EMPLOYMENT VISION

To apply my analytical problem solving skills and experiences in assisting the development of new or modified business applications and the enhancement of existing business processes in order to help achieve strategic and operational objectives

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

• Platforms:Windows NT / 9x / 2000 / XP, Linux, Macintosh, UNIX, OS2 Warp, AS400 ,IBM Mainframe MVS and AS400Iseries), Novel NetWare / IP, RS6000, Sun Solaris, AIX
• Programming:C, C++, C#, Java, HTML, JavaScript, CGI Scripts, PHP, .NET, Cobol ,MF COBOL Control Language, SQL, PL/SQL, Perl Script, Visual Basic, UNIX Script, Mobile Apps, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, CICS, REXX,Crystal Report, Oracle Developer2000, Oracle Forms, Query 400, JCL, CLP, REXX, FILEAID, Jscript,TSO, ISPF,Webfocus,JSP, Easytrieve Plus
• Application Packages:Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project), Debugging Tools (XPEDITOR, SMARTTEST, Endevor, EXPLAIN, Rational Suite, HP Quality Center, Bugzilla, Rational
• Database:MYSQL, Oracle , DB2,VSAM, Apache Web Server, Foxserv, SQL Server, IIS,CMS

Confidential, Kingston ON 2007- 2012
Production Support Analyst 2011- 2012

• Delivered timely solutions to customer reported errors within INGENIUM through the analysis of complex data and functional/technical specifications, test case recreation, batch execution, SQL data queries/updates, and consulting with subject matter experts
• Prevented major business disruptions by participating in the evaluation of scheduled applications and environment changes for associated risks, and advocate mitigation of such risks with the various stakeholders
• Reduced the time it takes to resolved recurring production failure issues by 50% by documenting and cataloging resolutions in known incident database for future references
• Decreased users' complaints by 45% by initiating cheat sheets to assist users with difficult software packages and by suggesting that managers add special instructions to their manuals, guides and other documentations
• Developed profitable relationships with users based on excellent customer service, plus thorough understanding the business needs and processing requirements for investment purposes
• Recommended job shadowing to get a better understanding of end-user systems and to identify related gaps
• Created BRD, guides, and design specification for several short track projects; such as, the modification the clients' statements, Reset letters ,NSF notices and the recent rebranding projects
• Provided business analysis and/or software development services to several short track projects in order to reduce a three-year backlog of outstanding work items to less than 9 months by consulting with affected stakeholders and streamline business processes
• Coordinated the installation of new software systems, trained staff on software use, and provided ongoing support so operations would run smoothly
• Consulted with business partners to define business cases for issues which required a request for change (RFC) to existing systems or business processes
• Worked on a Re-branding project which requires introducing new and modified clients' statements, NSF notices and reset letter. The coding of applications was done on the mainframe and the statements and notices were generated in a third party system (Calligo/Exstream) with multiple interfaces.
• Conducted meetings in which Test Plans and Test Scenarios are discussed with sponsors, developers and end Users with responsibility for the creation, monitoring and resolution of problem logs
• Created test plans, conducted smoke test and Regression testing for verification of resolutions strategies or feature to be incorporated into application requirements.
• Served as a liaison between IT and the business units in order to determine correct course of action to achieve desired results

Quality Assurance Specialist 2010 - 2011

• Worked with application developers, Project Managers and support staff to develop test plans, metrics and defect management reports and to ensure that processes are governed by standard operating procedures to ensure quality and compliance
• articipated in data gathering, designed and documented detailed test plans and strategies from functional specification for segregated fund systems from the business requirements for RRSP, RESP, RRIF, Electronic fund transfers and Money Market funds
• Participated in quality management reviews, verified and validated project documentations ensuring cohesion and traceability between system functionality and the signed-off business requirements documentation
• Developed, enhanced and maintained Automation Test Utility written with Excel Macro for IBM Mainframe 3270 which significantly reduced errors and time for background testing, freeing up QAs' time for other tests
• Collaborated with application developers, project managers, and support developers to determine needs, documenting best practices and reviewing code to ensure accurate and effective performance
• Participated in User Acceptance Testing of the development of new applications and products, maintenance releases and change control processes for application environments supporting the business strategic objectives
• Reduced Post implementation failure incidents by 75% by ensuring that quality is built into the application release through thorough testing, defect management processes and risk mitigation strategies
• Improved accuracy of test plans or strategies by collaborating with business stakeholders and subject matter experts to get a clear understanding of the underlying system
• Performed validation and verification of mission-critical software applications performance after a disaster or catastrophic system failure , power outage or software upgrade (DRP)
• Experienced documenting QA/BA requirements using relevant modeling techniques and templates.
• Kept all team members informed by preparing reports, writing proposals, updating project specifications, and publishing updates
• Led interviews with managers and other relevant stakeholders of each service channels to understand the complexities of the project requirements and different workflows

Senior Software Developer 2007- 2010

• Used the knowledge and understanding gained from interviewing subject matter experts to create solutions that conformed the business needs as well as increased productivity and efficiency
• Successful implementation of enhancements to Ingenium 6.5 to fix errors with transactions coming into the system from FundServ via web a connector, listener and process controller configurations in order to increase to accuracy of the investments and an increase in the ROI
• Design and implement Ingenium enhancements to support new segfunds processing, the addition of new funds, building of the support tables, and assisted with UAT testing for the changes to Ingenium and FundSERV
• Successful implementation of Ingenium enhancement to support FundServ helpfile upgrades
• Made changes to Ingenium screens and process flows to display warning/ error messages for invalid transactions
• Developed and made enhancements to existing programs relating to billing, activity scheduling, accounting, Interface changes between INGENIUM and FASAT and premium collections as per functional specifications. Participated in the implementation of the Tax Free saving Account(TFSA) project Developed a policy copy program that is currently being used by Empire Life to automate the copying of multiple policies from production to test regions. This increase the process by 70%
• Received recognition for contributions to the successful conversion of Datacom file system to VSAM
• Implemented a software solution to convert standalone insurance policies to electronic investment accounts, which improved agents' persistency level and increase profitability for online Fund Systems ( FundServ)
• Reduced the turnaround time from days to a few hours by redesigning an Agent Block transfer program using Cobol, JCL, Excel and DB2 to facilitate the enactment and reversal of agent's transfers, commissions and service fee payments via the mainframe
• Increased Customer Satisfaction by providing technical assistance to inquiries regarding errors, problems, or questions during implementations and User acceptance testing
• Successful implementation of Ingenium enhancement to fix issues with incorrect agent commission splits
• Provided technical and analytical support to CAPSIL 3.2 and CAPSIL 3.3
• Made changes to Ingenium Notices and client statements
• Created some Easytrieve reports for data verification and validation of DB2 and VSAM records

Confidential, Regina SK 2005- 2007
Senior Programmer Analyst

• Designed and coded key Ingenium online enhancements that facilitated an automated feed from NBS to INGENIUM , reducing time it takes business to settle new business cases
• Worked on the conversion project which converted Ingenium 5.5 table structures to Ingenium 6.5 to improve processing ability and to facilitate the addition of up 99 rider coverages. Responsibilities included designing new functionality within Ingenium, new client correspondence, reports and modification to related interfaces
• Created a utility module that fixed policies with missing records within the TAI reinsurance system , which reduced the number reject policy due incorrect data by 50%
• Identified and fix issues with ADEND MIB MQseries Transactions coming into Ingenium
• Participated in the successful implementation of Credit Card Insurance system on the AS400 system, which enabled Great-West Life to process third party Insurers transactions and secure online payments

Confidential, Kingston, JA1998- 2004
Senior Programmer/ Analyst

• Designed and implemented an automated report system which enables sales agents and employees to create adhoc reports from data onthe mainframe reducing the needs for overnight batch cycles, improving to waiting time to minutes and resulting in higher customer satisfaction based on the following outcomes:
  • Strengthen customer/agent loyalty by offering client value in the form of policy and claims information in personalized reports
  • Deliver relevant, concise information to policyholders, regulators and business users
  • Identify problem areas, improve customer satisfaction and boost investor confidence
• Made recommendations regarding the ongoing viability of a project plan based on ability to deliver upon agreed functionality within approved budget and schedule for medium to large complex projects.
• Led multiple releases for Ingenium application as a technical lead liaising with multiple stakeholders including the business users, system analyst team, quality control team and offshore development team.
• Analyzed complex programming needs to ensure software systems and utilities are available and responsive to end user requirements.
• Made significant enhancement to Ingenium to handle post-lapse processing with respect to dividend processing, cash values, NFV values, and post lapse accounting and reversals.
• Experience developing applications and scheduling daily batch jobs on the AS400 system using COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, and Query / 400, Easytrieve plus
• Led a team of three IT analysts in the analysis of the nightly batch cycles, which resulted in a decrease in loss production due to delay in the batch cycle processing
• Instrumental in the successful merger and conversion of data from a newly acquired block of business (CAPSIL 4.x to Ingenium 5.x) which increased the ROI by 35%
• Participate in the Business Continuity Planning (BCP) process to develop strategies to confront the likelihood of interruption due to a disaster.
• Created business intelligence programs to move policy payment General ledger (GL) data from the mainframe to Oracle financials using COBOL, Oracle Forms, Reports, Unix Shell scripts, PL/SQL for financial reporting, reconciliation, system controls and automation of G/L postings and cancellations

EDUCATION / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

IT infrastructure Library (ITIL V3) Foundation Certificate Kingston, ON 2012
IIBA Membership Kingston, ON 2012
Confidential Kingston, ON 2011
Confidential Kingston, ON 2011
Life Insurance Operation Prof. Certification, Confidential Kingston, ON 2010
Time and Project Management training Regina, ON 2006

MSc, Management Information Systems.
Oracle Developer Training Course Kingston, JAM 2003

BSc. Computer Sciences and Mathematics.
AS400 Operator Training Kingston, JAM 2003