Solution Architect - FinTech (Financial Technology) at The Shoprite Group of Companies

Purpose of the Job    

• Working in a high-performance digital environment that prides itself in attracting the finest talent, our IT teams are energetic, smart and motivated to create the best retail solutions satisfying our customers’ needs in an all-encompassing shopping experience. The FinTech solution architect is the main architecture thought leader of Shoprite’s Financial Services such as account payments, money transfers, airtime, mobile payments, card payments, etc. to retail customers.
• As a recognized authority in Financial Services such as account payments, money transfers, airtime, mobile payments, card payments, etc. to retail customers, the FinTech Solution Architect strategically advises and shapes requirements for Financial Services and creates high-quality data, application, and technology architectures in support of the business requirements and leads the realization of the design into the final solution implementation. Deep subject matter knowledge of high transaction volume systems (FinTech, digital and alternative payment technologies, etc.), technical knowledge of Cloud architectures and security is essential.

Job Objectives    

• 1. Produce viable and cost effective data, application and technology architectures and designs for FinTech functional and non-functional requirements in line with architecture standards within the agreed deliverable timelines:
• Develop and maintain an understanding of the business strategy and business priorities for FinTech services.
• Develop Shoprite’s FinTech landscape roadmap and blueprints in line with the strategic business direction.
• Analyse and understand FinTech business requirements and translate the requirements into the most effective solution architecture with
• minimal customization and/or advise on suitable solution alternatives.
• Engage all stakeholders to obtain agreement on proposed FinTech solutions and work closely with business stakeholders, external service
• providers, Business Analysts, System Designers, Analyst Developers and Project Managers to architect and implement FinTech solutions. --Create business, data, application and technology architectures and designs using the appropriate modeling techniques and
• methodologies for the FinTech business domain in the enterprise architecture repository in line with architecture principles.
• Keep abreast of the latest FinTech trends and emerging technologies, identify and analyze architecture best practices, determine the potential impact on the enterprise, and drive adoption as deemed appropriate.
• Partner with the Domain Architect and other Solution Architects in support of the definition and development of the overall retail solution landscape.
• Ensure that applicable architecture and design reviews are conducted for all FinTech solutions in line with the defined IT governance and processes.
• Provide architectural oversight and guidance to delivery teams during the detailed design, build, test and deploy phases that conforms to architecture principles and standards.

2. Serve as the primary solution architecture and design authority for all project and operational stakeholders, and ensure architecture quality across all solutions that enable the FinTech business domain.

• Be clearly identified as the senior design authority as it relates to the FinTech business domain and provide technical guidance and leadership in solution proposals, RFIs, RFPs, and project teams.
• Partner with the Enterprise Architect and other Solution Architects in support of the definition and development of the overall retail solution landscape.
• Detect critical deficiencies in the FinTech architectures and recommend improvements.
• Review external and internal designs for FinTech systems from a risk and technology perspective
• Mentor senior developers / designers / business analysts to become Solution Architects.

3. Contribute to solution architecture and design standards and SDLC governance requirements:

• Maintain and manage FinTech related architecture artifacts in the Enterprise Architecture repository and ensure that the content is effectively organized and controlled so as to maintain architectural consistency.
• Contribute to the definition of a framework for Solution Architecture and the policies, procedures and templates that guide and govern Solution Architecture processes.
• Contribute to the development of architecture principles and compliance criteria to guide technology decisions.
• Contribute to the development of solution modeling standards and guidelines.
• Define a set of metrics to measure and report on the performance of the various solution architecture processes.

Qualifications    

• Degree in Information Systems / B Sc Computer Science (or similar)

Experience    

• 7-10 yrs Working experience within the IT industry
• 5+ yrs Experience with all aspects of IT projects from business analysis, architecture, system analysis and design through development, testing, implementation, and production support (SDLC)
• 5+ yrs Excellent design and architecture skills and proven track record delivering well designed complex enterprise class systems
• 2 - 3 years Experience in delivering solutions in an Agile project environment (desirable)
• 5+ yrs Identification and formulation of solution architecture and solution alternatives and their assessment
• 5+ yrs Experience architecting and developing n-tier applications using multiple programming languages and paradigms
• 5+ yrs Demonstrated expertise in a variety of application development methodologies and practices
• 2-3 yrs Lead a team through an architectural development process and collaborate with application development teams, architects and other members of the software development team
• 2-3 yrs Experience with current research and standards in Solution Architecture
• 5-10 yrs Experience implementing solutions in an architecture capacity in the FinTech industry
• 3-5yrs Experience in architecting FinTech solutions from a security perspective
• 3-5yrs Experience in architecting payment platforms and supporting technologies
• 3 - 5 years Experience in architecting online ticketing solutions, e.g., Computicket (desirable)
• 1 - 3 years Finance or treasury background (desirable)
• 1 - 3 years Experience in defining and documenting reconciliation in line with set standards (desirable)
• 1 -3 years Retail banking experience (desirable)
• 2 - 3 years Retail industry experience with an understanding of retail business processes. (desirable)
• 1 - 3 years Experience and exposure to utilise commercial payment gateways for online payments (desirable)
• 1 - 3 years Experience in alternative payment methods such as QR Code, token and NFC (desirable)

Knowledge and Skills    

• Architecture and design of high transaction volume Financial Services systems and technical knowledge of Cloud architectures (Cloud, APIs, micro services, omni-channel, etc.) and integration to other solutions
• Commercial and business understanding of the broader Value Added Financial Services and retail services industry
• Architecture Framework certification (e.g. TOGAF)
• Software development frameworks and methodologies (Agile, Scrum, etc.)
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and logical skills
• Excellent team-working, interpersonal skills
• Develop of proposals and excellent written communication & presentation skills
• Excellent organisation and facilitation skills
• Strong conflict management skills