KEY SKILLS

Lead Developer, Global Exchange Services (May 2000 - Present) 
Providing development solutions, client support, team leadership and comprehensive documentation for an EDI system written in Micro-Focus COBOL running within a 24x7 UNIX environment.

My most recent work has seen me as Lead Developer working on a project to integrate the company's flagship product with Oracle. My skill set helped me to manage the full development cycle, from providing the initial R&D work (using embedded SQL to replace existing file handlers) to converting all existing programs and the final testing and acceptance stage.

My role also requires me to have a good understanding of C and UNIX shell scripting. As part of a complete overhaul of the flagship installation process I had to completely rewrite the existing shell scripts. As part of this development I also developed a sub-system that allows the user to make configuration changes without service interruption.

My work has also seen me working to very tight timescales and to a strict budget. One example of this was the major role I played in the porting of the software from UNIX to Windows using Micro-Focus Net Express. This required me to co-ordinate and liaise with several teams all working in different time zones and on different parts of the project. The product was eventually ported on time and under budget.


Senior Application Programmer, TIS Software (January 1999 - May 2000)
Developing, maintaining and supporting a sales and purchase ordering system written in C running on in UNIX environment. I was also tasked with the integration of a third party product that provided invoicing and billing for the construction industry. This required me to understand how this new system worked and then to integrate it with the existing software. This project also involved the training of fellow developers and support staff. Along with my development responsibilities I was also asked to mentor several graduate trainees.


Advisory IT Specialist, IBM (October 1997, January 1999)
I was initially employed by IBM to be part of a pool of programmers and so was trained in both CICS and DB2 programming. Once this training was completed I was placed with a large insurance company working on their Y2K conversion project.

Initially I was tasked with then investigation and conversion of the software making it Y2K compliant; this required the use of several tools and communication with the team of programmers based on site. Once a majority of the code have been converted I was transfer on site to act as the IBM representative for one of the conversion teams.

This role involved the distribution and monitoring of work from other programmers, reporting back to senior management on the progress of the conversion and to provide a means of communication between the project team and IBM. After all the code had been converted I was then heavily involved in the production, execution and monitoring of test cases, documenting any errors found and the fixing of any erroneous code.


Analyst Programmer, Spargo Consulting PLC (June 1997, October 1997)
I was based with an insurance company working in a team of ten programmers who were tasked with replacing an existing non Y2K compliant system.

My role in the team was the development of Data Access Modules written in COBOL utilising embedded SQL, these sat between the COBOL application programs and the DB2 database. These programs were developed using Micro-Focus COBOL running under Windows NT and then ported to a mainframe when completed for final testing,

A team of external business analysts produced design specification and from these documents I and other senior developers were required to produce program specifications, system documentation and test plans.


Application Programmer, Systems Union (October 1995, June 1997)
Systems Union are a software house producing two packages SunBusiness a sales and purchase ordering system and SunAccount a full multi-currency accounts system written in Micro-Focus COBOL running under Windows.

As a member of the SunBusiness development team I was involved in the full life cycle of the product, from the production of initial programming specifications, writing the code, testing, documentation and eventually the passing of the completed product to the QA department.


Senior Analyst Programmer, Commercial Collection Services (June 1991, October 1995)
Working with a small team of in-house developers I was tasked with maintaining and developing new features for the company's debt collection software and provide user support. 

Whilst with the company I fully documented the existing system, developed new systems and drastically reduced the time taken to complete the over night runs. This included direct debit mandates, new debt letter production and automated backups.

For each new development I was required to produce full program specifications, these was then reviewed with management. Once these specifications had been signed of it was my responsibility to complete the development, fully test and integrate, produce system documentation and train the users.


Analyst Programmer, Baxter Livingston (March 1988, June 1991)
Provide support and development for the freight forwarding software that had been developed in house, initially all development was done in Micro-Focus COBOL running on PC's but in my final year I was tasked with porting the software to Unix.

Whilst at Baxter Livingston I developed several new systems, these included an airfreight system, a manifest system and a complete job-costing suite of programs. For each of these developments I had to produce program specifications, develop the code and write end user documentation.


Computer Operator, Gordon & Gotch (September 1986, March 1988)
Working a two-shift system, my responsibilities included placing several systems on-line in the mornings and completing full system backups of an evening. The rest of the day consisted of running batch jobs; this involved the loading of input tape, printing reports and backing up to tape when completed.