Chief Data Architect

Chief Data Architect £160,000 - £180,000 London (Hybrid - 1 Day per Week in Office) The Company This is a high-growth, private equity-backed financial services business operating within the consumer credit and instalment payments market. As part of a wider investment programme across technology, data, and product, the organisation is modernising its technology landscape and embracing next-generation engineering practices. Significant work has already been completed to establish strong governance, architectural principles, and technology foundations. The business is now looking for a Chief Architect to lead the next phase of transformation. The Role As Chief Architect, you will define and drive the enterprise architecture strategy, helping the organisation evolve towards a modern, AI-enabled technology landscape. Working alongside the other members of C-Suite, you will form a key part of the senior technology leadership team, shaping the future direction of engineering, cloud, applications, and platform architecture. Key responsibilities include: - Defining and delivering the organisation's enterprise architecture strategy. - Driving the adoption of modern technologies, AI-enabled development, and emerging agentic engineering capabilities. - Developing target-state architectures and technology roadmaps across cloud, applications, data, and platforms. - Ensuring architecture enables business growth, product innovation, and operational efficiency. - Leading architecture governance, standards, and design authority processes. - Partnering closely with product, engineering, and data teams to deliver scalable technology solutions. - Acting as the senior architectural authority across major transformation initiatives. - Balancing strategic vision with hands-on technical leadership and architectural guidance. Skills & Experience - Proven experience in a senior architecture leadership role, such as Chief Architect, Head of Architecture, or Enterprise Architect. - Broad architecture expertise across cloud, applications, software engineering, platforms, and technology operations. - Strong Azure and cloud architecture experience. - Experience establishing and evolving architectural principles, governance frameworks, and target operating models. - Good understanding of AI, modern engineering practices, and emerging agentic technologies. - Ability to translate architectural strategy into practical delivery outcomes. - Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience partnering with executive, product, engineering, and data leaders. - Hands-on technical credibility and a willingness to remain close to architectural detail. - Experience within financial services, fintech, or other regulated environments would be advantageous.