 Basic knowledge of insurance and financial services products preferred.  Advanced planning/organizational, problem-solving, analytical, time management, decision-making, and communication skills required, as well as solid leadership and basic presentation skills.  Must be able to effectively communicate technical plans, strategies, and designs to all levels of the company.  Basic knowledge of business unit applications preferred.  Must be able to maintain a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality.  Proficiency with database applications; knowledge of mainframe, distributed, and/or web programming languages.  Proven experience as a senior IT professional.  Creating Java application designs that mesh with our architectural guidelines and best practices.  Coaching and mentoring other development staff on designs and coding best practices.  Working within both AGILE and Waterfall project teams.  Providing Java application expertise and representation to management, vendors and internal business partners.  Working with our business partners to ensure Application Development staff is focusing on the right work at the right time.  Coordinating work tasks with offshore teammates.  Working with project sponsors to plan needed staffing; maintaining attention to current utilization with an eye on how to level resources. Purchase the answer to view it

The role of an IT professional in the insurance and financial services industry requires a specific set of skills and knowledge. This includes a basic understanding of insurance and financial services products, as well as advanced planning, organizational, problem-solving, analytical, time management, decision-making, and communication skills. Additionally, the IT professional should possess solid leadership and basic presentation skills to effectively communicate technical plans, strategies, and designs to all levels of the company.

A basic knowledge of business unit applications is also preferred, as it helps in understanding the specific needs and requirements of the industry. Furthermore, the IT professional should be able to maintain a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality, as working with sensitive financial information is inherent in this field.

Proficiency with database applications is an essential skill, and knowledge of mainframe, distributed, and/or web programming languages is desired. This allows the IT professional to effectively manage the data and programming needs of the industry.

Proven experience as a senior IT professional is necessary to understand the complexities of the industry and provide valuable insights and solutions. This experience also enables the IT professional to mentor and coach other development staff on designs and coding best practices.

Being able to work within both AGILE and Waterfall project teams is crucial, as these project management methodologies are commonly used in the industry. The IT professional should possess expertise in Java application development and be able to provide representation and guidance to management, vendors, and internal business partners.

Working with business partners to ensure that the Application Development staff is focusing on the right work at the right time is important for efficient project management. This coordination may also involve working with offshore teammates to ensure smooth collaboration.

The IT professional should also work closely with project sponsors to plan and allocate the needed staffing resources. Attention should be given to current resource utilization while considering how to level resources effectively.

In summary, the role of an IT professional in the insurance and financial services industry requires a combination of technical skills, industry knowledge, and project management expertise. This includes proficiency in database applications and programming languages, as well as experience in senior IT roles. Effective communication, leadership, and organizational skills are also essential for success in this field.