Payment/Solution Architect (with business analysis expertise)

Ascendion; Chester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendion is seeking a Payments Architect to lead the design and implementation of scalable payment systems for corporate banking and fintech environments. The role focuses on SEPA SCT/Instant, cross-border payments, and ISO 20022 migration, with strong regulatory and stakeholder engagement.

You will drive real-time processing, API integrations, and payment orchestration while collaborating with IT, operations, and regulatory teams to ensure compliant, efficient payment solutions.

Qualifications

• Experience in building payment architectures for corporate banking or fintech environments.
• Expertise in SEPA SCT/Instant, SWIFT MT/MX, ISO 20022 migration, and cross-border payments.

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 for direct/indirect network participation.
• Conduct gap analyses and validate requirements for payment systems.

Skills

Payment architecture

Business analysis

ISO 20022

SEPA SCT/Instant

SWIFT MT/MX

Cross-border payments

Real-time payments

API integrations

Agile

Stakeholder engagement

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), CHAPS, BACS, FPS, TARGET2 & 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 20022, 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.