Solution Architect in Reading

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions.

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long‑term investment and savings solutions. Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity, we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent. We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer workplace accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

The Solution Architect is responsible for leading the shaping and definition of technology solutions that support Finance functions in the Corporate Functions Technology team. The role operates at the intersection of business and technology, translating complex requirements into robust, scalable, and strategically aligned solution designs. This role requires deep expertise in Finance and Data platforms, with accountability for ensuring solutions are aligned to enterprise architecture, security standards, and long‑term technology strategy. The Senior Solution Architect plays a critical role in enabling integrated, end‑to‑end processes, improving data consistency, and reducing operational complexity through automation and platform‑led design.

Working closely with business stakeholders, architects, delivery teams, and technology partners, the Solution Architect ensures solutions deliver measurable business value, are resilient and scalable, and can be effectively implemented and supported within a controlled governance framework.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with Corporate Function stakeholders to understand strategic objectives and complex business requirements, translating them into clear, high‑quality solution designs.
• Own the production of end‑to‑end solution designs covering functional, non‑functional, integration, data, security, and resilience considerations, with a focus on scalability and sustainability.
• Ensure all solution designs are aligned with enterprise architecture principles, target state architecture, and technology strategy, while adhering to governance and assurance processes.
• Design solutions that enable integrated, end‑to‑end Finance and Corporate Function processes, driving data consistency and reducing manual intervention through automation and platform capabilities.
• Embed modern design approaches including API‑led, event‑driven, and automation‑first architectures where appropriate to enhance efficiency and agility.
• Collaborate closely with enterprise architects, engineers, analysts, and delivery teams across the full lifecycle, providing design leadership and ensuring design integrity through implementation.
• Lead the identification and management of design risks, assumptions, and dependencies, ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are defined and executed.
• Evaluate solution options and provide clear, evidence‑based recommendations, including trade‑offs across cost, risk, complexity, and strategic alignment.
• Provide design assurance and governance input, supporting architecture forums and ensuring solutions meet required quality and compliance standards.
• Contribute to the evolution of solution design practices, patterns, and standards, promoting reuse, consistency, and continuous improvement.

Key Knowledge, Skills, And Experience

• Proven experience designing complex technology solutions within large‑scale corporate or enterprise environments, with a strong focus on Finance and Data architectures.
• Deep understanding of end‑to‑end solution design across applications, integrations, and data, including the ability to design for scalability, resilience, and operational efficiency.
• Strong expertise in Finance platforms, including Oracle Fusion, AHCS, and EPM, and their integration into broader enterprise landscapes.
• Experience with Azure data technologies, including Data Factory (ADF), Databricks, and Synapse, with a strong appreciation of modern data architectures.
• Understanding of data modelling, data governance, and the importance of semantic consistency across finance and reporting domains.
• Experience designing solutions that support Finance processes and regulatory requirements, including awareness of security, resilience, data quality, and compliance considerations.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and senior non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working across business and technology functions to achieve aligned outcomes.
• Experience operating within structured delivery and governance frameworks, including providing input into architecture and design assurance processes.
• Understanding of modern architectural patterns, including integration strategies, API‑led design, and automation or AI‑enabled solutions, is advantageous.

What we offer:

At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• As a savings and investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions. We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services – to give you real confidence to put your money to work.
• Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy – to balance your work and personal commitments.
• Our market‑leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave – as supporting families is a core aspect of our inclusive culture.
• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options – for peace of mind.

Life at M&G

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee‑led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long‑term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long‑term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro‑divergent conditions. If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us.