Data Architect

Reporting to the Lead Architect, this position is for an experienced Data Architect within the Transformation Team. This role is accountable for providing an integrated and coordinated data strategy as well as providing data integration support to the wider team.

The candidate will be responsible for data governance, data standards, data integration support from/to multiple products, data architecture and analytics, as well as ensuring alignment with enterprise data security, quality, and retention strategies. The role will involve collaborating with stakeholders at all levels to ensure 7IM's data strategy and associated implementation is adding value to the business. The role is a combination of solutioning, consulting and hands-on execution. This role would suit an ambitious and driven individual who is looking for an opportunity to shape and advance 7IM's data strategy alongside an ambitious 3-year transformation programme.

Responsibilities

1. Ownership & ongoing management of the data architecture roadmap, ensuring alignment to business and technology strategies as well as supporting delivery of corporate objectives through working with Squads.
2. Build, maintain, publish and drive adoption of appropriate enterprise architecture artefacts including conceptual and logical data models, entity relationship models, data dictionary and taxonomy.
3. Build and maintain a framework of principles, patterns and standards for data management, integration and consumption.
4. Identify and analyse internal processes in the data area, bringing governance and accelerating value deliveries to the business areas.
5. Identify, analyse and extract legacy data streams to migrate to the cloud using new and more modern technologies, facilitating testability, maintenance and accuracy.
6. Grow and manage a nascent data analysis capability including line management of data analyst resource(s).
7. As a key member of the Data Strategy Steering Group, be the driver and advisor in all strategic data initiatives and ensure alignment to the data strategy.
8. Work with Business, Executive and technical Stakeholders to ensure delivery of the data strategy.
9. Establish a business-wide Data Catalog and champion best practice Data Governance and Stewardship.
10. Be an advocate of data security principles and ensure appropriate security practices are embedded in any data strategy.
11. Develop meaningful and appropriate key performance measures, including demonstrating good data governance, data quality, and progress vs roadmap.
12. Understand emerging trends in data tools, analysis techniques and usage, integrating up-and-coming data management and software engineering technologies into existing structures where appropriate.
13. Adherence to all applicable compliance standards and best practices at all times.
14. Acting consistently in accordance with 7IM's VPVPs.
15. While not directly interacting with customers, your actions should align with upholding the FCA's Consumer Duty principles, thereby contributing to fair and beneficial outcomes for our clients.
16. Other, as reasonably required by your line manager and 7IM.
    

Experience

1. Knowledge of the following is required:
   o Modern Data platform concepts; Data Lake, Lakehouse, Data Warehouse, Data Vault
   o Azure Data Technologies; Synapse, ADLS, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, PySpark
   o Proficiency in SQL & Stored Procedures
   o ETL / ELT processes and designing, building and testing data pipelines
   o Microsoft Azure Integration Technologies - Logic Apps, Power Platform
   o Azure Cloud Version control tools, specifically Azure DevOps Service
   o Analytics and MI products including MS Power BI
   o Data catalog & governance using MS Purview.
2. Knowledge of the following would be desirable:
   o Azure DP-203 and / or Azure DP-300 (or equivalent)
   o Microsoft server-based data products (SQL Server, Analysis Services, Integration Services and Reporting Services)
   o Enterprise Architecture tools (e.g. LeanIX, Ardoq), Frameworks (TOGAF) and core artefacts (Capability Models, Technical Reference Models, Data Flow Diagrams)
   o Dynamics 365 data and business concepts.
3. Proven experience in architecting and implementing business intelligence and data warehouse platforms.
4. Working as an architect within agile methodologies.
5. Experience of mapping key enterprise data entities to business capabilities and applications.
6. Practical experience of designing & building medallion architectures.
7. Experience in some, but not necessarily all of the following:
   o Data preparation for functional and non-functional testing
   o Test data set construction, anonymisation & management
   o Different SQL and No SQL databases
   o Using python or other scripting languages for analytics and task automation
   o Experience with Infrastructure as Code.

1. Ability to analyse data to drive efficiency and optimisation, design processes and tools to monitor production systems and data accuracy.
2. Ability to produce, compare, and align different data models across multiple subject areas, reverse-engineering data models from a live system where required.
3. Ability to communicate between the technical and non-technical - interpreting the needs of technical and business stakeholders, communicating how activities meet strategic goals and client needs.
4. Excellent analytical and numerical skills are essential, enabling easy interpretation and analysis of large volumes of data.
5. Excellent problem solving and data modelling skills (logical, physical, semantic and integration models).
6. Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure.
7. Excellent verbal and written communication with a proven track record of stakeholder engagement and influencing both business and technical stakeholders.

1. TOGAF or similar.
2. Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) or equivalent.

1. Experience of wealth management (including operational knowledge) would be advantageous.
2. Prior experience working in Financial Services with thorough understanding of data security, data privacy, GDPR required.