Chief Architect

Harnham; Greater London; On-site; GBP 126,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnham is seeking a leader to own the enterprise architecture function in a private equity-backed financial services organisation undergoing significant technology transformation. You will provide strategic leadership across the technology landscape, focusing on cloud-native patterns, AI-enabled architectures, and governance to enable scalable, innovative delivery.

You will partner with product, security, engineering, and data leaders to shape the architecture that supports AI, automation, and

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise architecture strategy and programs.
• Strong track record in cloud-native architecture and platform strategy.
• Proven governance and standards leadership across large transformational programmes.
• Experience driving modern engineering practices and AI-enabled architecture.

Responsibilities

• Owning and evolving the enterprise architecture strategy.
• Providing senior architecture leadership across major transformation programmes.
• Establishing scalable cloud-native architecture patterns and standards.
• Driving the adoption of modern AI-enabled architecture and engineering approaches.
• Balancing governance, risk, and architectural control with innovation.
• Partnering with product, security, engineering, and data leaders to deliver strategic objectives.
• Challenging legacy approaches and driving modern engineering best practices.
• Shaping the architecture required to support AI, automation, and agentic engineering capabilities.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Cloud-native architecture

Architecture governance

Technology transformation

Modern engineering practices

AI-enabled architecture

Job description

This is a great opportunity to join a private equity-backed financial services organisation undergoing significant technology transformation, where you can take ownership of enterprise architecture strategy and help shape the future technology landscape.

THE COMPANY:

This established financial services business provides funding solutions that enable customers to spread the cost of major annual payments. Backed by significant investment and executive sponsorship, the organisation is embarking on a large-scale modernisation programme focused on improving customer experiences, accelerating technology delivery, and embedding AI-enabled ways of working throughout the business.

THE ROLE:

You will take ownership of the enterprise architecture function, providing strategic leadership across a broad range of technology and transformation initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning and evolving the enterprise architecture strategy.
• Providing senior architecture leadership across major transformation programmes.
• Establishing scalable cloud-native architecture patterns and standards.
• Driving the adoption of modern AI-enabled architecture and engineering approaches.
• Balancing governance, risk, and architectural control with innovation.
• Partnering with product, security, engineering, and data leaders to deliver strategic objectives.
• Challenging legacy approaches and driving modern engineering best practices.
• Shaping the architecture required to support AI, automation, and agentic engineering capabilities.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

You will bring strong capability in:

• Application and solution architecture.
• Cloud-native architecture and platform strategy.
• Architecture governance and technology standards.
• Leading technology transformation within complex organisations.
• Driving change and modern engineering practices.
• Developing architecture strategies aligned to AI and automation roadmaps.

THE BENEFITS:

You will receive a salary of up to £140,000, depending on experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Please note: sponsorship is not available for this position.