James is currently unavailable
James Booth
Verified Expert in Engineering
Data Warehouse and BI Developer
Hove, United Kingdom
Toptal member since September 13, 2022
Bio
James is a lead data warehouse and BI developer with over 15 years of experience in business intelligence, from design and development to support and testing. He has worked on numerous greenfield projects and reworks of existing implementation projects, and his industry experience covers private banking, accounting, manufacturing, travel, and law. James takes pride in his work and values trust and open communication.
Portfolio
Intuitive Thinking
Microsoft Power BI, Azure SQL Databases, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)...
Innocent Drinks
Azure SQL Databases, Microsoft Power BI...
Temenos SA
SQL Server BI, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)...
Experience
- Transact-SQL (T-SQL) - 10 years
- ETL - 10 years
- Kimball Methodology - 6 years
- Data Engineering - 5 years
- Azure SQL Databases - 4 years
- Microsoft Power BI - 3 years
- Azure Data Factory (ADF) - 2 years
- Microsoft Fabric - 1 year
Work Experience
Data Warehouse and BI Developer
2017 - PRESENT
Intuitive Thinking
- Developed a highly configurable data warehouse framework, refined over the past five years after an initial 6-month project. It combines the configurable star schema's performance and usability and is complimented by the data store flexibility.
- Created a Microsoft Power BI report pack for accounting consultancy clients and included the integration of write-back visuals, facilitating cell-level commenting and budgeting while redesigning the existing star schema data model.
- Built a tool for social media monitoring and reporting using Twitter API and Google Translate API. The tool retrieves social media posts that suggest potential clients' financial wrongdoing for due diligence purposes.
- Utilized Temenos Transact banking data to develop complex logic and provide funds transfer pricing for assets under management (AUM), flow, and margin and base rate analysis.
- Researched various data tools and resources to find new ways of adding value to businesses while attending conferences, exploring new technologies, and keeping up to date with market changes.
- Worked for Fine Win Client using complex SAP Hana data. Reduced Azure DB costs by around 4,000 per month. Stabilized a dysfunctional ETL to reduce the reported issues by around 7 to 1. Led and supported the team on many high-priority projects.
- Reduced cloud database costs for the client by around 30% and decreased tickets raised from five to one, with a piece of work to stabilize and simplify the existing data warehouse BI setup on Azure and Power BI.
Technologies: Microsoft Power BI, Azure SQL Databases, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Master Data Management (MDM), Transact-SQL (T-SQL), Data Warehouse Design, Star Schema, Kimball Methodology, Database Administration (DBA), Data Engineering, ETL, Data Analytics, Data Architecture, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), Master Data, SQL Stored Procedures, Data Modeling, Azure Data Factory (ADF), Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, DAX, SAP ERP, Synapse
Lead BI Developer
2021 - 2022
Innocent Drinks
- Redesigned the existing Microsoft Power BI data sets to use a centralized star schema data model based on the Azure SQL Database, expanding the data sets report possibilities and improving maintainability and usability.
- Trained team members new to business intelligence, focusing on star schema design, SQL, and Microsoft Power BI.
- Used Microsoft Dynamics 365 data and covered multiple manufacturing, finance, sales, general ledger, inventory, and purchasing aspects.
- Exported data with To-Increase integration solutions and standard entities, leading to a better understanding of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 database, and used AXDB to understand the Microsoft Dynamics 365 data model.
Technologies: Azure SQL Databases, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, Data Engineering, Data Analytics, Data Architecture, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), SQL Stored Procedures, Data Modeling, Azure, DAX
Technical Consultant
2013 - 2017
Temenos SA
- Implemented the Insight Data Warehouse and BI solution at some of the largest Temenos clients, such as Nordea in Luxembourg and ABN Amro in Amsterdam, including short visits to Aktia Bank in Helsinki, Commerzbank in Luxembourg, and KBC in Dublin.
- Delivered the first significant private banking implementation of the Insight R14 star schema version at Nordea in Luxemburg.
- Delivered business requirements for AUM, flow, profit and loss, decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), portfolios, adjustments, budgets, and KPIs.
- Collaborated with the product team on incorporating private banking developments into the main product.
Technologies: SQL Server BI, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Data Warehousing, Data Warehouse Design, Data Engineering, ETL, Data Analytics, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), Master Data, SQL Stored Procedures, Data Modeling, Microsoft SQL Server
MI Analyst
2012 - 2013
DAC Beachcroft
- Provided reports that were written in SQL and exported them using SSRS and Microsoft Excel.
- Covered financial reporting, billing, debt, work-in-progress reports, realization, client case status reports, rebates, and tenders.
- Gathered requirements for a team intranet portal to track the team's work and consolidate the available resources.
Technologies: SQL Server BI, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), ETL, Data Analytics, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), SQL Stored Procedures
Technical and Business Analyst
2007 - 2012
Thomas Cook
- Applied Agile methodologies and worked on large IT projects focused on new reservation systems and their integration into the legacy data warehouse and management information systems.
- Collaborated with the finance team to provide reports and better understand the requirements.
- Utilized the SQL Server for testing the data warehouse and later moved to support and developed the ETL for bugs and future requirements based on T-SQL.
Technologies: SQL Server BI, Jira, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Testing, Agile, Data Analytics, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), SQL Stored Procedures, Data Modeling, Microsoft SQL Server
Project History
Data Warehouse Framework
Developed a highly-configurable data warehouse framework that has been in production at a private bank in Luxembourg since 2017. The framework was built within the SQL Server and combines the performance and usability of a star schema, complimented by the flexibility of a data store.
The solution uses a dynamic ETL accommodating dimension and bridge, in addition to transactional, snapshot, and accumulating tables. It includes comprehensive logging, covering schema changes, batch details, and ETL steps for maintainability.
As part of the project, I delivered cubes using SSAS, reports using SSRS, used SSIS file exports for third-party systems, and allowed users to maintain their hierarchies and other configuration using Master Data Services.
The solution uses a dynamic ETL accommodating dimension and bridge, in addition to transactional, snapshot, and accumulating tables. It includes comprehensive logging, covering schema changes, batch details, and ETL steps for maintainability.
As part of the project, I delivered cubes using SSAS, reports using SSRS, used SSIS file exports for third-party systems, and allowed users to maintain their hierarchies and other configuration using Master Data Services.
Client Report Pack Development
Created a new data model and process for implementing predefined Microsoft Power BI reports and data sets that accounting consultancy users can deploy without having a technical background.
Microsoft Power BI write-back tools integrated into the report pack allow budgeting and commenting within Microsoft Power BI. I designed the look-and-feel of the reports and documented the process for future implementations.
Microsoft Power BI write-back tools integrated into the report pack allow budgeting and commenting within Microsoft Power BI. I designed the look-and-feel of the reports and documented the process for future implementations.
Insight BI Private Banking Implementation
Delivered insight R14 at Nordea in Luxembourg, the first significant private banking implementation of the star schema version of the Temenos business intelligence solution.
The business intelligence solution included a data warehouse framework and cubes that needed to be reworked for private banking purposes.
The project included using:
• T-SQL transformations to cover AUM, flow, profit and loss, portfolios, and DAO
• T-SQL process for upload, including adjustments, budgets, and KPIs
• SSAS cubes
• Azure DevOps Server
The business intelligence solution included a data warehouse framework and cubes that needed to be reworked for private banking purposes.
The project included using:
• T-SQL transformations to cover AUM, flow, profit and loss, portfolios, and DAO
• T-SQL process for upload, including adjustments, budgets, and KPIs
• SSAS cubes
• Azure DevOps Server
Education
2002 - 2005
Bachelor's Degree in IT Software
Sheffield Hallam University - Sheffield, UK
2000 - 2002
Vocational Certificate of Education in Computing
Grantham College - Grantham, UK
1990 - 1996
General Certificate of Secondary Education in Mathematics, English, Science, Geography, and Art
Central School - Grantham, UK
Certifications
AUGUST 2024 - AUGUST 2025
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate
Microsoft
JUNE 2024 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
Microsoft
JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
MCSA: BI Reporting
Microsoft
JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
Microsoft
JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics
Microsoft
APRIL 2019 - PRESENT
Agile Data Warehouse Design with Lawrence Corr
Decision One
AUGUST 2018 - PRESENT
MCSA: SQL 2016 Business Intelligence Development
Microsoft
FEBRUARY 2018 - PRESENT
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
Microsoft
NOVEMBER 2017 - PRESENT
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Business Intelligence Expert
Koenig Solutions
Skills
Tools
SQL Server BI, Microsoft Power BI, Excel 2016, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, Jira, TFS, Synapse
Languages
SQL, Transact-SQL (T-SQL), C++, Visual Basic
Paradigms
Kimball Methodology, ETL, Business Intelligence (BI), Testing, Agile, Azure DevOps
Storage
SQL Stored Procedures, Microsoft SQL Server, Databases, SQL Server 2016, Azure SQL Databases, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Database Administration (DBA), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Master Data Management (MDM), Data Pipelines
Platforms
Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Fabric Lakehouse, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Synapse
Other
Data Warehouse Design, Star Schema, Data Warehousing, Data Modeling, Performance Tuning, Query Optimization, Data Engineering, Data Analytics, Data Architecture, Data Analysis, Azure Data Factory (ADF), Systems Analysis, SQL Server Administration, User Requirements, Master Data, Fabric Notebooks, Azure Databricks, DAX, SAP ERP, Fabric Data Factory
Collaboration That Works
How to Work with Toptal
Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.
1
Share your needs
Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2
Choose your talent
Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3
Start your risk-free talent trial
Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.
Top talent is in high demand.
Start hiring