Solutions Architect Specialist at Absa Bank Limited

Job Summary

• To develop technical solutions and architectures to problems and opportunities presented by Business, considering functional and non-functional aspects of such solutions and utilizing available technology assets.
• The role will act as the Solutions architect for major system projects and will provide technical direction and proposals to meet business requirements or cover existing functionality and designs gap.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Accountability: Solution Analysis 60%.

• Translate documented business requirements into functional and non-functional technical architecture for development/implementation.
• Support project management and provide technical oversight on projects to ensure that requirements are in alignment with business strategies and business architecture roadmap/framework
• Translate strategic initiatives into delivery-focused change initiatives, while translating business processes and issues into effective conceptual and logical models.
• Reviewing development to ensure what is delivered is in line with technical requirements and business intent
• Set baseline through introduction of standards and working practices such as coding standards, design principles and tools.
• Experimenting by building prototypes, frameworks, and foundations to be consumed by the technical team.
• Propose and keep a repository of solutions and architectural improvements.
• Participating in technology selection and identifying fit for purpose technology solutions.

Accountability: Stakeholder Liaison 10%

• Work with business analysts and business stakeholders to review requirements
• Provide liaison with group colleagues to support the various country initiatives
• Conduct evangelism for emerging new technology or initiatives to various stakeholders
• Seek approval for design / architecture elements from the relevant stakeholders

Accountability: Risk Management 10%

• Build relationships with the country Technology Risk and Compliance team and provide support wherever required.
• Contribute and deliver to the improvement of the risk profile by delivering improved governance, risk management, controls and compliance requirements.
• Devise and implement an effective plan to deliver a satisfactory risk and audit profile for Operations & IT and achieve audit and assurance targets.
• Proactively identify solution design & delivery risk & associated mitigating strategies throughout the development / initiative lifecycle
• Apply the organization risk & governance frameworks
• Ensure solution designs align to the organizations regulatory, compliance & governance frameworks
• Proactively involve / engage chapter & guild leads in solution decision making, applying an enterprise-wide lens to product & service development
• Deliver on time & on budget (always).

Accountability: People 20%

• Participate in peer & dev team reviews (code, solution, testing etc.) and transfer knowledge and capability across delivery teams for improved solutioning & evolving architectural practices
• Work as a high-performance contributor as part of agile delivery teams across the organization & continuously improve skills & knowledge in agile / other practices for successful delivery.
• Build & evolve the architectural capability of Delivery teams across the business through active coaching & information / knowledge sharing
• Carry out performance reviews to direct reports as per organization's policies and standards

Education and experience required

• Undergraduate or higher in Computer Science or any other Technology related field.
• At least 5 years' experience in solutions architecture.
• At least 4 years’ Experience in software engineering.
• At least 2 years’ experience in cloud design and implementation
• Experience in digital financial services from either Telco or Financial Institution companies.
• Experience in solutions development lifecycle management using waterfall, agile & hybrid methodologies.

Subject Matter Expert Qualifications

• ITIL Certification.
• At least one cloud certification.
• Network certification – Specialist in Enterprise Design and implementations.
• Firewalls, switching and routing certifications
• TOGAF or equivalent certification

Knowledge and skills: (Maximum of 6)

• Application design and engineering (Solid)
• Cloud expertise (Solid)
• ITIL - Governance Framework (Solid)
• Strategic Thinking (Solid)
• Negotiation Skills (Solid)
• Communication Skills (Written and Verbal) (Solid)
• Conceptual thinking, ability to analyse, make decision and initiate action (Solid)

Competencies: (Maximum of 6 competencies)

• Agile ways of working (Meets all the requirements)
• Business Analysis (Meets all the requirements)
• Solution Design and Architecture (Meets all the requirements)
• Commercial mindset - (Meets all the requirements)
• Creative and innovative thinking (Meets all the requirements)
• Openness to change (Meets some of the requirements and would need further development)

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology