Jean du Plessis

My current project is to develop, enable and facilitate a real-time financial reporting and analysis solution across the entire banking group. This is a major focus on Customer Behavior analysis, based on transactional activity, across all products.

I am utilizing all my skills in the Microsoft stack to achieve this outcome. I am responsible for the solution architecture, design and engineering of the new data warehouse, master data and reporting data-marts. My involvement and decision making ranges from back-end design to data visualization - some aspects of which are technology agnostic.

Engagement with over 40 product and specialist teams within the group are cardinal to the final delivery of this project.

This requires excellent communication, co-ordination and time-management skills and daily liaison with the Head roles involved.

My main focus was the development of new Business Intelligence systems for performance monitoring of different levels of the organisation and the enhancement and updating of old systems to align them with current methodologies. This is a technology agnostic environment where tools are utilised based on the end-game requirement so a hybrid approach is taken during development, testing and productionalisation.

Another focus for the team related to the conversion of existing legacy reporting systems (SQL Server Analysis Services and Excel Pivots/SQL Server Reports) to Qlikview applications. I was also involved in an advisory capacity to a major hardware and software infrastructure upgrade to support SQL Server 2012 and all the relevant back-end aspects to upgrade the current environment.

The environment presented ASP.Net front-ends, SQL Server back-ends (SSAS, SSIS, SSRS), Internet Information Services and File Servers for around 3500 end users.

Some of my other responsibilities included monthly reporting and end-user training in the new reporting methodology, training and the upliftment of team members in various technologies and formulating the overall strategy for the current Performance Measurement system, built on Microsoft technologies.

My duties were to oversee the different portfolios within the Data Management team for Human Capital Enablement functions. As second in charge, and reporting directly to, the Head of Data Management I supervised the following portfolios:

Systems Development

My duties in this department included systems and process design, quality assurance and productionisation of .NET applications (both Web and Windows). I was responsible for the development, testing and deployment of applications and was involved throughout the entire SDLC.

Data Integration & Quality

My duties in this portfolio required data quality assurance and data privacy policies (across the entire data lifecycle), systems security and integration automation. I was involved on a technical and design level.

Business Intelligence Reporting & Analysis

My duties in this department related primarily to Design & Reporting Requirements and overseeing the development and deployment of bespoke reports to business.

Responsibilities in this role were mainly SQL Development, Business Intelligence and Reporting outcomes as a contract at Standard Bank South Africa. Standard Bank SA onboarded me as a permanent employee out of this contract.

Remote Contractual Position involving the development and implementation of Point of Sale, Stock & Inventory Control, Debtors & Creditors software solutions in retail stores.

I was responsible for managing a team of five people including Database Administrators, C# Developers and Business Intelligence Developers. Some of my duties included the following:

- Client Relationship Management

- New System Specification Development (Business Requirement Definitions)

- Project Implementation Timelines and Segregation of duties

- Progress monitoring of monthly, weekly and daily systems

- Troubleshooting problems and in-depth data investigations on an ad hoc basis

- Maintenance and upkeep of system changes

- Development & Deployment of niche solutions within the architecture framework

I was also responsible for co-ordinating the the upkeep of 15 different financial reporting systems that serve approximately 3000 end users. We utilized Microsoft technologies such as Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (SSIS, SSRS, SSAS), IIS (web servers) and Windows Server 2008 (both virtual and physical servers).

I was also responsible for the co-ordination, monitoring and reporting of the maintenance of 30 Windows servers spanning all functions related to data back-ends, web front-ends and file hosting.

Furthermore I was involved in end-user support, training, system design and conceptualization and compiling monthly log sheets and system process documentation for compliance purposes to the various standards in the organisation.

The focus of this position was the development and deployment of information management systems and reporting/analysis tools on corporate networks. Extensive use of Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services and Analysis Services were required in conjunction with database development and management as part of the back-end implementation.

I implemented front and back end management systems at Virgin Money SA and ABSA Corporate and Business Bank. The systems make use of various different techonlogies based in ASP.NET, SQL 2005 and C# with integrated Windows Roles / ASP.NET Roles & Membership providers.

Among the products I developed were an extensive Timesheet System (ASP.NET) with an integrated skills matrix, a Fraud Screening system (ASP.NET) that formed part of the Customer Risk profile within financial institutions and an intranet based Helpdesk system (ASP.NET) for the MI/BI department.

I was responsible for the daily administration of a data warehouse in a major banking concern. I was also responsible for the web-based frontend for data access, data input and reports. I utilised my experience in SQL 2005 Reporting Services, Integration Services and Analysis Services with Visual Studio 2005.

Alongside the monitoring and daily loading of the data warehouse I was also responsible for the warehouse backup strategy and implementation, ad-hoc reporting and data queries, extending the design of the data warehouse to allow for more data and new data structures and functionality.

I was also responsible for the general server administration, maintenance and optimisation of the five servers which formed the hardware structure for the warehouse.

In this position I was responsible for the following functions:

- Software Licensing

- Internal Systems Development

- Network & End User Support

- Hardware/Software Procurement

- Supplier Liaison

- Systems Analysis & Process Adjustment

- Web Application Planning

- Web Application Documentation & Design

- Web Application Development & Testing

- Web Application Deployment

- Web Application Maintenance & Updates

- Graphic & Interface Design

My primary function was the development and maintenance of the company intranet, integrating with five different SQL 2000 databases and providing administrative and management functions to all departments within the company.

Secondary tasks included maintaining and upgrading existing applications on the intranet, maintaining servers, administering IIS, SQL 2000, MS Exchange management and graphic and interface design for the front-end web application.

A low priority project was the development of a web-based administration system with 15 different application levels, integrated security and user discrimination. Business functions included in this system ranged from HR Management (Leave, Discipline, etc.), Stationary/Uniform/Equipment Orders, Service Schedules, Insurance Claims, Wage to Revenue Comparisons and more.

This contract position required the development, design and implementation of web-based Product Training courses that was rolled out nationally on the company?s intranet. Access was provided to employees from Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. I was responsible for the Graphic Design, Web Design, Configuration and Installation of a web-based training system and Toolbook based Test System which tracked the results of every employee through SQL database integration. This position called for dynamic problem solving in a high pressured environment, with tight deadlines and quick turnaround times.

My duties in this environment included:

- Network Administration

- End User Support

- Data Storage Management

- File System Maintenance

- Software Development (VB6)

- Graphic Design and Layout

- Typesetting

- Document Layout & Templating (MS OFFICE)

- Presentation Design (MS OFFICE)

- Website Design and Maintenance

- All IT Liaison with Customer IT Departments

In 2001 the company was contracted by the INSETA in a project to educate children about Risk. This took the form of a diary, which was distributed to 20 000 pupils in the 17 top performing schools in the Western Cape. My role in this project was the overall design, typesetting, layout and technical liaison with the printing house. The project was a big success.

Throughout 2000 - 2002, in conjunction with industry Risk Management specialists, I designed and programmed The Risk Disk, a software solution for Risk Assessment in the field of Risk Management. The software was in use by Makro Stores nationwide.

In 2002 I was also responsible for coordinating the process of Accreditation of all training material, trainers, assessors and The Learning Centre with SAQA.

In the time that I was employed by The House I was the housefather, responsible for instruction in computers, mathematics, spelling and basic religion to children aged 8 - 16. I was further responsible for maintaining a website, creating a Life Skills Curriculum, extensive document scanning, editing and construction and finally conversion from text to HTML for Internet purposes.

I was responsible for the installation and maintenance of pre-paid electrical meters in the rural areas surrounding Louis Trichardt. Establishing a database of existing clients and their corresponding complaints was one of my achievements, which is currently still in use at the Municipality. Apart from creating a database and the field work involved, I created a log of complaints delivered, the dates on which complaints were seen to and corrected.