Payment/Solution Architect (with business analysis expertise)

Ascendion; Bromley; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendion is seeking a Payments Architect to lead the design and delivery of complex payment systems. You will steer architecture across SEPA SCT/Instant, cross-border payments, and ISO 20022 migration, working with regulators, schemes, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliant, scalable solutions.

You will also oversee business analysis activities, requirements gathering, and solution documentation, driving real-time processing enhancements and API integrations within a financial services

Qualifications

• Experience in payment architecture, solution design, and business analysis within banking/fintech.
• Expertise with SEPA SCT/Instant, SWIFT MT/MX, ISO 20022 migration and cross-border settlements.
• Familiar with payment schemes, regulators, and integration with internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design payment solutions aligned with global standards (SEPA SCT/Instant, cross-border).
• Lead ISO 20022 migration projects with SWIFT MX/GPI alignment.
• Collaborate with regulators and payment schemes to enable/direct participation in networks.

Skills

Payment architecture

Business analysis

SEPA SCT

SEPA Instant

ISO 20022 migration

SWIFT MT/MX

Cross-border payments

Regulatory liaison

Real-time payments

GPI/Regulatory

Job description

• We are seeking a Payments Architect with strong expertise in payment system architecture, clearing mechanisms, and business analysis.
• The ideal candidate should have experience in SEPA (SCT & Instant), HVPS, BACS, FPS & ISO 20022 migration, SWIFT messaging (MT/MX), and cross-border payments.
• This role requires both technical leadership and business analysis proficiency, ensuring seamless design and implementation of payment solutions while engaging with regulators, payment schemes, and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect and design payment solutions aligned with global standards, including SEPA SCT/Instant & cross-border payments.
• Lead ISO 20022 migration projects, ensuring alignment with SWIFT MX and GPI standards.
• Collaborate with regulators and payment schemes to facilitate direct or indirect participation in payment networks.
• Conduct gap analysis and requirement validation to ensure completeness and accuracy in payment system implementations.
• Drive payment system modernization initiatives, including real-time payment processing, accelerated settlements, and API-based payment integrations.
• Lead business analysis activities, including functional requirement gathering, solution documentation, and process reengineering.

Experience in Corporate Banking with the following products would be ideal:

• Experience in Payment Architecture, Solution Design, and Business Analysis within the banking or fintech sector.
• Expertise in SEPA SCT & Instant, SWIFT (MT/MX), ISO 20024, and real-time payments.
• Strong knowledge of payment settlement mechanisms and FX integration.
• Experience working with payment system regulators and payment scheme participation (direct/indirect).
• Proficiency in requirement gathering, process mapping, and gap analysis to identify and mitigate missed requirements.
• Hands-on experience with payment orchestration, billing integration, and high-value/low-value payment processing.
• Experience in Agile methodologies, working with cross-functional teams in a financial institution or fintech environment.
• Ability to engage with stakeholders across business, operations, IT, and regulatory bodies to ensure smooth implementation of payment solutions.