Solution Architect (Cards, Loans)

Role Title: Solution Architect (Cards, Loans, Current Account, Product processing)
Duration: 7 Months
Location: Northampton / Hybrid (2 days on site)
Rate: 455/d - Umbrella only
Would you like to join a global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation?
Our client is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms.
Role purpose / summary
Exposure to Cards, Loans, Current Account, Product processing

• Produce and Own the technology strategy and architecture for one or more domain areas in Consumer Banking & Payments e.g. Cards, Payment Gateways
• Defining the technology strategy, roadmaps and vision consistent with wider Group standards. Using enterprise architecture techniques, focusing on business outcomes, in conjunction with respective CIO, Business Architects and business stakeholders, to translate strategic business and technological goals.
• Ensuring that technology services are highly customer and client-centric in both providing innovative and progressive products and services, and in partnering with the Business Units to ensure their client and customer strategies are successfully achieved;
• Leading the evaluation of technology industry and market trends to determine their potential impact on the architecture for the domain
• Investigating specific technologies, conducting technical briefings and recommend next steps to Operations & Technology stakeholders at all levels. Researching relevant technologies and demonstrate their benefits by developing proof of concepts where necessary.

You will be accountable for architecture services:

• Definition of the technology architecture and strategy for the domain areas in Consumer Banking & Payments with specific focus on Payment Gateways and Cards.
• Creation of target and transition architectures that enable the organisation to successfully pursue and realise business strategies. Reviewing Concept, End to End Solution including Functional and Technical designs, ensuring appropriate architectural governance approvals are obtained.
• Leading the evaluation of the current technology environment to detect critical deficiencies and recommend solutions for improvement. Supporting the implementation of resilient, scalable solutions for the business line.
• Ensuring Technology services processes and controls are designed to comply with group policies to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Partnering with Engineers, Architects and broadly colleagues within O&T and Business community to coordinate strategies and technology investment recommendations
• Maintaining and tracking technical debt as a result of any changes to target state solutions to accommodate project
• Maintaining knowledge of relevant technologies at the core/internals levels in order to perform in Subject Matter Expert role
• Articulating and establishing best practices and anti-patterns in application of technologies in question

Key Skills/ requirements

• Detailed knowledge of the Cards & Payments industry and the wider competitive environment (including history, trends, future development) to support formation of technology strategies that exploit innovation in this field
• Experience in architecting and delivering commercially proven, end to end solutions achieving complex business goals, including integration projects/programmes across disparate technologies, application/infrastructure integration within one or more areas of the CB&P domains capabilities is a pre-requisite
• Ability to provide an excellent customer/client experience, underpinned by a lean cost base, strong controls and a culture of collaboration, innovation and high performance. Very strong strategic vision.
• Real world architecture experience in banking / financial services is essential with significant practical experience of defining and implementing enterprise-wide technical solutions
• Strong Technical and Engineering skills with hands-on experience in the design and implementation of complex, distributed technologies, cloud (AWS &/or Azure), micro-services, messaging, APIs, Data transformation, ETL, Monitoring tools, Infrastructure and Security solutions.
• The ability to analyse and distil complex information quickly, presenting to non-Technology colleagues in a clear and succinct manner.
• Understanding of key considerations in Secure systems & software design, Resilience and High-Availability patterns for mission-critical applications, including multi-data-centre deployments
• Exposure and experience of complex, distributed technologies, cloud, micro-services, messaging, APIs, Data transformation, ETL, Monitoring tools
• Hands on capability to work with the LA, Solution Architects, Designers and developers in supporting resolution of any critical issues.

All profiles will be reviewed against the required skills and experience. Due to the high number of applications, we will only be able to respond to successful applicants in the first instance. We thank you for your interest and the time taken to apply!