It Solutions Architect (Broader Africa Technology)

Firstrand Bank Limited; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Firstrand Bank Limited seeks an experienced Solution Architecture Leader to define and govern cross-border payments architecture across the organisation. The role focuses on scalable, secure and compliant payment capabilities, integrating SWIFT, ISO 20022, and related networks.

You will align solutions with enterprise standards, engage senior leadership, and drive tangible architecture roadmaps across payment hubs, platforms, and settlement processes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in architecture focused on payment solutions.
• SWIFT Network experience (MX/MT).
• Experience with ISO 20022 and cross-border settlement processes.
• Ability to align technology with regulatory obligations and enterprise standards.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the target architecture for cross-border payments across the organisation.
• Develop solution architectures supporting payment hubs, SWIFT, ISO 20022, clearing networks, correspondent banking and cross-border settlement processes.
• Ensure technology solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, payment strategy and regulatory obligations.
• Establish and enforce architectural principles, standards and governance processes for the payments domain.
• Produce conceptual, logical and physical architecture artefacts and maintain them continuously.
• Act as the architecture authority for all cross-border payment initiatives on platform.
• Maintain end-to-end visibility of payment journeys across channels, core banking systems, and payment networks.
• Drive architecture decisions related to SWIFT FIN, ISO 20022, treasury/FX, sanctions, AML and real-time capabilities.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to translate business objectives into technology strategies and roadmaps.

Skills

Cross-border payments

Solution architecture leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science / Information Systems / Engineering

Tools

SWIFT MX/MT

Enterprise Sparx

TOGAF

Cloud (AWS, Azure)

PASA

Job description

Description

The purpose of the role is as follows:
To define, govern and implement technology solutions across the organisation's cross-border payments ecosystem, ensuring alignment with business strategy, regulatory requirements, industry standards, and enterprise architecture principles. Providing strategic technology solution leadership to support the modernisation the cross-border payment capability to ensure scalable, secure and resilient payment solutions are put in place to support the broader Africa business.

You will be an ideal candidate of you can:

Solution Architecture Leadership

• Define and maintain the target architecture for cross-border payments across the organisation
• Develop solution architectures supporting payment hubs, SWIFT, ISO 20022, clearing networks, correspondent banking and cross-border settlement processes
• Ensure technology solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, payment strategy and regulatory obligations
• Establish and enforce architectural principles, standards and governance processes for the payments domain
• Produce conceptual, logical and physical architecture artefacts which are continiously maintained.

Cross-Border Payments Domain Ownership for Platform

• Act as the architecture authority for all cross-border payment initiatives on platform
• Maintain end-to-end visibility of payment journeys across customer channels, core banking systems, payment hubs, middleware and external payment networks that are part of the platforms ecosystem
• Drive architecture decisions relating to: SWIFT FIN and ISO 20022 messaging, Cross-border payment processing, Correspondent banking integrations, Treasury and liquidity management integration, Foreign exchange processing, Sanctions and compliance screening, AML transaction monitoring, Real-time and near real-time payment capabilities

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with senior leadership to translate the business objectives into technology strategies and architectural solutions
• Collaborate with integrating capability areas to ensure there is alignment on solutions and architectural roadmaps

Do you have the following:

• 10+ years in architecture focused on payment solutions
  Financial banking experience
• SWIFT Network exeperience (MX / MT)
• Agentic AI
• Enterprise Sparx
• Bachelors in Computer science, information systems , Engineering or related field
• BIAN , Cloud (AWS, Azure), TOGAF, SWIFT related qualifications, PASA

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All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.