SQL Database Administrator

(W2 Role)Senior SQL Database Administrator Overview Hands on Senior SQL Database Administrator responsible for the secure design, administration, and operational integrity of enterprise Microsoft SQL Server environments (SQL Server 2000-2022). Proven experience supporting highly regulated financial systems, with a strong focus on database security controls, privileged access management (PAM), identity and access management (IAM), and audit remediation. Trusted partner to Security, Risk, and Audit teams to ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements. ________________________________________ Key Responsibilities • Design, install, configure, and maintain highly available, secure enterprise SQL Server platforms supporting mission critical financial applications. • Administer privileged database access, including direct user assignments, role based permissions, and service accounts, ensuring least privilege principles are enforced. • Implement and maintain database access control standards, including authentication, authorization, and separation of duties aligned with IAM and PAM frameworks. • Perform regular access reviews and manual certifications for privileged users not governed by AD or centralized IAM groups. • Lead database security audits, including permission reviews, activity monitoring, and sensitive data access validation. • Partner with Internal Audit, External Audit, Compliance, and Security teams to: o Respond to audit inquiries o Produce audit evidence o Remediate audit findings and control gaps within defined SLAs • Design, document, and improve control processes for: o Privileged user access o Change management o Backup, recovery, and disaster recovery testing • Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve database incidents while maintaining audit ready documentation and operational logs. • Establish and enforce database security policies, standards, and procedures, including encryption, auditing, and data protection controls. • Conduct regular reviews of database permissions, schema changes, and privileged actions to detect and mitigate risk. • Support and validate data privacy and regulatory controls across environments (production and non production). • Follow ITIL best practices for incident, problem, and change management with a focus on traceability and audit compliance. • Participate in 24x7 on call rotation supporting secure production operations. ________________________________________ Audit & Compliance Focus (Highlighted for Resume Strength) • Remediated audit findings related to excessive database access, weak privilege controls, and undocumented permissions. • Designed and executed manual access certifications for privileged users with direct access assignments. • Produced repeatable audit evidence for: o SOX / internal audits o Security assessments o Regulatory reviews • Reduced audit risk by standardizing DB access reviews, control documentation, and remediation workflows. • Acted as primary technical SME for database controls during audits. ________________________________________ Technical Skills & Controls Expertise • Microsoft SQL Server 2000-2022 (HA/DR, backup/restore, PTO) • Database security, auditing, and monitoring • Privileged Access Management (PAM) & IAM concepts • Role based access control (RBAC) and direct user permission management • Encryption, data protection, and compliance controls • T SQL, system views, extended events • Resource Governor, indexing, partitioning • SSIS, DTS • ITIL Change, Incident, and Problem Management ________________________________________ Additional Strengths • Strong technical documentation with audit ready traceability • Proven ability to translate technical risk into business and audit language • Collaborative partner to Security, Risk, and Compliance teams