I was working at NU Life as test manager on a large migration programme
jointly run by NU and Swiss Re. I wrote the master test plan for the Finance
Project, supervised the detailed test planning, and managed the test execution.

After completing my MSc I studied for and passed the ISEB Practitioner Certificate in Software Testing. I undertook further study and research for the specialist consultancy service I was offering in incorporating usability engineering techniques into software testing. I also developed an accountancy package for a charity of which I am a trustee.

I carried out an IT audit, reviewing the security of the IT operation, and the use being made of IT. I followed that up with the production of a plan for a Business Continuity Programme, and a staff IT security policy with educational material.

I worked on three projects; as the test manager for a brief internal IBM development, as a consultant on the planning and conduct of operational acceptance testing for an IBM SAP implementation at J&C Clarks in Somerset, and as the test manager for an IBM project at the Dept for Work and Pensions in Blackpool.

As a Security Transition Manager I was responsible for running projects to identify and agree the required level of information security for new outsourced accounts. This entailed documenting the client’s information security requirements and planning the work required to deliver these requirements whilst complying with the contract and IBM information security standards. I had to ensure that the existing security service was baselined, and agree with IBM management and the customer the roles and responsibilities for delivering security, and ensure that IBM set up an appropriate organisational structure and processes.
My clients were Nokia (Finland), Boots (Nottingham) and AstraZeneca (Cheshire).

During this spell I worked mainly at the General Accident (latterly Norwich Union) Account as a test manager on projects related to Y2K and also integrating systems following client mergers. All of the projects were completed successfully and on time. I also reviewed and recommended improvements to testing processes.
I also worked as a test consultant at the IBM account at Cazenove in London and at the Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh, defining new testing processes for both clients. This work was mostly in IBM mainframe (MVS) environments, but also covered midrange Unix platforms and Oracle.

I successfully led three sub-projects within GA’s strategic MI project. This role provided valuable experience of project management, definition of user requirements, handling customer relationships and team leading.
I joined IBM in November 1996 when GA outsourced its UK IT function to IBM. I was immediately seconded back to GA to define the outline business requirements for new MI data warehousing systems that GA was developing, and to review a business critical accounting system to decide whether it should be replaced before 2000 or made Y2K compliant.

I planned and conducted reviews covering IT security (logical and physical), operational systems, and IT processes and practices. I also provided internal consultancy to user management during IT developments, developed fraud detection programs, took part in fraud investigations and represented General Accident on the Audit Panel of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

I worked on a variety of projects, mainly using Cobol, SAS, Easytrieve Plus, all on IBM mainframes, running MVS & VM.