Solutions Architect

Financial Ombudsman Service; London; Hybrid; GBP 78,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

The Financial Ombudsman Service seeks a Solutions Architect to lead innovative technology solutions. This role requires translating business needs into actionable technical designs while collaborating with diverse teams. Candidates should have experience in cloud platforms and excellent communication skills. Competitive salary with extensive benefits is offered, including opportunities for career development.

Benefits

25 days holiday entitlement

Generous pension

Private medical insurance

Extensive opportunities for personal development

Gym membership discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in solution design across various technologies.
• Strong cloud platform understanding, able to navigate ambiguity.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Translate business needs into actionable technical solutions.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams through ideation and development.
• Present solutions to governance forums clearly and confidently.

Skills

Application development

Integration

Cloud platforms

Communication

Facilitation skills

Tools

Microsoft D365

Power Platform

Azure Logic Apps

Azure Functions

Azure DevOps

Microsoft 365

Job description

Looking for a new challenge?

Take a look at our current vacancies. If you see a vacancy that is right for you, we encourage you to apply!

Solutions Architect

Would you like to be a part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that values innovation, inclusion, and impact? If you’re passionate about using technology to make a difference—and enjoy working in a dynamic, evolving environment—we’d love to hear from you

Contract: Permanent

Working hours: 35 hours per week is full time. Where possible, we are open to considering part time/flexible working patterns. Please let us know in your application your desired working pattern

Salary: London range – from £78,925 - £87,000 (dependent on experience),Manchester range: From £71,750 - £79,000 (dependent on experience)

Reporting to : Chief Architect

Location: London docklands (hybrid) or Manchester City. Our permanent hybrid policy sees us all working at least four days across a fortnight in the office.

About the Role

At the Financial Ombudsman Service, we’re working to enhance our service by setting the standard for modern, efficient, accessible alternative dispute resolution. With the customer at the heart of everything we do, we have already delivered significant improvements in the service we offer and 2025 will see us continue with our ambitious transformation agenda.

Last year we welcomed our new CTO and this year will see him launch the new IT strategy for the department. With the move to cloud computing in 2023 and the ever-changing technology landscape, it is a very exciting time to be joining the Technology team here at the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We’re looking for a Solution Architect who thrives on solving complex business challenges through smart, scalable technology solutions. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our digital landscape by blending technical insight with creativity and business acumen.

You’ll work at the heart of our Change Gateway process, guiding initiatives from early-stage problem framing through to solution design and delivery. Collaborating with a Virtual Team of technical and business experts, you’ll lead the creation of solution visions that are innovative, practical, and aligned with our strategic principles.

What you’ll do

• Translate business needs into clear, actionable technical solutions.

• Lead multi-disciplinary teams through ideation and solution development.

• Develop solution visions and high-level designs that balance innovation, feasibility, and value.

• Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure smooth implementation and alignment with design intent.

• Engage with stakeholders across business and technology to ensure shared understanding and buy-in.

• Present solutions to governance forums with clarity and confidence.

What we’re looking for as a minimum criteria

• Experience designing solutions across a range of technologies and business domains.

• Strong understanding of application development, integration, and cloud platforms.

• Ability to work with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Skilled in producing solution documentation, including solution visions and high-level designs.

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving clarity

Technical Awareness

You don’t need to be an expert in every technology we use—but you should bring deep expertise in at least one of the following areas, along with a broad understanding of how the others contribute to end-to-end solutions. Our current ecosystem includes:

• Case Handling & Automation: Microsoft D365, Power Platform, Azure Logic Apps, Azure Functions, Azure DevOps

• Integration: NServiceBus, Azure Service Bus

• HR & Finance: Workday, Anaplan

• Productivity & Collaboration: Microsoft 365

• AI & Intelligent Automation: Azure AI, Microsoft Copilots

Why join us?

We are a values led organisation. Our values define our culture, influence our decisions, and underpin our vision and strategy. They set out how we play our PART through Purpose, Ambition, Respect and Trust. You can learn more about our values here: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/aims-values

We also offer an attractive, competitive salary and flexible benefits to suit our people. Here’s a list of some of the many benefits and perks you can get for working with us:

• 25 days holiday entitlement, with the option to buy extra or sell days

• Generous pension

• Various Family Friendly Policies, including enhanced maternity pay, carers and dependants leave

• Employer provided benefits such as Private medical insurance, virtual GP, Critical illness cover, Life assurance cover, to name a few

• Choice of voluntary benefits including Technology scheme, Cycle to work scheme, Will-writing service amongst others

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Extensive opportunities for personal and career development

• Nationwide gym membership discounts, and a fully equipped on-site gym open 24/7 in London

• Extensive Well-being resources including on-site therapists (London office only)

• Beautiful and bright London office looking over the Thames and near to mainline stations

• Our Manchester office is 7 minutes’ walk from the Oxford Road station

• Our employee led networks (a couple of examples being our Women's Network, Carers network, and Neurodiverse Network) do fantastic work in educating andraising awareness across a range of experiences and support us in being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. You can get involved, too!

How do I apply?

• Please upload your CV, which should highlight relevant skills and experience.

This advert will close at Midnight on Sunday, 22nd June 2025

Due to high application numbers this advert may end earlier than the date specified, so please don't delay and apply now

A full job profile is available on request and will be provided to candidates shortlisted to the first stage of the recruitment process.

Authenticity of applications

We value authentic, personal applications. If we determine that your CV or supporting statement was generated using AI tools, your application may be withdrawn from consideration

We’re proud to be an inclusive employer

We view diversity as fundamental to our success and welcome applications from underrepresented groups across all communities.

We’re committed to being a great place to work– attracting and developing people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. We want everyone to perform at their best and feel able to be themselves. We understand that if we’re diverse and inclusive, we’ll better understand different perspectives, which is fundamental to our job resolving financial complaints.

We welcome applications from Black and other ethnic minority candidates, and female candidates, for all positions and particularly so for senior leader positions as they are under-represented within the Financial Ombudsman Service at this level.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. This means that we will put disabled candidates entering under the scheme through to the next stage of the recruitment process should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV/supporting statement. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about any reasonable adjustments you need, please email [e-mail]

and let us know your preferred method of contact.

Find out more

Check out below channels to find out more about everyday life at the Financial Ombudsman Service – and don’t forget to follow us while you’re there!

• LinkedIn: Financial Ombudsman Service

• Our careers page: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/who-we-are/join-us

Good luck with your application