Developer: SQL & Reporting

Description

Primary Purpose of the Job

The role combines SQL development, report creation, data engineering and data integration to deliver clear, actionable insights that support informed business decisions across the organisation. It requires a meticulous data professional to design and manage robust data pipelines and integrations between systems and data sources, develop and tune SQL queries, and build and maintain the enterprise data warehouse. The role also produces high-quality reports and dashboards that translate data into business insights.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize complex SQL queries, stored procedures, functions, and scripts.
• Ensure that all database systems are maintained and enhanced to meet the organisation's requirements for data integrity, security, and availability.
• Create and restore databases
• Monitor database performance and implement changes. Apply new patches and versions when required.
• Create, schedule and monitor SQL Server Agent jobs
• Build, manage and support the data warehousing solution. Contribute to the development of data models.
• Establish and maintain ODBC connections between different types of databases and platforms
• Create linked servers.
• Create data integrations with various servers and datasets.
• Develop and maintain operational, financial, and ad-hoc reports using SQL-based reporting tools (e.g., SSRS, Power BI)Ensure data accuracy and consistency in all reports and dashboards.
• Design and implement data pipelines and ETL processes for integrating data from various sources.
• Work with large datasets, ensuring data reliability, consistency, and scalability.
• Create and maintain documentation on database design, ETL processes, and report development.
• Work closely with the developers on projects to assist with the database structure and relationships
• Mentor junior staff in SQL development, reporting and data integration through practical guidance, knowledge sharing and constructive feedback to support their technical development.
• Engage with business stakeholders to gather, clarify and document reporting and data requirements. Translate those requirements into technical specifications.
• Implement, schedule and regularly test database backup, restore and disaster recovery procedures.
• Manage database and report access, including logins, roles, permissions and Power BI row-level security. Carry out this access management in line with BDO information security policies and POPIA.
• Tune database performance through indexing strategies, execution plan analysis, statistics updates and maintenance plans.
• Ensure that reports reconcile to source systems by building data validation and reconciliation checks.
• Investigate and resolve data, report and database incidents within agreed service levels, and participate in after-hours maintenance windows or standby when required.
• Use Python and Excel (including VBA macros) to automate data processing and recurring reporting tasks.
• Keep up to date with Microsoft data platform developments and recommend improvements to systems and processes.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Grade 12
• Degree or Diploma in Computer Science or related field
• Advantageous: Microsoft certifications in Power BI, Azure database administration or Microsoft Fabric data engineering.

Work Experience

• Minimum 4-5 years’ relevant experience
• Proven experience in developing reports and databases

Knowledge

• Advanced in MS SQL Server BI Stack tools and technologies (SSRS, SSIS, T-SQL, Power Query, Power BI, DAX)
• Strong knowledge of Python.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills including Macros
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., Azure)
• Dimensional data modelling (star schema / Kimball methodology).
• Source control (Git) and automated deployment (CI/CD) practices.
• Source control (Git) and automated deployment (CI/CD) practices.

Technical Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of data backup, recovery, security, integrity, and SQL.
• Experience in Crystal reports or similar business intelligence tools
• Solid understanding of ETL processes, data warehousing concepts, and data modelling.

Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proactive, self-starter with initiative to find ways to improve solutions, systems and processes
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to learn new software and technologies quickly.
• Works within defined standards and processes
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.
• Strong stakeholder management, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical users.
• Maintains confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive client and financial data.
• Able to prioritise competing requests and manage deadlines.
• Takes ownership of and accountability for deliverables.

BDO Core Competencies

• Relationships and Collaboration
• Exceptional Client Service
• Business Growth
• Engaging people
• Leadership
• Quality, Risk management and Operational performance