Farouk Aboobaker

• Running of JAD sessions
• Grooming for development and QA teams to story point activities
• Involved in writing detailed system/design specifications and seeing projects through full SDLC through to deployment
• Mentored junior staff
• Assisted with Production Support duties
• Assisted with promoting a Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) environment
• Use JIRA and Confluence for specifications and time tracking
• Produce UML Diagrams using Enterprise Architect (EA)
• Worked with XML files for message specifications
• Worked with ISO20022 standards for payments messages
• Worked on projects using Volante Designer and Camunda Modeler
• Was part of the implementation team for Debi-check
• Performed system analysis, documentation, testing, implementation and user support for platform transitions
• Improved systems with addition of new features and infrastructure
• Enhanced interfaces to promote better functionality for users

• Started own business in Service Industry providing Dry cleaning, shoe repairs and clothing alteration services.
• Managed running and operations and administration of business (part time due to capacity constraints) in conjunction with partner in business
• Was unfortunately forced to close this business as result of COVID-19 pandemic, as business was severely affected due to lockdown.

• Was moved over to Alexander Forbes (client of Bytes) , Senior Business Analyst , to implement Beneficiary Funds Administration system
• Worked with team leads and managing leadership, establishing robust talent pool with focus on people and continuous improvement
• Guided teams and refined Agile techniques throughout journey and evolution of delivery cycles, establishing documentation framework to support Agile methodology implementation with Waterfall-centric delivery team
• Conducted interviews with key business users to collect information on business processes and user requirements
• Interacted with internal customers to understand business needs and translate into requirements and project scope

• Based at Vodacom in Midrand (a client of Bytes) to do Systems Analysis and design for the Vodacom Online Project , which was to maintain and redesign the Vodacom Web portal
• A fair portion of my time was spent on the Customer 3D project amongst others
• Telecommunications industry using SOA in a Java environment
• Worked with RESTful services as well as Web services working with WSDLS using SOAP-UI
• Involved in writing detailed system/design specifications and seeing projects through full SDLC through to deployment
• Also involved in doing a fair amount of Business Analysis as sometimes requirements from the client are very vague
• Involved in working with development teams based in Cape Town and managing project deliverables in Midrand, skills
• Conducted meetings with junior staff members to discuss program specifications and process models

RMB Asset Management was renamed to Momentum Asset Management in 2012 as part the MMI Holdings merger.

• Development of customised software / maintenance of software / support of large system (SMAC – which is a back office administration system for portfolio management in the asset management industry written in PROGRESS 4GL)
• Support of Integrated environment between various systems e.g. SMAC/ Interlink/ Stream Exchange/ Accurate/ SWIFT/ Statpro/ Compliance/ CGT Express
• Developed a modern front office system in conjunction with vendor, whilst still maintaining the legacy back end system as the engine that was already built over time, and getting the integration between front and back office to function effectively
• UNIX Administration (user setup , print queue management , disk usage, process monitoring, backups, restores)
• PROGRESS 4GL Development
• PROGRESS 4GL Database administration / optimisation
• Remote support of overnight integrated batch run (SMAC - Interlink)
• Systems Analysis / Business Analysis in order to provide information to optimise business process flow and improve process efficiencies
• Management of IT team
• Management of Application Development Team
• Mentor to junior staff
• Working in a Financial Markets environment
• Involved in integration of SMAC back office to Charles River Front Office
• Involved STP (Straight Through Processing) optimization from trade initiation through to trade settlement
• Good working knowledge of financial markets business and process flows
• Good understanding of how the company / business operates
• Key liaison between Business and IT
• Involved in SMAC to HiPortfolio conversion as part of move to JP Morgan
• Involved in various projects/ conversions / testing / integration etc
• Able to support large number of users at all levels (i.e. Senior management, middle management, end users , auditors, external clients)
• Involved in Project Management
• Industry representation at FMASA (Fund Managers Association of South Africa) and IMASA (Investment Managers Association of South Africa)
• Started in paper based manual settlement environment and migrated to a fully automated dematerialized settlement system. Was responsible for implementing updated systems and procedures to accommodate the automated environment and moving the business from a process to exception based management system

• Development/customisation of software / maintenance of software / support and implementation of large system (PROTEUS – written in PROGRESS 4GL)
• Built databases and table structures for web applications
• Wrote highly maintainable, solid code for software system
• Stored, retrieved and manipulated data for close analysis of database performance
• Modified existing software to correct errors, adapt to new hardware and improve performance
• Implemented scripts to enhance user experience
• Tested server code to validate code changes
• Performed regression and system-level testing to verify software quality prior to release

• Development of software / maintenance of software / support and implementation.
• Worked on financial package called PROTEUS
• Distribution / retail and warehousing environment
• Analyzed and designed relational databases using Progress 4GL
• Built databases and table structures for applications
• Implemented scripts to enhance user experience