At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in AI-enabled architecture, shaping strategic technology roadmaps.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on transformation in Payments, FX, and Data.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, pension plan, private medical insurance, and generous leave.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and influence strategic decisions.
- Why this job: Drive impactful change and lead a high-performing architecture team in a modern environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in architecture with expertise in Payments and microservices systems.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
To support an agentic, AI-enabled Target Operating Model, including autonomy layers, orchestration patterns, and human-in-the-loop principles. Update the architecture function with modern workflows, flexible governance, and streamlined guardrails for continuous delivery. Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing architecture team, fostering modern engineering practices and capability maturity. Shape strategic technology roadmaps, partnering with senior stakeholders to identify transformational opportunities across Payments, FX, Data, AI, and Platform domains. Lead complex, multi-disciplinary change across legacy and modern systems, driving architectural simplification and scalable patterns. Work closely with engineering and change teams to deliver measurable business outcomes, translating architectural intent into practical execution frameworks and incremental value.
Responsibilities
- Develop enterprise architecture models, reference architectures, and standards aligned to our agentic TOM.
- Translate roadmaps into modular work packages enabling iterative, continuous value delivery.
- Champion event-driven, microservices-based, cloud-native architectures and their associated patterns.
- Foster adaptive design, engineering excellence, and feedback-driven evolution across teams.
- Govern architectural decisions pragmatically, balancing innovation, technical debt, and regulatory expectations.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives on strategic technology decisions and business-architecture alignment.
Qualifications
- Essential
- Proven experience leading architecture functions in high-change, transformation-heavy environments.
- Deep expertise in Payments, FX, or high-scale transaction-processing platforms.
- Hands-on experience architecting distributed, event-driven, microservices-oriented systems.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-influencing skills with senior leadership.
- Experience working across modern and legacy technologies, including pathways for modernisation.
- Comfortable in regulated environments with strong cross-functional engagement.
- Familiarity with architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, ArchiMate, or similar.
- Highly Desirable
- Experience with AI, agentic architectures, intelligent orchestration, or autonomous workflows.
- Experience in cross-border FX and payments.
- Background in systems engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering.
- Technical degree required.
Additional Information
- Hybrid working (4 days on-site)
- Contributory personal pension plan: Minimum: Employee 2% and Employer 7%. Employer matches contributions in 1% increments to a maximum of: Employee 5% and Employer 10%
- Life Assurance - 4 times annual salary
- Group Income Protection
- Private Medical Insurance - this may include cover for partner and/or children at company cost. Cover includes Optical, Dental and Audiology
- Discretionary Bonus
- Competitive Annual Leave
- 2 Volunteering Days
- Benefit Hub
Head of Architecture in City of Westminster employer: Crown Agents Bank
Crown Agents Bank is an excellent employer that values integrity and compliance, offering a dynamic work culture where collaboration and attention to detail are paramount. Employees benefit from ongoing professional development opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages growth within the financial sector. Located in a vibrant area, the bank provides a unique chance to engage with diverse banking partners while contributing to meaningful anti-financial crime initiatives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture in City of Westminster
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from Crown Agents Bank who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Architecture in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Crown Agents Bank!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Crown Agents Bank. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Crown Agents Bank
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Crown Agents Bank.
