SAP S/4 Solution Architect

Initialize; Windsor; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 166,000; Part time

Job summary

Initialize in Windsor, Berkshire, seeks an experienced SAP S/4 Solution Architect for a 6-month engagement, working 2 days per week on end-to-end architecture leadership across Group Finance and CT SAP Transformation portfolios.

You will shape solutions across core Finance processes, lead architecture assessments, review business cases, and define target architectures and roadmaps while ensuring Clean Core principles and strong integration across SAP and non-SAP systems.

Qualifications

• Significant Solution Architecture experience within SAP and Finance transformation.
• Strong knowledge of SAP S/4HANA Finance and its integration with wider SAP and non-SAP platforms.
• Strong end-to-end Finance process knowledge, particularly R2R, P2P, Payments, Treasury and FP&A.
• Experience designing complex Payments and Treasury architectures, including payment hubs, bank connectivity, payment controls and ISO 20022.
• Experience of Finance automation, ideally including BlackLine, journal automation, reconciliations, transaction matching and financial close.
• Experience of planning and performance-management solutions, ideally including SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud Planning and integration of SAP and non-SAP data.
• Knowledge of SAP BTP, Datasphere, Fiori and Clean Core principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end Solution Architecture across the SAP S/4HANA Finance landscape, covering process, applications, data, integration, security and technology.
• Shape solutions across core Finance processes including Record to Report, Purchase to Pay, Order to Cash, FP&A, Treasury, Payments, Consolidation and Reporting.
• Provide architecture leadership for strategic initiatives including SAP S/4HANA and RISE, SAP Payment Hub and bank connectivity, Treasury and FIS Quantum, R2R automation and BlackLine.
• Lead architecture impact assessments for new demand, identifying impacts across processes, systems, data, integrations, security, controls, resources, support and existing transformation programmes.
• Review and challenge business cases from an Enterprise Architecture perspective, assessing strategic fit, solution options, reuse of existing capabilities, costs, technical risk, dependencies, benefits and total cost of ownership.
• Define high-level solution designs, target architectures, integration patterns, architecture decisions and technology roadmaps.
• Ensure SAP solutions follow Clean Core principles, minimising unnecessary customisation and technical debt.
• Provide architecture assurance throughout the delivery life cycle, from demand and business case through design, delivery, testing and transition to support.
• Work closely with Enterprise Architecture, Finance Process Owners, SAP teams, Data & Analytics, Cyber Security, Risk & Controls and strategic technology partners.

Skills

SAP S/4HANA

Solution Architecture

Finance Transformation

Enterprise Architecture

Stakeholder Management

Tools

SAP BTP

Datasphere

BlackLine

Job description

SAP S/4 Solution Architect - Windsor, Berkshire (2 days a week) - 6 months

To provide end-to-end architecture leadership across Group Finance and CT SAP Transformation portfolios.

Key responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end Solution Architecture across the SAP S/4HANA Finance landscape, covering process, applications, data, integration, security and technology.


• Shape solutions across core Finance processes including Record to Report, Purchase to Pay, Order to Cash, FP&A, Treasury, Payments, Consolidation and Reporting.


• Provide architecture leadership for strategic initiatives including:


• SAP S/4HANA and RISE


• SAP Payment Hub and bank connectivity


• Treasury and FIS Quantum


• R2R automation and BlackLine


• FP&A, SAP BPC replacement and SAP Analytics Cloud Planning


• SAP BDC, Datasphere and Finance data integration


• SAP BTP, Fiori and Clean Core


• Lead architecture impact assessments for new demand, identifying impacts across processes, systems, data, integrations, security, controls, resources, support and existing transformation programmes.


• Review and challenge business cases from an Enterprise Architecture perspective, assessing strategic fit, solution options, reuse of existing capabilities, costs, technical risk, dependencies, benefits and total cost of ownership.


• Identify opportunities to reuse strategic platforms, remove duplication and retire Legacy or tactical solutions.


• Define high-level solution designs, target architectures, integration patterns, architecture decisions and technology roadmaps.


• Ensure SAP solutions follow Clean Core principles, minimising unnecessary customisation and technical debt.


• Provide architecture assurance throughout the delivery life cycle, from demand and business case through design, delivery, testing and transition to support.


• Work closely with Enterprise Architecture, Finance Process Owners, SAP teams, Data & Analytics, Cyber Security, Risk & Controls and strategic technology partners.

Experience & knowledge

• Significant Solution Architecture experience within SAP and Finance transformation.


• Strong knowledge of SAP S/4HANA Finance and its integration with wider SAP and non-SAP platforms.


• Strong end-to-end Finance process knowledge, particularly R2R, P2P, Payments, Treasury and FP&A.


• Experience designing complex Payments and Treasury architectures, including payment hubs, bank connectivity, payment controls and ISO 20022.


• Experience of Finance automation, ideally including BlackLine, journal automation, reconciliations, transaction matching and financial close.


• Experience of planning and performance-management solutions, ideally including SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud Planning and integration of SAP and non-SAP data.


• Knowledge of SAP BTP, BDC/Datasphere, Fiori, integration technologies and Clean Core principles.


• Strong understanding of architecture across applications, data, integrations, security, controls and non-functional requirements.


• Experience conducting architecture impact assessments and reviewing investment/business cases.


• Ability to identify dependencies and design implications across multiple concurrent programmes and projects.

You will combine deep SAP and Finance knowledge with strong enterprise architecture thinking. You will be comfortable moving between detailed solution design and strategic portfolio decisions, constructively challenging proposed solutions and translating complex technical considerations into clear options for senior stakeholders.

You will be pragmatic, commercially aware and delivery-focused, with the ability to balance business value, Finance process outcomes, architecture strategy, cost, risk and speed of delivery.

Key focus areas

• S/4HANA & Core Finance


• Payments & Treasury


• SAP Payment Hub


• R2R & BlackLine Automation


• FP&A & Planning


• SAP BDC/Datasphere


• Integration & Data


• Clean Core


• Demand Impact Assessment


• Business Case & Architecture Assurance