At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape tech solutions for Penguin Random House and lead SAP projects.
- Company: Join a creative team at Penguin Random House, a leader in publishing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £90,000, bonus scheme, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Flexible working with opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with innovative technology in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Strong SAP experience and solution architecture skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
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
Essential criteria:
- 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.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of providing solution architecture expertise across a large-scale, multi-year transformation programme.
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV by 23:59 on Monday 16th November 2026.
Salary
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.
Hybrid working
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.
SAP Solution Architect employer: Bertelsmann
At DK, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development within the finance sector. Join us in the UK, where you will be part of a supportive team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the publishing industry.
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We think this is how you could land SAP Solution Architect
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We think you need these skills to ace SAP Solution Architect
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Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Bertelsmann.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
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How to prepare for a job interview at Bertelsmann
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
