Solution Architect - Card Payment

JOB TITLE: SOLUTION ARCHITECT

LOCATION: LONDON

Job Purpose and primary objectives: Solution Architects (SA) are responsible for Architecture Design throughout the life cycle of the projects that they are assigned to. SAs contribute to the success of the project through the preparation and timely delivery of solution design documents which are fit for purpose and aligned with relevant strategic architecture direction and principles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Through expert architectural skills translate high level business requirements into technology architectures that align to Divisional strategic architecture.
- Undertake the delivery of a comprehensive design.
- Manage business stakeholders to secure strong engagement for the solution and ensure that the delivery of the project aligns to longer term strategic roadmaps for the division and Group IT.
- Work closely with external suppliers to ensure solution makes best use of technology and meets requirements.
- Simplify the existing architecture, delivering reusable services and cost saving opportunities in line with the policies and standards of the group.
- Lead collaborative working with other areas within Enterprise Architecture and Design to ensure that all solutions are complete, operable, conform to business processes and meet the business needs with the agreed quality of service.
- Responsible throughout the entire project life cycle for the end to end solution of the project.
- Provide clear, continuous and consistent solution architecture leadership at a detailed level within the project.
- Ensure solutions are fit for purpose, meet the needs of business, the agreed requirements and are both pragmatic and supportive of the Divisional strategic architecture direction.
- Participate in the peer review and QA of project architectural artefacts across EAD through governance forums.
- Identify and communicate appropriate resource requirements and work breakdown structure based on skills profile and best fit to complete the end to end solution design, and ensure project plans and finances align with this working with the Project/Programme Manager and Divisional Practice Manager.
- Participate from time to time in the supplier selection process, evaluating usefulness and cost of products and making appropriate recommendations.
- Expected to carry out core accountabilities with minimal level of supervision for complex tasks and no supervision for more routine matters.
- Has a comprehensive understanding of Solutions Architecture.

KEY TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AREAS:

- Uses appropriate tools, including logical models of components and interfaces, to contribute to the development of systems architectures in specific business or functional areas.
- Produces detailed component specifications and translates these into detailed designs for implementation using selected products.
- Provides advice on technical aspects of system development and integration (including requests for changes, deviations from specifications, etc.) and ensures that relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices are applied correctly.
- Takes responsibility for planning sharing and publishing of solutions.
- Maintains an in-depth knowledge of specific business and technical specialist, and provides expert advice regarding their application. Can supervise specialist technical consultancy. The specialism can be any technical or business domain.
- Specifies and designs large or complex systems. Selects appropriate design standards, methods and tools, consistent with agreed enterprise and solution architectures and ensures they are applied effectively.
- Reviews others' systems designs to ensure selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources, and integration of multiple systems and technology. Contributes to policy for selection of architecture components. Evaluates and undertakes impact analysis on major design options and assesses and manages associated risks. Ensures that the system design balances functional, service quality and systems management requirements.

KEY SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:

Domain experience: Banking experience in one or more of the following:

- Card Payments
- Internet Banking
- Mobile Banking
- Payments
- Credit card systems
- Transactional Banking
- Cards & Merchant Services
- Treasury & Trading
- Credit Risk
- Retail Risk
- Private Banking
- Personal Banking
- Commercial Banking

TECHNOLOGY: Working experience on multiple application technologies and databases

- Should be capable of understanding concepts of various technologies and able to provide technology guidance to application development teams
- Familiarity on various Architectural Patterns
- Knowledge on Enterprise Architecture Frameworks like TOGAF, Zachman.
- Stakeholder management: Ability to work with Business and Technology teams to design solutions

DESIRABLE:

- Experience in designing SOA, BPM solutions for large organizations
- Certification on TOGAF is highly desirable
- Knowledge on various Banking Products like T24, FlexCube is desirable.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

- Negotiating, client facing, communication, assertive, team leading/team member skills, supportive. Good communication skill is a must

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: MINIMUM 8 YEARS OF IT EXPERIENCE IN MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGIES

DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 6 - 12 MONTHS

Special working conditions (travel, on call etc): Travel may be required within UK.