Application Solution Architect

IQEQ is a preeminent service provider to the alternative asset industry. IQEQ works with managers in multiple capacities ranging from hedge fund, private equity fund, and mutual fund launches; private equity fund administration; advisory firm set-up, regulatory registration and infrastructure design; ongoing regulatory compliance (SEC, CFTC, and 40 Act); financial controls and operational support services; compliance and operational related projects and reviews; and outsourced CFO/controller and administration services to private equity fund investments – portfolio companies, real estate assets and energy assets. Our client base is growing, and our existing clients are engaging the firm across the spectrum of our services offerings.

A solution architect role working within the Global Enterprise Architecture team to define the technical solutions for client proposals in line with the IQ-EQ IT strategy. Working alongside the business and commercial teams, this role will be responsible for ensuring the proposed solution gets delivered optimally, overseeing the technical design to live. During the engagements they will act as the key technical contact for issues working with the wider infrastructure and application teams to resolve.
Responsibilities 
•    Provide project high level solution designs, factoring in internal drivers (architecture principles and technology strategy) and external market/regulatory forces within an International business
•    Influence and support key stakeholders, ensuring the solutions delivered realise the strategic intent
•    Provide architectural oversight and design governance on solution delivery, working with key project, technology and business stakeholders
•    Provide technology subject matter guidance around Application capabilities and their alignment with business processes

Tasks 
•    Define and ensure the architecture and design approach is appropriately planned and delivered against
•    Own the suitability of the activities and artefacts to ensure the approach is not under/over engineered, and quality assurance of project architectural deliverables 
•    Provide architectural guidance and input across project portfolios
•    Lead the delivery of outline/high level solution designs for priority projects, working closely with project resources to deliver an approved approach
•    Maintain key architectural assets and processes 

Key competencies for position and level 
•    Customer Focus - Gaining insight into customer needs & identifying opportunities that benefit the customer.  Designing solutions that meet customer needs
•    Communicates Effectively – Adjusting communication style to fit the audience & message.  Providing timely information to help others across the organisation.  Encourages the open expression of diverse ideas and opinions
•    Action Orientated – Readily taking action on challenges without unnecessary planning and identifies new opportunities, taking ownership of them
•    Interpersonal Savy – Relating comfortably with people across all levels, functions, cultures & geographies.  Builds rapport in an open, friendly & accepting way
•    Commercial awareness – Knowledge of what is happening in the external market and how to make Technology a differentiator

Key behaviours we expect to see
In addition to demonstrating our Group Values (Authentic, Bold, and Collaborative), the role holder will be expected to demonstrate the following:
•    Emotional and Cultural Awareness especially in a post M&A environment
•    Ability to work with ambiguous stakeholder requirements to determine the underlying meaning and solution
•    Comfortable working in a distributed virtual network of stakeholders
•    Ability to work across a broad range of change initiatives and technologies

Background experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of architecture and solution design
• Prior experience in architecting client facing Fund Admin applications, CRM, ERP, AML, fraud or risk & compliance solutions
• Demonstratable understanding of modern application integration techniques and solutions
• Providing end to end solution designs and governance throughout the delivery lifecycle
• Experience and knowledge of designing solutions for cloud deployment
• COTS package selection and vendor evaluations

Architecture

• Understanding of the product and project development lifecycle from strategy to live operation and support
• Understanding of solution trade-offs such as cost, scope, timescale, and balance between long-term strategic and short-term pragmatic considerations
• Understanding of geographic and data residency solution implications
• Ability to work with a variety of business domain and technology experts to develop resilience and secure solutions
• Knowledge of the key elements of business, data, technical and security architecture to support creating holistic solution designs.

Technology

Azure foundation technologies,

• Containerisation

Company, product and market knowledge

• Prior experience within Financial Services industry, ideally with knowledge of  
  • Private Equity technologies
  • Wealth Management solutions
• Experience of technical challenges associated with Mergers and Acquisitions
• A highly regulated professional services industry
• Experience of working in an international environment

Management and leadership

• Able to work on own and with multinational teams
• Able to present and communicate complex technical issues clearly and concisely with technical and non-technical audiences from senior stakeholders to project teams
• Prepare solution design documentation and perform technical reviews
• Excellent interpersonal skills including facilitation, negotiation, collaboration and influencing

Languages

• English.  2nd language desirable

Education / professional qualifications

• Degree level education or equivalent professional experience
• Experience of architecture frameworks and standards, e.g. TOGAF, BCS, BIAN, FEAF, OpenAPI, ISO27001, UML modelling, Archimate, ITIL