Senior Database Administrator

Job Description

The VacancyA fantastic opportunity for a Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator to work within the financial services sector. We require a full-time permanent DBA to join the WBS Database team, you will be responsible for managing & maintaining our database environmentswith a focus on the mission critical, real-time trading and custodial platforms paying particular attention to performance, security & high availability. Working closely with the Database & Technology Architects; we require a pro-active, enthusiastic and flexible individual with excellent communication skills who would enjoy the challenge of a fast-paced environment. The role is flexible in terms of time andlocation to support the trading day and out of hours support & releases. The position would suit a candidate with a professional experience and a passion for technology. Ideally the suitable candidate is someone who has battle hardened experience of working with databases with high transactional throughput, contains sensitive dataand has uptime requirements of 24/7/365. Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring all database environments & instances are performant, highly available, secure and recoverable.
• Proactively monitoring key systems, investigating changes and responding with recommendations in an efficient manner to senior stakeholders.
• Assisting teams with ad-hoc database requests and completing in a timely manner.
• Ensuring database development standards and best practices for performance, reliability, capacity, security, architecture & design are followed.
• Code review and performance testing of changes for all database deployments ensuring all internal standards are met.
• Designing, building, migrating, managing & upgrading SQL Server 2016+ instances and databases in a complex, highly available & mission critical environment.
• Support the Database Architect with input to the overall WBS strategy and ownership of the WBS Technology Database strategy, planning & delivery
• Contribute to research & design through horizon scanning in respect of long-term technological requirements or advancements which may meet future needs and/or to provide WBS with strategic and competitive advantage.
• Database capacity planning and management with a key focus on ensuring availability including through un-expected performance spikes.
• Manage appropriate quality controls and reporting metrics across all parts of the database. Highlight any key areas of concern / focus for improvement to the Database Architect
• Communication to all levels of the business (including and up to Board Level) of progress, performance and planning.

Experience & Knowledge Required

• ~3 years+ proven experience in database administration using Microsoft SQL Server
• Expert in performance tuning and query optimisation with practical experience using Execution Plans and Query Statistics
• Strong investigative and root cause analysis skills utilising data from multiple sources including DMVs.
• Strong T-SQL Programming experience to assist with query optimisations and to develop/maintain internal monitoring / processes.
• Optimising SQL configuration and experience with establishing system metric baselines to help provide real-time capacity and performance metrics.
• In-depth hands-on experience of using and implementing High Availability and Disaster Recovery components; Windows Failover Clustering; Always-On Availability Groups & Log Shipping.
• Practical experience of using tools for source control, build & deploy, focused on automated deployments of SQL databases, SSRS reports and SSIS packages.
• Comprehensive understanding of data security best practices; segregation of duties, break-glass requirements and reporting (GDPR focus) with experience implementing using AD Security Groups, SQL Roles & Permissions, Data classification, Vulnerability assessments& Encryption of Backups and Data (using Always Encrypted would be a distinct advantage).

Benefits: Salary - competitive

• Discretionary annual bonus & annual pay review
• Work Abroad Policy for up to 15 days per year
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and additional well-being day
• Option to purchase an additional 5 days holiday per year
• Flexible working options available, including hybrid working
• Pension scheme up to 10% employer contribution
• Sharesave scheme
• Income Protection & Life insurance (4 x salary core level of cover)
• Private health care via BUPA
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Variety of travel to work schemes

Company benefits are provided on completion of either six months service, or a successful probation period whichever is sooner. Entitlement outlined above is in respect of full-time entitlement, and will be provided to part-time workers on a prorate basis in accordance with the relevant scheme rules. All benefits are subject to rules of the scheme and associated provider. The Company in its sole and absolute discretion reserves the right to discontinue, vary or amend any of the aforementioned benefits. At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you dont tick every box. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and are open to discuss flexible work options to help you balance your workand home life. We appreciate that from time to time, recruitment agencies will have speculative CVs that they may wish to submit to our Talent Acquisition team in relation to a specific role. To avoid any ambiguity around fees, please note that speculative CVs received by Close Brothers, that have not been authorised in advance, by us, will be ineligible for an agency fee. Thank you.