Your Role

Take on the challenge of participating in the architecture, design, and delivery of the finance systems landscape within our Back Office domain. Your responsibilities will include: 

• Assess the overall architecture and design process and what improvements or changes may be necessary to improve design visibility, prioritisation of feature / application development, and links into IT delivery progress and reporting
• Provide stakeholders with ongoing visibility and control over the architecture and design process as part of overall IT systems delivery for the transformation programme.
• Assess the completeness and correctness of the overall finance application architecture for application functionality, data, integration, IT infrastructure (hosting, networks, access / connectivity, EUC). Make recommendations for any required changes or improvements.
• Monitor design, build, test and deploy completion at a functional level, i.e., assess the completion activity for ERP and non-ERP applications, ensuring that a single picture is available of progress vs. design / approved backlog and regular technical and business progress is demonstrated.
• Support the operations of the programme Design Authority, for example by providing advice on the architectural impacts of architecture submissions and Change Requests and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Work across my clients IT, Vendors and SIs to review their plans critically and drive clarity on where key timeline risks lie. Identify mitigations for the risks where possible.
• Drive pragmatism into the plans by identifying what could be done quicker, in parallel, not needed, etc. in order to maintain the required go-live date.
• Hold the Vendors and SIs to account to complete the agreed backlog and also challenge any change process (e.g., to push out requirements my client does not really need).
• Producing technology transition roadmaps and patterns, bringing into play several factors such as Industry and Domain best practice, available technologies and business need

• Supporting the programme teams to deliver the programme outcomes in the timelines required
• Contribute as a senior member of my client's wide architecture community

About You

• 10+ years of experience operating as an SAP Solution Architect or SAP Finance lead in in large enterprise environments
• Demonstrable experience in providing finance application architecture / review / assurance of major, global ERP / non-ERP application delivery and rollout programmes in Retail and covering architecture, design, delivery and testing / rollout phases. Multi-release/ multi-vendor programme experience is essential.
• Architecture, design, integration and delivery experience of the core client application set, i.e., S/4HANA ERP, Ariba, SAP CAR, SAP BW, Concur, etc and good practice methods for application and data integration between them.
• Experience of architecture-driven analysis, including use of business and technical reference models, enterprise, and solution architecture.
• Greenfield / Start Up business exposure beneficial but not essential.
• Capable of working within complex architectural landscapes, defining transition and target architectures
• Has exceptional communication skills, able to build credibility and strong relationships throughout the programme, influencing and challenging both technical and non-technical stakeholders