Mark Strahan Email & Phone Number

Basildon, Essex

Employed as a Data Migration Specialist my role was to ensure the successful migration of data from clients to the DST FAST system (Financial Accounting Systems Technology) utilising AS400 COBOL as the main programming language. Role entailed the analysis and mapping of client data into datasets which could then be migrated onto the FAST system using the path of least resistance via the use of ETL methodology. In Nov 2016 I attained ITIL V3. Foundation Level certification.Also got involved with Production Support issues. My role there was to facilitate supporting the business needs of 44 Management companies that DST ran the ‘back office’ systems for. This involved code fixes, data fixes and generally supporting the day to day running of all supported entities

Dublin

Working on the migration and consolidation of life policies from Canada Life (Paxus) onto the Irish Life ( CLOAS) database.Skill sets include Micro Focus COBOL under Visual Studio 2010, CLOAS database programming and analysis, SQL server 2008 and Paxus.

Bury, Lancashire

Supporting the retail, order processing and warehousing software systems written in Micro Focus COBOL on a UNIX platform.System is currently being upgraded to Oracle.Job entailed supporting the existing software and making small enhancements.

Dublin, Ireland

IT manager managing team of developers developing & maintaining payroll solutions in Microfocus Visual COBOL 2.1 incorporating .NET programming and ensuring the wellbeing of the companies IT infrastructure as a whole. Implementation of SEPA (Single European Payment Area) by way of software updates to the existing system. This included conversion of existing client data to BIC & IBAN readiness, creation & deployment of XML solution for the tranfer of client data to the banks and for successful payment processing of said file. Other duties include... * Acting as key knowledge holder within the Company's Infrastructure arena* Interacting and negotiating with vendors to secure network products and services* Overseeing and reviewing aspects of IT infrastructure, (including server, storage, security, software applications, remote users and network backups) to ensure high availability to the company* Ensuring that the vendor services provided are delivered to the required SLA* Planning, allocation and management of departmental resource.* Measuring, monitoring and reporting of standards and code quality to senior management* Managing development team* Providing support for all development staff.* Maintaining awareness and understanding of appropriate development tools and techniques* Leading and motivate development, testing and support team* Promoting and adhering to quality standards* Full awareness of and conformance with all IT and information security policies* Ensuring sensitive and confidential data is managed appropriately at all times

Dublin, Ireland

In training on City & Guilds - Level II - Software Developers course covering structured methodologies and testing (just received a DISTINCTION in exam) and JAVA programming covering programming in JAVA 6, ECLIPSE IDE & NETBEANS.

Leeds, United Kingdom

Enhancing current Microfocus COBOL applications utilizing Net Express 5.1 and Visual Studio 2010. Applications are in-house products for POS systems that are currently used in companies such as P & O Ferries and Enterprise Inns. Product utilizes Microfocus COBOL as the 'back end' with a GUI front-end written through Visual Studio. Also conversion of Microfocus products from version 4 to VISUAL COBOL 2010. Database used was DB2.

Resolving production issues as well as supporting and developing Irish Revenue services written in Micro Focus COBOL / INGRES / OpenROAD. Exposure to JAVA / J2EE. Utilizing Ingres databases with COBOL programs. Both programming and testing in COBOL / INGRES was prevalent in a UNIX environment with TUXEDO & OpenROAD being subsidiary toolsets in operation. Debugged problems with system source code utilizing Animator toolset. Fixed, tested and delivered business solutions as required. Worked to defined business deadlines. Job was split 40% development / 60% support.

To support and maintain Jewellery based retail system (Bsmart) written in ACU Cobol 7.2. Involved to a great extent with development & maintenance of existing software and to act as 2nd line support in instances where customer requirement demanded it. Utilization of Micro Focus products in order to develop and bug fix. Bsmart was written to run on Wintel based systems. A direct line between ourselves and the customers enabled us to also create 'ad-hoc' solutions for them which involved a full analysis, design, development and delivery of the solution. Job was split 50% development / 50% support.

To support and maintain Import/Export software (SPEX) written in Micro Focus COBOL / Windows DIALOG / Visual Basic 6.0 / .NET Also prevalent was the use of SQL Server. COBOL was written utilizing NETEXPRESS 4.0. Job was split 30% development / 70% support with support requiring interaction with customers of the SPEX product directly. SPEX was written to utilize client / server relationship. Built source code for fixes and product enhancement.

To support, test & fix interface programs written in Micro Focus COBOL on a UNIX platform. Use of PL/SQL, Cordaptix & TOAD were prevalent as were the uses of both ORACLE 9.0 & ORACLE databases. Job involved moving legacy based code onto ORACLE based databases. COBOL code enhanced to include PL/SQL calls to RDBMS.

To support and maintain Dept of Agriculture bespoke system written in NIXDORF COBOL running on mini system on UNIX. Ran support desk for this product and maintained & develop enhancements for system. Job involved interacting with users of the system and solving any problems they might have with the system on a day to day basis. This involved problem solving by way of test scenarios and program enhancements in COBOL.