At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural strategy and guide a talented team through a transformative journey.
- Company: Dynamic financial services firm specialising in international payments and FX.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, generous pension, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team driving significant change in a regulated industry.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology in a fast-growing, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in architecture with expertise in Payments and FX.
The predicted salary is between 150000 - 150000 £ per year.
- Head of Architecture | International Payments & FX Business | London (Hybrid)
- About Our Client
Our client is a regulated financial services firm specialising in international payments and FX, operating across complex and fast-growing markets.
The business is investing in a multi-year technology transformation to modernise how it operates as it expands into new regions.
The Opportunity
We're looking for a visionary Head of Architecture to lead the organisation's architectural strategy and play a pivotal role in a multi-year transformation toward a next-generation, AI-enabled operating model.
You'll own end-to-end enterprise architecture, modernise design principles, and guide a talented team of architects through this evolution.
The Team
You'll lead a small team of enterprise and domain architects and report directly to the CTO, working within a collaborative Technology Leadership Team.
Architecture sits at the centre of this transformation - re-platforming the organisation for an intelligent future rather than replicating legacy systems.
What You'll Do
- Define and own the current-state, transitional, and target-state architectures across business, data, applications, and technology domains.
- Design and implement the architecture needed to support a next-generation, AI-enabled operating model - including autonomy layers, orchestration patterns, and human-in-the-loop principles.
- Develop enterprise architecture models, reference architectures, and standards aligned to that operating model, and translate roadmaps into modular work packages for iterative, continuous delivery.
- Champion event-driven, microservices-based, cloud-native architectures and their associated patterns.
- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing architecture team, building modern engineering practices and capability maturity.
- Shape strategic technology roadmaps in partnership with senior stakeholders across Payments, FX, Data, AI, and Platform domains.
- Lead complex, multi-disciplinary change across legacy and modern systems, driving architectural simplification and scalable patterns.
- Govern architectural decisions pragmatically - balancing innovation, technical debt, and regulatory expectations.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives on strategic technology decisions.
What We're Looking For
- 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 operating in regulated environments with strong cross-functional engagement.
- Familiarity with TOGAF, Archi Mate, or similar architecture frameworks.
- Nice to Have
- Experience with AI, agentic architectures, intelligent orchestration, or autonomous workflows.
- Cross-border FX and payments background.
- Systems engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering experience.
- Salary & Benefits
- Basic salary £150,000+, plus discretionary bonus
- Hybrid working - 4 days on-site
- Employer pension contribution up to 10% (matched in increments)
- Life Assurance - 4x annual salary
- Group Income Protection
- Private Medical Insurance, including optical, dental and audiology cover (may extend to partner/children)
- Competitive annual leave, plus 2 volunteering days a year
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Architecture employer: Mentmore
Join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation and collaboration, where your role as a Commercial Finance Manager will directly impact the company's growth trajectory. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will benefit from a dynamic work culture that encourages curiosity and operational excellence, alongside opportunities for professional advancement in a multi-entity environment. Located in the UK, this role offers the unique advantage of being part of a diverse portfolio of businesses, all while contributing to a transformative finance function that prioritises strategic decision-making and financial governance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture
✨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 Mentmore 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
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 Mentmore!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Mentmore. 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 Mentmore
✨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 Mentmore.
