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The Financial Ombudsman Service is seeking a Chief Architect to drive innovation in our digital landscape. With a key focus on technology solutions, you will lead teams to deliver actionable designs while collaborating with stakeholders. Join us in enhancing alternative dispute resolution with modern, effective solutions.
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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
London range – from £78,925 - £87,000 (dependent on experience),Manchester range: From £71,750 - £79,000 (dependent on experience)
Chief Architect
Location: London docklands (hybrid) or Manchester City.
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:
HR & Finance: Workday, Anaplan
Productivity & Collaboration: Microsoft 365
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
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!
Please upload your CV, which should highlight relevant skills and experience.
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.
Find out more
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