Chief Architect

A major bank is embarking on a multi-year Core Banking Migration Program to integrate a recently acquired subsidiary into the Group's core platform — spanning Customer, Loans, Deposits, and Payments domains.

We're looking for a Chief Architect / Integration Architect Lead to provide cross-stream architectural leadership and ensure all domains and vendors align to a unified technical and delivery vision.

About the role

You'll operate across the entire program landscape, guiding architectural strategy, integration design, and end-to-end solution alignment.

This is a senior leadership position working closely with the Program Lead, Domain Leads, and external partners to ensure consistent architecture, data, and technology principles are applied across GroupCo and SubCo.

You'll help the bank modernise its core ecosystem, simplify integration pathways, and establish a sustainable architecture for the future.

What you'll do

• Lead the cross-stream architecture for the Core Banking Migration Program, ensuring alignment across all domain areas (Customer, Loans, Deposits, Payments).
• Define and govern integration patterns, data flows, and system interfaces between GroupCo and SubCo environments.
• Partner with the Program Lead, CIOs, and Domain Leads to ensure architectural decisions support program objectives and timelines.
• Provide design oversight and assurance across core banking, customer systems, digital channels, and payments platforms.
• Review vendor and partner solutions to ensure consistency with enterprise standards and security policies.
• Manage architectural risk, technical debt, and design interdependencies across streams.
• Support the establishment of architecture forums, decision logs, and design governance processes.
• Mentor technical and solution architects across the program to ensure high-quality, scalable outcomes.

About you

You're an experienced enterprise or integration architect who has worked on complex transformations within banking or large financial services organisations. You understand how to bring structure, clarity, and governance to high-pressure, multi-vendor programs.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience as a Chief Architect, Integration Lead, or Senior Solution Architect in large-scale transformation or core banking environments.
• Strong background in architecture governance, integration design, and cross-domain solution alignment.
• Experience working with core banking, payments, customer data, or digital platforms.
• The ability to work effectively in a multi-vendor and multi-stream delivery environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with confidence engaging at SteerCo and executive levels.
• Understanding of modern integration and cloud patterns (API, microservices, event-driven, hybrid architectures).
• Relevant certifications (TOGAF, AWS/Azure, or equivalent) preferred.
• Familiarity with cloud and hybrid architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP) and modernisation patterns.
• Proven ability to manage multi-vendor architecture landscapes, ensuring consistency and accountability.

Why join

• Lead the architectural direction of a high-profile, whole-of-bank migration program.
• Work with senior technology and business executives shaping the bank's next-generation platforms.
• Operate across multiple domains and vendors, influencing end-to-end design outcomes.
• 0–15+ years of architecture experience in large-scale financial services or banking environments.
• Proven background in Core Banking Modernisation / Migration programs (Hogan, T24, Finacle, FIS, SAP, Temenos, etc.).
• Deep technical knowledge of integration frameworks (MuleSoft, IBM Integration Bus, Kafka, API Gateway, ESB, microservices, event-driven architecture).
• Experience designing or governing architectures across Payments, Deposits, Loans, and Customer systems.