Head of Architect ( Bank / Finance )

The Head of Architecture is responsible for leading the architecture function across the organization, aligning technology strategies with business goals. This role involves overseeing the design and implementation of scalable, innovative solutions that meet current and future business needs. The Head of Architecture will lead a team of solution architects, provide strategic direction, and ensure the alignment of IT architecture with the overall business strategy.
Role & Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership in Technology Roadmap
+ Define and implement the overall solution architecture strategy, aligning with the banking and financial services business objectives.
+ Provide thought leadership on architecture for key domains including Cloud, Core banking, Payments, Investment
+ Management, Lending, and Regulatory Compliance.
+ Oversee architectural efforts in open banking, fintech integrations, digital payments, and secure data exchanges.
+ Drive digital transformation efforts, guiding cloud migration, core system upgrades, and the implementation of advanced financial technologies such as AI, blockchain, and APIs.
- Solution Design & Innovation:
+ Lead the design and development of secure, scalable, and resilient architectures that cater to the high-performance demands of the banking and financial services sectors.
+ Promote innovation by identifying and integrating emerging technologies and platforms to enhance financial service delivery and customer experience.
+ Architect solutions that support omni-channel banking, including mobile apps, online banking, and traditional channels, ensuring seamless user experiences.
+ Ensure architecture enables real-time analytics, fraud detection, risk management, and other critical financial services capabilities.
- Governance, Compliance & Security:
+ Ensure that all solution architectures comply with banking regulations (e.g., PCI-DSS, PSD2, GDPR, AML/KYC) and meet stringent security standards.
+ Architect systems with a strong focus on data privacy, ensuring compliance with global and local financial regulations.
+ Lead the design of security frameworks to safeguard sensitive financial data and protect against cybersecurity threats.
+ Maintain governance around architecture best practices, ensuring consistent standards across all projects and technologies.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship:
+ Lead and manage a team of solution architects, providing mentorship, training, and performance management to ensure they are equipped to meet business and technological challenges.
+ Foster a collaborative environment where innovation, technical excellence, and continuous improvement are prioritized.
+ Ensure the team follows architectural governance, performing architecture reviews and guiding solutions across the enterprise.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
+ Collaborate closely with internal teams, including product management, operations, compliance, and risk, to define business needs and translate them into effective technology solutions.
+ Act as the primary point of contact for C-level executives and business stakeholders, ensuring that architecture decisions align with technical and business strategies.
+ Engage with external vendors, fintech partners, and consultants to leverage third-party solutions that meet financial services needs.
+ Communicate complex architectural concepts to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding and alignment.
- Risk Management & Business Continuity:
+ Identify and manage potential architectural risks, ensuring that solutions are designed with disaster recovery, fault tolerance, and business continuity in mind.
+ Ensure high availability and resiliency of critical banking services, with minimal downtime and customer interruption.
+ Architect solutions that support scalability and flexibility, allowing for future growth and adaptation to evolving market trends.