SAP Solution Architect in London

We’re looking for an experienced SAP Solution Architect to join our ERP Architecture Team and play a key role in shaping the technology solutions that support Penguin Random House UK. This role is offered on a permanent basis with hybrid working from our office in London.

Reporting to the Enterprise Architect and sitting at the intersection of business needs and technology, you’ll take complex problems and help to turn them into clear and sustainable solutions. With SAP at the heart of your remit, you’ll work across our highly integrated application landscape, bringing together the right people and expertise to make sure that solutions work not just on paper, but for the business in practice.

This is a senior, highly collaborative role where you’ll bring technical expertise, commercial thinking and pragmatic problem-solving to a variety of projects. You’ll have the opportunity to influence important technology decisions, challenge thinking and help to shape solutions that are built to last.

About the team

The Technology team provides expertise and effective solutions to Penguin Random House. We integrate flexibility and agility which supports our consistent way of working. We set ourselves up for success by holding ourselves accountable and welcoming change. Each member of the Technology team brings skill and initiative to their role; we take personal ownership within a one team culture, working collaboratively to meet expectations from our stakeholders who trust us to deliver.

The role

Key responsibilities:

• Playing a key role in our S/4HANA migration programme, providing solution architecture expertise and helping to guide the transition from our existing SAP landscape.
• Partnering with SAP Functional and Technical teams to develop strategies and standards for the SAP and Finance Centre of Excellence.
• Owning the design of SAP's system APIs: simple, record-based RESTful/OData services (create, read, update, delete) for core objects such as Customer, Sales Order and Invoice, exposed through SAP BTP ensuring they are resilient and ‘future proof’ to support a migration to S/4HANA.
• Partnering with Integration Services to deliver an API-first approach.
• Assessing project requirements, objectives, priorities and the existing technology environment to define and document high-level solution designs.
• Taking ownership of the architecture, design, integrity and technical quality of solutions, ensuring that they meet agreed requirements and standards.
• Identifying technical risks and solution gaps, recommending appropriate actions and mitigation strategies throughout design and delivery.
• Developing high-level architecture models across areas such as components, data flows, deployment and integration, including transitional architecture where required.
• Working with Project Managers, Functional Analysts and Business Analysts to support project planning, including resource requirements, costs and delivery estimates.
• Evaluating non-functional requirements and defining appropriate technical acceptance criteria.
• Reviewing designs, prototypes and other technical deliverables to make sure that they meet requirements and agreed IT standards.
• Building strong relationships across SAP, Finance, Technology and project teams, providing continuity and trusted technical leadership throughout the programme.
• Keeping up to date with emerging SAP technologies, tools and industry developments, identifying where these could provide value to Penguin Random House UK.

What you’ll bring

• Strong SAP experience, with a good understanding of core Finance and back-office business processes, including Accounts Payable, Customer Services and Credit Services.
• Strong experience of solution architecture and design, with knowledge of application architecture and design methodologies across multiple platforms.
• Proven experience designing and delivering RESTful/OData APIs over SAP ECC or S/4HANA, including CRUD services for core business objects, using SAP BTP (Integration Suite, API Management) or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of API-led integration, clean core principles and decoupling consumers from SAP through stable, versioned interfaces.
• Experience supporting or leading an SAP S/4HANA migration or transformation programme, ideally within a complex and highly integrated environment.
• Experience with translating complex business requirements into clear, practical technical solutions that support wider business objectives.
• Experience in working collaboratively with SAP Functional and Technical teams, as well as wider Technology, Finance and business stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience of translating complex technical ideas for different audiences, including senior leaders and executives.
• Strong influencing, facilitation and negotiation skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, communicate trade-offs and help stakeholders to reach informed decisions.
• Experience of working within a large, matrix organisation, building strong relationships across teams and maintaining a collaborative, One Team approach.
• A proactive and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, with the ability to take ownership and adapt as requirements, technology and priorities evolve.

Please note: To be considered for this role, you must have full eligibility to work in the UK and live within a commutable distance to our Embassy Gardens, London office.

The salary for this opportunity is up to £90,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus a generous bonus scheme and benefits. While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work from the Embassy Gardens office in London 2 days per week, with a willingness to travel to our site in Frating, Colchester on occasion.