Senior Data Engineer in Manchester

AMS Group is a leading UK Top 60 accountancy firm with a differentiated advisory-led proposition, headquartered in Manchester. We have been a trusted name in professional services for over 40 years. Our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has positioned us as a premier provider in the market.

The Opportunity

AMS is embarking on a major transformation programme and is building its data capability from the ground up. As our first dedicated Senior Data Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how data is collected, modelled, governed and used across the organisation. This is a rare greenfield opportunity: you’ll design and build the core data platform, establish engineering standards, and deliver high-impact reporting and analytics that support decision-making across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Engineering & Platform Build

• Design and build the AMS data platform, primarily within the Microsoft ecosystem (Azure, Fabric, Databricks, Power BI).
• Develop robust ingestion pipelines (ETL/ELT), integration patterns, and orchestration workflows.
• Create scalable data models (dimensional, semantic) to support cross division reporting and consolidated group insights.
• Implement best practice engineering standards for performance, reliability, security and maintainability.

• Build high quality dashboards and reporting products for Board and Executive teams, Divisional leadership, Finance and operational management.
• Define and standardise KPIs, metrics and reporting definitions across the organisation.
• Establish a business glossary, data dictionary and shared KPI catalogue.

• Implement data governance foundations including data ownership and stewardship, classification and handling standards, access controls and role based permissions, lineage and auditability.
• Define and embed data quality rules, monitoring and remediation processes.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, confidentiality requirements and audit obligations.

• Work closely with senior stakeholders to translate business needs into data requirements, models and reporting solutions.
• Partner with our MSP to deliver platform components while retaining architectural ownership.
• Prioritise data initiatives to ensure focus on high value outcomes.

• Help define the AMS data operating model, including what is delivered internally vs via MSP.
• Contribute to the future build out of a small, high performing data team (e.g., BI/Data Engineers).
• Champion a data driven culture across the organisation.

Skills & Experience

• Essential

• Significant experience in a senior data engineering or data platform role (Senior Data Engineer, Lead Data Engineer, Data Architect, BI Engineering Lead).
• Proven experience building a data platform and analytics capability in a greenfield or low maturity environment.
• Strong hands on technical skills: Advanced SQL, Data modelling (dimensional, semantic, performance optimisation), ETL/ELT pipeline design and troubleshooting, Python for transformation, automation and pipeline development.
• Deep familiarity with Microsoft data technologies: Azure Data Services, Microsoft Fabric, Azure Databricks, Power BI (including semantic models, governance, optimisation), Purview or similar governance tools.
• Strong understanding of data security, access models and auditability.
• Ability to operate at pace, create structure, and deliver in an environment where foundations are still being built.
• Comfortable working independently and owning the end to end data engineering function.

• Experience in professional services, multi entity groups or M&A heavy environments.
• Experience working with MSPs or blended delivery models.
• Familiarity with regulated or compliance heavy environments.
• Exposure to analytics/AI enablement (even if not building advanced models directly).

Benefits

• 23 days Holiday
• Additional day off for birthday
• Bonus scheme
• Pension scheme
• Health cash plan
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced parental pay policies
• Perkbox
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Company pension scheme

AMS Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.