Solution Architect (Banking/Financial Service)

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect to lead the architecture workstream for strategic technology transformation initiatives within the banking and financial services industry. This role will be responsible for defining the future-state technology architecture, evaluating technology solutions and vendors, and ensuring alignment between business objectives and technology strategy.

The successful candidate will possess deep expertise in banking architecture, integration and API design, cloud technologies, and enterprise architecture principles. Experience in Capital Markets environments is highly desirable.

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Key Responsibilities

Architecture Strategy & Design

• Lead the technology architecture workstream across transformation programmes and strategic initiatives.
• Assess the current technology landscape, applications, integrations, and infrastructure to identify improvement opportunities.
• Define and document the target-state solution architecture aligned with business and technology objectives.
• Develop architecture roadmaps and transition strategies to support future-state implementation.

Application & Integration Architecture

• Design scalable and maintainable application architectures that support business growth and operational efficiency.
• Define enterprise integration architecture patterns and standards across applications and platforms.
• Develop API architecture and integration strategies to enable seamless connectivity between internal and external systems.
• Promote API-led and service-oriented architecture principles where appropriate.

Data Architecture

• Define data architecture standards, frameworks, and target-state data models.
• Ensure data flows, storage, governance, and integration designs support business and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with data and technology teams to establish scalable and secure data architecture practices.

Cloud & Infrastructure Architecture

• Define cloud architecture strategies and adoption roadmaps.
• Evaluate cloud-native and hybrid-cloud solutions to meet business, operational, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure architecture designs support scalability, performance, resilience, and future technology growth.

Security & Risk Management

• Define security architecture principles and controls across application, integration, and infrastructure layers.
• Ensure solution designs comply with organisational security standards, regulatory obligations, and industry best practices.
• Assess architectural risks and provide recommendations to mitigate technology and operational risks.

Vendor Evaluation & Technology Selection

• Evaluate vendor solutions and technical proposals against business and architectural requirements.
• Conduct solution assessments, proof-of-concepts, and architectural reviews.
• Provide recommendations on technology platforms, products, and strategic vendor partnerships.

Architecture Governance

• Produce and maintain architecture deliverables, including solution designs, architecture blueprints, standards, and decision documents.
• Participate in architecture governance forums and design review boards.
• Ensure architecture consistency and compliance across all programme workstreams and technology initiatives.

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Required Experience & Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Solution Architect, Enterprise Architect, or Technology Architect within banking or financial services environments.
• Strong experience in banking technology architecture and large-scale transformation programmes.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Application Architecture
  • Integration Architecture
  • API Architecture
  • Cloud Architecture
  • Solution Design and Governance
• Experience evaluating and selecting technology platforms and vendor solutions.
• Strong understanding of enterprise integration patterns, microservices, APIs, and modern architecture frameworks.
• Experience designing highly scalable, resilient, and secure technology solutions.
• Experience in Capital Markets environments is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Relevant certifications such as TOGAF, AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Professional Architect, or equivalent are advantageous.