses/allocations and raise required purchase orders.
General admin support and special projects as needed including office parties and events

1996-2001

3. SULLIVAN & CROMWELL (International law firm)

Bilingual executive assistant to partners

Coordinating several secretarial departments (such as those of the parties implied in a financial transaction)

Reviewing and circulating press clippings on subjects of particular interest to the office

Testing the skills and then training newly hired secretaries

Taking over specific tasks of the lawyers in their absence (including acting as the main contact person and coordinator for clients’ public relations offices that were filing press releases with the New York Stock Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington)

Organizing business and personal trips, transfers and relocations of executives in Paris

2002-2003

4. ALLEN & OVERY, then DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL (International law firms)

Executive assistant to International Capital Markets’s department partner

Personal assistant tasks (administrative formalities)

Translation work

Implementing and managing a new filing system for the office

2004-2005

5. FORMAVEC (Vocational training association for adults)

Executive assistant/Office Manager/Trainer

Assisting the director in creating a vocational training association : locating and contacting potential funds, locating the BIDs, searching potential partners

Creating the training program for the association

Training adults on secretarial and computer skills then guiding them in their job searches

2006-2011

6. REED SMITH (International law firm)

Bilingual paralegal/Executive assistant

Preparing the business planning for the corporate department

Business events management

Preparing and sending out press releases to clients

Obtaining documents such as by-laws and solvency certificates

Billing : preparing and following up on time sheets, expense reports and billing to clients

2011-2013

7. FSI – FONDS STRATÉGIQUE D’INVESTISSEMENT (French sovereign found)

Office manager/paralegal for the legal department

FSI’s acquisition of equity stakes: Appointment process for the positions to be filled within the board of directors (drawing up a discovery report on the processes of candidates sourcing, selecting, assigning then appraising, plus implementing new processes)

Rationalizing the work organization of the legal team (drawing up a discovery report on the work organization of the legal team then implementing new processes and improving existing processes)

Implementing and managing the office documentary and archiving bases

Education

1987-1989

1. BTS Assistante de direction

Two-year technical degree in executive secretarial skills

2006-2006

Independent HR consultant and trainer - French, English, Italian