ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT

Wesleyan; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A mutual financial services provider in Birmingham is seeking an Enterprise Architect to lead the company's technology strategy and technical delivery across projects. The ideal candidate should have proven experience in defining architecture roadmaps and technical frameworks, with strong leadership and stakeholder management abilities. The role offers hybrid working and a salary of up to £100,000, along with attractive benefits including bonuses and annual leave.

Benefits

28 days annual leave plus additional culture days

Company pension scheme

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Annual performance-based bonus

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an architect with knowledge of governance models.
• Experience in both agile and waterfall environments.
• Strong communication skills to engage with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define architecture roadmaps and provide thought leadership.
• Ensure solutions are fit for purpose and communicate effectively.
• Oversee technical delivery of solutions via 3rd party suppliers.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Technical leadership

Architecture governance

Cloud infrastructure

Agile methodologies

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

MS Azure

TOGAF

Job description

Enterprise Architect

Salary : Up to £100,000 dependent on skills and experience

Permanent

Hybrid working (office based in Birmingham) – Currently 2 days in the office per week

Closing Date : 10th December 2025

As a proud mutual since 1841, Wesleyan is committed to creating brighter financial futures for our customers and members. We specialise in providing financial services to some of the nation’s most trusted professions : GPs, hospital doctors, dentists, and teachers.

To find out more about what we do, visit our website : https : / / www.wesleyan.co.uk / about

We are proud supporters of the ABI Making Flexible Work campaign which means we are open to discuss flexible working, job shares and part time options.

Your role

The Enterprise Architect plays a key role in the delivery of the Technology strategy, communicating with senior stakeholders within the business to ensure technical roadmaps, change initiatives and technical solutions are delivered in line with our strategy & principles, whilst also ensuring all solutions are secure, supportable, scalable.

This role sits across all projects and programmes, developing high level designs / scopes that deliver to business outcomes and overseeing the technical delivery of these solutions via 3rd party suppliers, ensuring that they are fit for purpose.

It’s responsible for receiving requirements and delivering high quality, innovative, simple, business-focused technology and will use knowledge of best practice and emerging technologies to inspire others.

What we’re looking for

As we continue our ambitious transformation agenda we are looking for an individual who has previously operated in a similar capacity with the gravitas and technical know how to shape, guide and direct our delivery programs and also support the technology strategy and future roadmaps. the role will be required to...

• Lead the definition of Architecture roadmaps for one or more domains and be a pragmatic and respected member of the Architecture team.
• Provide thought leadership in the development of new products or platforms, influence the business agenda ensuring the Society maximises value from technology investments.
• Provide strong technical leadership to advocate the effective use of technology to solve complex and varied business problems to both internal Wesleyan stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Support the delivery of strategic goals by identifying innovative technical solutions to business problems.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for architectural frameworks, methods, design patterns, and tools.
• Working closely with 3rd party architects to ensure solutions developed are fit for purpose.
• Responsible for enhancing the Enterprise Architecture in the development, documentation and maintenance of the principles and rules that govern the technology architecture model and ensuring new solutions conform to those principles and rules.
• Operate across organisational and technology "silos" to drive common approaches and to expose information assets and processes across the enterprise.
• Ensure the knowledge and support of any architecture implemented is communicated and owned within the relevant Technology support areas (internal and external), which will include integrating new technology solutions with existing systems and processes.
• Work with stakeholders, both leadership and subject matter experts, to build a holistic view of the Society’s strategy, processes, information, and information technology asset, and close liaison with key 3rd parties providing technology or technology services to the Wesleyan.
• Responsible for the development, documentation and maintenance of an information technology architecture model that meets the needs of the Society based on its strategy and goals.
• Responsible for the creation and evolution of a technology roadmap that defines current.
• Provide design oversight for the implementation of new systems solutions.
• Work with stakeholders, both leadership and subject matter experts, to build a holistic view of the Society’s strategy, processes, information, and information technology assets
• Act as the first port of call for guidance and control of any 3rd party developments that fall within the architectural elements of which they are responsible.

Essential

• An experienced architect with working knowledge of architecture standards and governance models.
• A motivated self-starter, someone who can hit the ground running, help shape a vision for Architecture.
• Skilled at working in both agile and waterfall environments and be comfortable with Dev Ops model and the skills and disciplines required to make it a success.
• Evidence of delivering leading edge designs and inspiring a culture of technical excellence and innovative solution design
• Proven stakeholder management skills to executive level - an expert communicator and bridge the gap between the business and IT and manage stakeholders at all levels of the Society.
• Experience of working and building relationships with external / outsourced technology providers.
• Strong ability to make sensible decisions under pressure taking a balanced view of technical and commercial demands.
• Experience of managing and delivering complex technology solutions within time, cost and quality targets, ensuring solutions are robust, resilient, and appropriately implemented, tested and documented.
• Broad business & technology experience and a thorough awareness of evolving technology trends and their potential impact on current & future business applications.
• Pragmatic, value driven approach
• Strong background formulating customer proposals
• Track record of designing, architecting and delivery of complex enterprise solutions
• Extensive breadth of industry experience across multiple technology domains - experience of the following would be advantageous :
• Cloud infrastructure
• MS Azure Integration
• 3rd party technology outsourcing
• Supplier Management
• Ability to influence and motivate staff outside of direct teams.
• Role model both inside and outside the organisation

Desirable

• Expertise of TOGAF, Zachmann or similar architecture frameworks.
• Expertise with all aspects of a project from design through development, testing, implementation, and production.
• Expertise in more than one industry sector.

Expertise in the Financial Services sector

During the transformation this role will report to the Head of Technology Strategy & Architecture

Benefits

• Annual Performance based Bonus – based on a mixture of company and personal performance
• 28 days annual leave (plus 1 additional “culture day” & bank holidays) – increases to 30 days with 5 years’ service
• Company pension scheme - matched plus 2% (up to 10%)
• Free secure underground Birmingham city centre parking (available on weekends for personal use – subject to availability)
• Cashback and discounts on major brands in retail, leisure, health, and wellbeing
• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
• 2 volunteering days per year
• PMI

To find out more about some of the great benefits Wesleyan offer, visit our careers page : https : / / careers.wesleyan.co.uk / applicantPortal / rewards

What to know before applying

Equal Opportunities : Wesleyan are an equal opportunities employer. We know the best teams are made up of inclusive groups of diverse people where everyone’s contribution counts, and we believe everyone has the right to proudly be themselves. We’re building a culture where difference is actively encouraged and simply recruit the best people for the job irrespective of lifestyle, life history and life choices.

Reasonable Adjustments : We understand that there are a wide range of reasons that you may require reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process- please let us know in your application how we can best support you.

VISA Sponsorship : We are unable to provide VISA sponsorship, and therefore cannot employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK – within our recruitment process you will be asked to provide evidence of your Right to Work.

Advert Closing : We typically advertise for two weeks, though we reserve the right to close adverts early if we receive a high volume of applications; we would therefore recommend an early application if you’d like to be considered for our opportunities.

Regulatory Requirements : Please note this is role is subject to regulatory requirements. As a financial services organisation we are committed to adopting the highest standards and we do this by employing individuals with the appropriate skills, experience and integrity to protect the Wesleyan Group and our customers. Relevant checks and assessments will be carried out during the recruitment process. The nature of the checks will depend on whether the role is subject to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) or the Insurance Distribution Directive Please note a criminal record check and credit check will apply and this role is also subject to ongoing checks in line with the Group SMCR Framework (Fit & Proper Policy).