Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL)

Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL)Location: Brussels (Hybrid – 2 days/week on site)Start: ASAPDuration: Long-termFunctional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – About the RoleA major organisation with a complex, long-established IT landscape is looking for a Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer with strong experience in COBOL-based back-end systems.You will work on the evolution and maintenance of core administrative applications, collaborate with business and technical teams, and ensure that functional requirements are translated into reliable, scalable IT solutions.This role is ideal for someone who combines functional analysis, legacy system understanding, and the ability to read COBOL code and use SQL for analysis, validation, and testing.Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – Key ResponsibilitiesAnalyse business requirements and convert them into detailed functional specifications.Design end-to-end functional solutions covering user flows, business logic, data structures, and system interactions.Review and interpret existing COBOL logic to assess system behaviour and impacts.Write and execute SQL queries to validate data and support functional testing.Support technical teams during development and ensure functional consistency.Prepare functional test cases, conduct integration testing, and validate solution quality.Collaborate with project managers, stakeholders, and developers across the delivery cycle.Manage multiple projects in parallel within structured methodologies (Agile/Waterfall).Ensure all delivered features align with both business needs and system constraints.Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – Required ExperienceFunctional / Business BackgroundProven experience as a Functional Analyst, Analyst Programmer, or Technical Functional Designer.Experience with large-scale administrative, transactional, or core systems.Exposure to highly regulated sectors such as insurance, finance, banking (preferred).Technical UnderstandingAbility to read and understand COBOL code in legacy back-end systems.Strong command of SQL for data validation and investigative testing.Solid grasp of integration flows, batch processes, and legacy architectures.Able to communicate effectively with developers, architects, and infra teams.Strong system analysis mindset: impact assessment, dependencies, and data flows.Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – Soft SkillsStrong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.Pragmatic and solution-oriented.Clear communicator, comfortable bridging business and IT.Autonomous, proactive, and highly organised.Able to handle deadlines, multiple topics, and complex environments.Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – LanguagesGood level of EnglishWorking knowledge of French and/or Dutch is a plusFunctional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – Profile RequirementsMaster’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent.OR Bachelor’s degree + 5+ years in functional/technical analysis.Availability for a hybrid setup (2 days/week on site in Brussels).Functional Analyst / Analyst Programmer (COBOL) – Why This Mission?Long-term contract in a stable environment.Direct impact on key back-end systems.Balanced role: functional + technical understanding.Multi-project involvement with autonomy and influence.Opportunity to work on system evolution and modernisation initiatives.Keywords: Functional Analyst, Analyst Programmer, COBOL, Legacy Systems, SQL, Functional Design, Back-End Systems, Mainframe, Core Systems, Administrative Applications, Functional Testing, Technical Analysis, System Analyst, Freelance IT Consultant, Brussels Freelance IT, Hybrid IT Jobs, IT Functional Analyst COBOL.