Background
AXA Group Solutions is the technical specialist operation of the AXA Group, providing a range of IT services to the various business operations. In the UK this includes our Wealth division where, amongst other things, AGS supports the Investment Operations team in providing critical business information which allows the Wealth team to effectively manage £66bn of Funds-Under-Management. The primary role is to ensure that the data-systems which provide this information are available at all times which includes BAU support but primarily we focus on projects to improve the information and how it is provided - which in terms improves how the business operates. To enhance this offering we are now looking to recruit a talented Cognos Developer or Senior Cognos Developer.
The role
As part of the Service Management team you will be responsible, with your colleagues, for ensuring the delivery of over 100 separate reports in the right format for the Business. This will include some business as usual support but the primary focus of the role, as much as 70%, is developing new and improving existing reports. The three key elements will be: - Cognos administration
- Cognos development
- SQL Server manipulation
You will be expected to work with the business to understand their needs and translate those in to technical plans which you will then develop in to appropriate solutions. Currently this work is done on v8 of Cognos using SQL Server, however we will upgrade to v10 in the near future and if the successful candidate has experience with v10, it is likely they will be in a position to lead on this upgrade. More experienced candidates will also be expected to mentor, and potentially manage, more junior members of the Cognos team and also work more proactively with the Investment Operations group to improve the overall offering to them.
Skills, knowledge and behaviour
From a purely technical perspective, our ideal candidate will be a Senior Developer with extensive Cognos skills, including v10, utilising SQL Server - in an Investment Management environment. We would, also, be very keen to hear from less experienced, career-oriented Developers, using at least v8, who can demonstrate the ability and willingness to learn and upskill. In this case, Financial Services experience would be preferred but we would anticipate that as a minimum you will have used Cognos in a highly commercial and fast-paced environment where speed and quality are of equal importance. We are a small team with a strong focus on delivering quality solutions to our client-base. As such, gaining a strong understanding of their needs is key and we would expect the successful candidate to be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the link between the reports provided and the commercial decisions taken by the business. As such, first class communication skills are an absolute pre-requisite to meet the requirements of the role - and the Business. As 70%+ of your time will be spent on projects to improve the reports we provide, we would anticipate that you can demonstrate strong project-management skills in a small-change environment - but also be able to balance the priorities when BAU support issues arise. the work flow is constant and as such this is an ideal role for a self-starter who does not want, and indeed does not need, to be micro-managed. If your approach to work is flexible, in terms of occasional weekends and late-nights to meet business needs, and your background matches our requirements, then please apply as soon as possible.
What will you get from this role?
AXA Wealth, the main client supported by the Cognos team, is at a very exciting time in its development and future plans will present lots of opportunities for a first-class, motivated Cognos Developer to be involved in some really interesting and commercially focussed projects.
We do expect a flexible approach, but we are also very flexible in our approach to work and career development. Longer-term, you may get to lead a team within the Development arena or you may choose to follow a more technical path in to a Solutions Consulting role. We also encourage movement in to more business-focussed opportunities. We offer a competitive salary together with a benefits package which will include: - Bonus
- Annual Leave - 25 days
- Pension
- Life cover
- Lifestyle Benefits
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