As Executive Vice-President & Head of Global Transaction Banking (GTB), Alberta Cefis leads a key business within Scotiabank. GTB delivers comprehensive banking solutions on a global basis to all business client segments – ranging from sole proprietorships to commercial enterprises, multinational corporations, financial institutions, government entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The services offered under this umbrella encompass: cash, treasury management, liquidity, and payment services; trade finance; correspondent banking; electronic banking and financial supply chain management; and, a global specialized salesforce and service team that provide client coverage in over 55 countries. Alberta is responsible for executing against this broad mandate, and for defining GTB's vision, strategy and key priorities. She is a member of the CEO's Executive Management Committee, and serves on the Bank's Deposit Steering Committee, Strategic Alignment Committee, and Advancement of Women Committee. Additionally, she is the Executive Champion of Scotia Pride, an employee-driven resource group that promotes inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members of the workforce and community.

Alberta joined Scotiabank in 1999, and has considerable experience in the global financial services industry. Prior to assuming her current position, she was Executive Vice President, Domestic Personal Lending & Insurance, and President & CEO, Scotia Mortgage Corporation at Scotiabank. She has extensive experience in retail and business banking, wealth management, risk management, operations and service delivery, marketing, merger management, strategic planning and organizational development.

Alberta was named to The 25 Most Powerful Women In Banking in 2011, 2010, 2008, and to The 25 Women To Watch in 2009 (by American Banker and US Banker). She was the recipient of The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference 100 Award in 2010, honouring 100 women from around the world for her contributions to the economic empowerment of women. She was named Canadian Woman Leader of the Year in 2007 by the Federated Press. She was inducted into "The Hall of Fame" of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2007; and, prior to that, was named to Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women List from 2003 to 2006 by the Women's Executive Network. She was the 2009 recipient of the National Opera Directors' Recognition Award from Opera.ca, for exemplary leadership on behalf of an opera company and the community it serves. She was the 2006 recipient of the President's Award from the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario, which honours individuals for business excellence. She was profiled in the 2006 book entitled Celebration - 32 Inspiring Women of Italian Origin. Alberta has co-authored a book, with Scotiabank colleague Roberta Hague, entitled "The Truth About Mortgages – How To Make The Most Of Your Borrowing Power", aimed at empowering customers in their decision making (with all proceeds gifted to Habitat for Humanity).

Alberta is multilingual, and graduated from McGill University with both a Bachelor of Arts, Joint Honours degree in Political Science & Italian Literature, and a Master of Business Administration. She is involved in a number of boards, industry associations, and community endeavours. Currently, she is a Chair of the Board of Directors of Opera Atelier, a world-class baroque opera company in Toronto; Member of McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management Advisory Board; and, Director of the Board of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario. She was Member of the Cabinet for the Sunnybrook Cancer Research Centre Campaign (from 2007-2010). Alberta has also served as: Director of the Visa International Board (from 2004-2007), and as a Director of the Transition Governance Committee on this Board, was responsible for taking Visa through the IPO process; Director of the Visa Canada Association Board (from 1999-2007); Director of the Scotia Mortgage Corporation Board (from 1999-2006); Chair of the Chip Executive Council (a Canada-wide industry committee that championed the migration to chip technology in Canada - from 2000-2006); and, was a Member of the National Advisory Committee for the United Nations' 2006 World Urban Forum.