Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the migration to a unified HR & Payroll system and design seamless integrations.
- Company: Join King’s College School, a top-ranking independent school with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, gym membership, free lunches, and generous pension contributions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming HR systems while working in a beautiful environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR/Payroll migrations and strong integration skills are essential.
- Other info: Fixed-term contract with excellent career growth opportunities in a supportive setting.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join UK’s top-ranking independent school as a Solution Architect with a competitive salary and a generous benefits package including gym membership, free lunch during term time, a BUPA cash plan, 10% employer pension contribution, optional on-site accommodation (subject to availability), free or discounted parking in Wimbledon (space permitting), and school fee remission.
King’s College School is undertaking a critical transformation of its people systems, migrating from a legacy, fragmented estate (Schoolbase/Chris21) to a unified, fully managed HR & Payroll solution. We are seeking a pragmatic and experienced Solution Architect to lead the technical delivery of this migration. This is not just a design role; it is a delivery role. You will bridge the gap between HR requirements and IT operations, ensuring that the new system acts as the “Golden Source” for staff data. You will lead the data migration strategy, design the integration with our IT estate (Active Directory/Entra ID), and retire legacy manual processes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Systems architecture and integration design
- Define the “To-Be” architecture for the new HR/ Payroll landscape, ensuring seamless integration with the existing School Management System (Schoolbase) and Finance systems.
- Design and document the Joiners, Movers, and Leavers (JML) process, automating the flow of data from HR to IT (Active Directory/Entra ID) to eliminate manual account provisioning.
- Create detailed High-Level Designs (HLDs) and Interface Specifications (API/SFTP) for vendor implementation.
- Design secure, well‑structured data flows across School Management System, HR & Payroll System, Active Directory, and other school systems.
- Define integration patterns (API‑based real-time & event‑driven) that support reliability and operational efficiency.
- Design and deliver robust, API‑driven integrations that connect new and existing systems without disrupting mission‑critical school operations, ensuring continuity of workflows, data integrity, and minimal user impact.
- Take responsibility for end‑to‑end design, development, testing, and deployment of integrations for the HR and Payroll system implementation, ensuring accurate data flows, secure interfaces, and alignment with statutory, operational, and audit requirements.
- Provide architectural oversight to ensure data‑migration activities follow agreed standards, align with target architecture.
- Identify structural risks and inconsistencies in the current multi‑system data environment and ensure the future architecture eliminates the root causes of issues.
Governance and security
- Ensure the new architecture adheres to Zero Trust principles, specifically regarding Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and sensitive data handling (GDPR).
- Act as the technical authority in vendor workshops, challenging their technical assumptions and ensuring their solution fits the School’s digital estate.
Transition and Decommissioning
- Plan the decommissioning of legacy data silos, ensuring historical data is archived or retained in compliance with statutory retention periods.
- Assist the Business Analyst and IT Team in translating complex technical constraints into clear decisions for the Senior Leadership Team.
- Produce comprehensive technical documentation covering integration designs, data mappings, system architectures, and configuration decisions, ensuring a smooth handover for ongoing maintenance, support, and future scalability.
Person Specification
Essential skills
- Proven experience leading HR/Payroll system migrations (e.g., iTrent, Ciphr, Workday) in a complex environment.
- Deep understanding of Identity Management: Experience automating user provisioning from HR systems into Active Directory/Azure Entra ID.
- Strong Data Migration skills: Advanced SQL and Excel skills, with the ability to map complex legacy schemas to modern APIs.
- Integration Expertise: Experience designing REST API and flat-file (CSV/XML) integrations between SaaS platforms and on-premise systems.
- Pragmatism: Ability to balance “perfect architecture” with the constraints of a 12‑month fixed deadline and vendor capabilities.
- Experience within the Education sector (understanding of Schoolbase, ISAMS, or similar MIS).
- Knowledge of Power Platform (Power Automate/ Logic Apps) for lightweight integration workflows.
- Understanding of wider data analytics (Power BI) for future HR reporting.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Required as soon as possible. Fixed‑term contract, one year. Full time (40 hours per week). Programme of health benefits. Free lunch in the Dining Hall during term‑time. Membership of the King’s Sports Club.
King’s is one of the most successful schools in the world, with outstanding academic results, first‑class pastoral care and a vibrant co‑curriculum. Overlooking Wimbledon Common, the school is situated in one of the most attractive parts of south east England and benefits from exceptional grounds and facilities.
Closing date: Monday 2nd March 2026 at 9.00am. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews are likely to be staged. Early applications are encouraged as we may choose to appoint at any time during the application process.
Solution Architect in London employer: King's College School Wimbledon
Contact Detail:
King's College School Wimbledon Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at King’s College School on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the school’s mission and values. Show us how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around HR and Payroll migrations. We love candidates who are genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your technical skills! Be ready to discuss your past projects involving data migration and system integration. We want to see how you’ve tackled challenges similar to what we face at King’s.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at King’s College School.
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Solution Architect role. Highlight your experience with HR/Payroll migrations and integration design, as these are key for us. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in a similar environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for transforming systems and how your pragmatic approach can help bridge the gap between HR and IT operations. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your technical expertise! Mention your experience with SQL, API integrations, and any relevant tools like Power Platform. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission of creating a seamless HR and Payroll solution.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at King’s College School!
How to prepare for a job interview at King's College School Wimbledon
✨Know Your Systems Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the HR and Payroll systems mentioned in the job description, like iTrent or Workday. Brush up on your knowledge of integration patterns and data migration strategies, as you'll need to demonstrate your expertise in these areas during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Pragmatism
This role requires balancing ideal architecture with real-world constraints. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you successfully navigated tight deadlines or vendor limitations. Highlight how you made practical decisions that still met project goals.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect to face technical questions that test your knowledge of API design, data flows, and security principles like Zero Trust. Practise explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Bring Examples of Your Work
Have specific examples ready that showcase your experience with data migration and system integration. Whether it's a detailed High-Level Design or a successful project where you automated user provisioning, being able to share tangible results will set you apart from other candidates.