At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architecture for Commercial Banking, driving technology strategy and modernization initiatives.
- Company: Join Wells Fargo, a leading financial services company with a commitment to innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor senior architects and influence major technology decisions.
- Why this job: Shape the future of banking technology and make a real impact on global finance.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in technology leadership and architecture required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
About this role
Wells Fargo is seeking a Technology Director to serve as Lead Architect for the Commercial Banking business. Based in London, this role will provide enterprise and portfolio-level architecture leadership across Commercial Banking as well as the bank's international intersections. The role reports to the Head of Architecture for CCIBT and will work closely with the CIO of Commercial Banking Technology and the CIO of the International Bank, acting as a trusted advisor on technology strategy, modernization, risk, investment priorities, and major architectural decisions.
This is a senior leadership role requiring the maturity, judgement, executive presence, and organizational influence expected of a Technology Director, combined with deep, hands-on architecture expertise. The successful candidate will define target-state direction, resolve complex cross-domain challenges, strengthen architecture governance, and translate business strategy into practical, executable technology roadmaps. They will influence across business, product, engineering, risk, cyber, data, and enterprise technology teams, often without direct authority.
In this role, you will:
- Manage a team of engineering managers and engineering leads
- Focus on delivering commitments aligned to enterprise strategic priorities
- Build support for strategies with business and technology leaders
- Guide development of actionable roadmaps and plans
- Identify opportunities and strategies for continuous improvement of software engineering practices
- Provide oversight to software craftsmanship, security, availability, resilience, and scalability of solutions developed by the teams or third party providers
- Identify financial management and strategic resourcing
- Set risk management guidelines and partner with stakeholders to implement key risk initiatives
- Develop strategies for hiring engineering talent
- Lead implementation of projects and encourage engineering innovation
- Collaborate and influence all levels of professionals including more experienced managers
- Lead team to achieve objectives
- Interface with external agencies, regulatory bodies or industry forums
- Manage allocation of people and financial resources for Technology Strategic Leadership
- Develop and guide a culture of talent development to meet business objectives and strategy
Required qualifications
- Significant experience in engineering, architecture, or technology leadership, or an equivalent combination of work experience, military service, training, and education.
- Experience leading major technology initiatives, architecture organizations, and complex cross-functional programs that deliver meaningful business outcomes.
- Demonstrated success leading senior technology professionals, including hiring, performance management, compensation and talent processes, succession planning, employee development, and the management of complex or sensitive people matters.
- Proven experience defining and leading architecture strategies for large-scale, distributed enterprise systems and technology portfolios.
- Strong ability to solve abstract, systemic, and cross-domain challenges requiring advanced analytical thinking, strategic perspective, and sound commercial judgement.
- Extensive experience influencing CIO-level executives, senior technology leaders, and business stakeholders on technology strategy, investment priorities, risk management, and architecture decisions.
- Deep understanding of architecture governance, non-functional requirements, technology risk, cybersecurity, resiliency, and regulatory control expectations.
- Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts, articulate trade-offs and consequences, and build alignment among senior stakeholders.
- Demonstrated maturity, credibility, and sound judgement in high-stakes environments, including the ability to challenge constructively and operate effectively through ambiguity and change.
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or governing enterprise AI solutions, including Generative AI, machine learning platforms, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic workflows, model lifecycle management, evaluation frameworks, observability, and integration with enterprise data and application architectures.
Desired qualifications
- Experience within Commercial Banking, Corporate & Investment Banking, International Banking, or another highly regulated financial services technology environment.
- Experience working across UK, international, and global technology organizations with complex legal entity, regulatory, data, and operational dependencies.
- Expertise in several of the following areas: cloud and platform architecture, distributed systems, data architecture and integration, API and event-driven architectures, resiliency and fault-tolerant design, cybersecurity, and high-performance or high-volume systems.
- Experience leading large-scale modernization and transformation initiatives, including application rationalization, platform consolidation, cloud adoption, data modernization, and legacy technology reduction.
- Proven experience developing enterprise architecture patterns, standards, reference architectures, and decision frameworks that drive consistency and adoption at scale.
- Ability to connect architectural decisions to measurable business value, client outcomes, operational efficiency, risk reduction, and investment priorities.
- Experience identifying and prioritizing AI opportunities that enhance client outcomes, employee effectiveness, control execution, operational efficiency, or revenue growth, and translating those opportunities into governed experiments, reusable capabilities, and enterprise-scale production solutions.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
Job expectations
- Based in London and able to work on-site in accordance with company expectations.
- Operate at enterprise and portfolio scale across Commercial Banking and relevant international and shared-technology domains.
- Maintain substantial engagement with the CIO of Commercial Banking Technology and the CIO of the International Bank, as well as senior product, engineering, risk, and business leaders.
- Focus on strategic architecture, governance, modernization, and cross-domain alignment rather than ownership of a single application.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.
- Perform consistently as a senior representative of the architecture organization in executive, governance, and external forums.
Leadership & Success
The successful candidate will be a highly influential enterprise leader with the strategic vision, technical credibility, and executive presence to shape long-term technology direction across Commercial Banking. As a trusted advisor to CIOs and senior leaders, they will drive alignment on complex business and technology decisions, translate strategy into actionable outcomes, and champion modernization, AI adoption, risk reduction, and architectural excellence. Success will be measured through the establishment of a clear and adopted target architecture, improved decision quality, accelerated transformation, stronger organizational capability, and a more resilient, efficient, and strategically aligned technology estate that delivers sustainable business value.
Technology Director Lead Architect, Commercial Banking in London employer: WELLS FARGO BANK
Wells Fargo is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation across the EMEA, APAC, and Canada regions. With a strong commitment to operational resilience and a focus on building robust customer relationships, employees are empowered to make impactful decisions while enjoying comprehensive benefits and support for work-life balance. The company's dedication to diversity and inclusion ensures a welcoming environment where all voices are valued, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technology Director Lead Architect, Commercial Banking in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
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Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like WELLS FARGO BANK. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Technology Director Lead Architect, Commercial Banking in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to WELLS FARGO BANK.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on WELLS FARGO BANK's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at WELLS FARGO BANK
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with WELLS FARGO BANK.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at WELLS FARGO BANK will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former WELLS FARGO BANK employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
