At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead payments data architecture and ensure safe migrations in high-risk environments.
- Company: Dynamic financial services firm focused on innovative payment solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team and thrive in a challenging yet rewarding environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced world of payments migration.
- Qualifications: Senior-level experience in payments migration and strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We are seeking a hands‑on Solution Architect with deep payments scheme experience to lead data architecture across mainframe and target platforms. This role focuses on pragmatic delivery within live, high‑risk payments environments—not generic architecture design.
Key Responsibilities
- Own payments data architecture across legacy and target platforms
- Define data mappings, extraction approaches, and migration controls
- Design and support safe, controlled payments migrations with minimal live risk
Required Experience
- Senior‑level leadership in payments migration within PMI programmes
- Deep UK payments scheme expertise: BACS, Faster Payments (FPS)
- Strong international payments experience: SWIFT, SEPA
- Hands‑on architecture and design in core payments processing environments
- Direct experience with scheme integration, migration, and transformation initiatives
Risk, Controls & Regulation
- Proven experience in payments risk, controls, and regulatory assurance
- Familiarity with CASS and CISA‑aligned control or assurance frameworks
Data Engineering (Critical)
- Hands‑on payments data migration in banking environments
- Strong mainframe data expertise, including IBM DB2: Indexing, partitioning, clustering, archiving
- Query optimisation in high‑volume systems
- Safe data extraction without impacting live payment processing
- Data mapping, lineage, reconciliation, and validation
Technical Environment
- Mainframe‑integrated architectures
- Messaging and translation layers (e.g. MQ, MT/MX)
Delivery & Working Style
- Operates independently in ambiguous, constrained legacy environments
- Able to reconcile documented vs actual system behaviour
- Proactively identifies and escalates risks early
- Clear communicator with SMEs, engineering, delivery, and operations teams
Solution Architect – Payments Migration employer: Skillfinder International
Contact Detail:
Skillfinder International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect – Payments Migration
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payments industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Solution Architect role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get ready for those interviews! Brush up on your knowledge of BACS, FPS, and SWIFT, and be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with payments migration. We want to see how you can apply your expertise in real-world scenarios.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, highlight specific challenges you've faced in payments migrations and how you tackled them. This will demonstrate your ability to operate independently in high-risk environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect – Payments Migration
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Solution Architect – Payments Migration. Highlight your experience with payments migration, especially in high-risk environments, and don’t forget to mention any specific schemes like BACS or Faster Payments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your hands-on architecture experience and how you've successfully managed payments migrations in the past.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: We want to see your technical prowess! Be sure to include details about your experience with mainframe data, IBM DB2, and any relevant messaging layers. This will help us understand your capabilities in handling complex data architectures.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply 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 you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Skillfinder International
✨Know Your Payments Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UK payments schemes like BACS and Faster Payments. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with these systems, as well as any international payment methods like SWIFT and SEPA. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the concepts but have practical insights to share.
✨Demonstrate Your Data Expertise
Prepare to talk about your experience with data architecture, especially in mainframe environments. Highlight specific projects where you’ve defined data mappings or managed migrations. Being able to discuss technical details like IBM DB2 indexing and query optimisation will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Showcase Your Risk Management Skills
Since this role involves working in high-risk environments, be ready to discuss how you've handled risk and compliance in past projects. Familiarise yourself with CASS and CISA frameworks, and prepare examples of how you’ve implemented controls and assurance measures in your previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Effective communication is key, especially when working with SMEs and engineering teams. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, and be prepared to discuss how you’ve reconciled documented versus actual system behaviour in your past experiences. This will demonstrate your ability to operate independently in ambiguous situations.