Principle Business Architect Finance in London

We are seeking an exceptional, self-motivated and strategically focused technical leader to join our Business Finance team. This senior Grade 9 role holds organisation wide influence and acts as the design authority for the MyNRW ERP platform, which is powered by Agresso Business World, and for the related finance and reporting systems that support Natural Resources Wales.

You will lead the strategic architecture, design and governance of our finance reporting, budget setting, forecasting and performance solutions. As the custodian of the Finance Reporting Strategy, you will ensure alignment with NRW digital and security ambitions and will define the target architecture, design principles and roadmap that enable high quality, insight driven reporting across the organisation.

Operating across all stages of the ITIL lifecycle and within an AGILE environment, you will ensure that MyNRW and its integrated tools, including Power BI, deliver secure, reliable and fully tested services that are fit for purpose. You will provide expert end to end solution design that spans data sourcing, integration, data lineage, semantic layers, visualisation and auditability. Your work will enhance automation, self service and organisational performance.

This is a high impact and technically demanding role that requires deep ERP knowledge, advanced SQL skills and extensive experience designing and delivering complex reporting and integration solutions. It also requires the ability to influence senior leaders, work collaboratively with finance and digital partners and translate strategic financial needs into practical, innovative and scalable reporting capabilities.

If you are motivated by shaping enterprise platforms, improving organisational insight and leading the design of systems that underpin major financial and operational decisions across Wales, this is a rare and exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Andrea Morgan.

Interviews will take place on week commencing Monday, 16th March 2026 on Microsoft Teams. Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Natural Resources Wales welcomes applications from non-UK citizens who are eligible to apply under this route, subject to confirmation by the Home Office.

Please note that while we may be able to support the Certificate of Sponsorship required for a visa application, the organisation does not cover the cost of the visa itself, including any associated fees for dependants. The applicant must still meet the UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirement.

About us: The Finance and Corporate Services Directorate provides the organisation with the insight, systems and strategic support needed to deliver its environmental mission across Wales. We work at the centre of Natural Resources Wales, enabling effective planning, financial stewardship, performance management and long-term organisational sustainability.

Within this directorate, the Business Finance team plays a key role in shaping how financial information, controls and reporting support decision making. We work closely with operational and strategic leaders across NRW to ensure financial systems and processes are robust, insightful and aligned to organisational priorities. Our team leads the development of financial reporting capability, supports innovation in the use of data and ensures that the MyNRW ERP platform continues to evolve in line with business needs.

Joining us means becoming part of a collaborative and supportive professional community that values expertise, innovation and continuous improvement. You will work alongside finance, digital and operational colleagues who are committed to delivering services that help NRW manage Wales's natural resources effectively and responsibly.

What you will do:

• Finance Reporting Strategy and Design Architecture: Lead the development of the Finance Reporting Strategy and ensure alignment with NRW digital and security strategies. Act as the definitive design authority for MyNRW architecture, approving all new and materially changed designs. Lead strategic development of MyNRW and any systems that integrate with it, shaping relevant strategies, policies and standards. Define and maintain target architecture and design principles for finance reporting, management information, budget setting, forecasting and performance monitoring. Own the strategic roadmap for finance reporting products, ensuring alignment with the Corporate Plan and enterprise operating rhythm. Ensure reporting solutions meet strategic, management, regulatory and operational needs. Contribute to strategic discussions involving technology and support the development of portfolio services consistent with the target operating model.
• Product and Solution Architecture: Lead the design architecture and strategic technical components of NRW's finance system. Define the solution concept for finance reporting products and oversee technical delivery, ensuring that MyNRW and related tools such as Power BI support the finance strategy. Enhance reporting capability by maximising the functionality of MyNRW, Business World, Power BI and other relevant tools. Provide expert complex SQL scripting and acquire additional skills to develop bespoke solutions, including through the use of APIs, to support MyNRW releases. Lead end to end solution design across data sourcing, data lineage, semantic and reporting layers, visualisation, controls, reconciliation and auditability. Promote standardisation while enabling innovation through appropriate design patterns.
• Governance: Ensure reporting products comply with data, security, finance control and regulatory standards. Act as the organisation's lead authority on finance reporting architecture and represent Finance on governance forums.
• Business Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement: Work with the Business Finance Management Team to translate financial strategy into reporting capabilities and prioritised outcomes. Lead the technical and architectural work of the Business Finance Innovation Team and contribute to the development of NRW's Finance Innovation and Reporting Strategy. Engage with stakeholders throughout the system life cycle to ensure quality of design and delivery. Provide enterprise and solution architecture guidance across business initiatives spanning applications, integration, data and technology. Maintain supporting documentation in line with an Architecture Content Framework, including current and future state views across infrastructure, data, services and applications. Design and deliver training for business and finance users involved in innovation.
• Innovation, Insight and Continuous Improvement: Maintain technical competence in emerging technologies and evaluate their suitability to support the Finance Reporting Strategy. Apply emerging technologies and methods within the governance framework of the target operating model. Assess effectiveness, adoption and business value of reporting solutions and identify opportunities to improve automation, insight and self-service. Ensure efficient processes are in place for data access and analysis to support Business Finance Teams.

Other role requirements:

• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Required to take part in incident response activities.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills:

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method:

• Advanced specialist knowledge of Business World or similar ERP systems, including expertise in reporting tools and configuration.
• Degree or equivalent experience in an ICT discipline, with a strong background in development, application, integration or data technologies.
• Significant experience working in complex environments, engaging effectively with senior leaders, technical specialists and end users.
• Proven leadership experience managing technical and expert staff through direct and matrix delivery models.
• Strong understanding of AGILE development methods and the ITIL service management framework.
• Extensive experience in solution architecture, including end to end design, delivery assurance and system integration.
• Strong SQL skills and experience building management information reports within ERP environments.
• Experience of ETL processes and integrating feeder systems into ERP platforms.
• Experience developing management and performance reporting using ERP tools and platforms such as Power BI.
• Strong analytical, visualisation and communication skills with the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Broad technical knowledge across complex system landscapes and commitment to maintaining competence in emerging technologies.
• Strong understanding of finance reporting, financial controls and regulatory reporting requirements.
• An accountancy qualification such as ACCA, CIMA or ACA is desirable.

Welsh Language level requirements:

Essential: Level A1 - Entry level Welsh language levels. Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Benefits:

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme).
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days.
• Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Health and wellbeing benefits and support.
• Weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose.

We are passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

Unless otherwise stated in the 'Role' section of this advert, Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on a variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.