Onsite 6months Solution Architect role

ROLE DETAILS
Reports to: Head: Centre IT
Supports: Group Finance & Actuarial Function
Location: Onsite (Parktown, Johannesburg)
Employment type: Fixed term contract, 6 months
Level: Senior / Specialist

ROLE PURPOSE
To own the end-to-end solution design for finance and actuarial transformation initiatives, translating business and functional requirements into robust, scalable and secure technology architectures. The role is pivotal in shaping the target-state architecture for the finance operating model, spanning ERP, actuarial and data platforms, integration and cloud, and in ensuring that every solution delivered is fit for purpose, standards-compliant and aligned to group architectural principles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Architecture & Solution Design
- Define current-state, transition-state and target-state solution architectures for finance and actuarial systems.
- Translate business requirements and functional specifications into detailed solution designs, architecture decision records and technical blueprints.
- Evaluate build-versus-buy options, conduct technology assessments and present recommendations with supporting cost, risk and benefit analysis.
- Define and document non-functional requirements covering performance, scalability, availability, security and disaster recovery.

Integration & Data Architecture
- Design integration between finance ERP, actuarial engines, sub-ledgers, policy administration and reporting platforms.
- Select and apply appropriate integration patterns (APIs, event-driven messaging, ESB, EDI, batch) and define interface contracts.
- Shape finance data architecture across data lakes, warehouses and lakehouse platforms, including master data management and data lineage.
- Ensure data quality, retention and privacy requirements are designed into every solution.

Governance & Assurance
- Present designs to architecture review boards and secure design authority approval.
- Ensure compliance with enterprise architecture standards, reference architectures, security policy and regulatory obligations.
- Identify and mitigate architectural risk and technical debt, and maintain the architecture roadmap.
- Conduct design reviews and provide technical assurance over vendor and partner deliverables.

Delivery Support & Implementation
- Provide hands-on architectural guidance to development, integration, data and testing teams throughout delivery.
- Support environment strategy, cutover planning, data migration design and post-implementation stabilisation.
- Review and sign off technical deliverables against the approved design.

Stakeholder & Vendor Engagement
- Build strong working relationships across finance, actuarial, IT, security and external vendors.
- Contribute to vendor evaluations, RFP responses and statements of work from a technical perspective.
- Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to executive and non-technical audiences.

### Requirements
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
- 8+ years in IT solution or technical architecture, with 4+ years in insurance or financial services.
- Proven track record architecting and delivering finance ERP and reporting solutions at group/enterprise scale.
- Deep understanding of finance and actuarial business capabilities, accounting principles, reporting standards and compliance requirements.
- Hands-on experience with ERP platforms (Oracle Fusion, SAP S/4HANA, Workday) and point solutions (OneStream, Anaplan, MS Dynamics 365 F&O, Coupa, Blackline).
- Strong integration architecture skills across APIs, EDI, ESB, event streaming and file-based patterns.
- Solid data architecture background: Data Mesh, MDM, finance data lakes and warehouses, ETL/ELT (including Informatica), SQL.
- Cloud architecture experience on Azure, AWS or GCP, including hybrid and migration patterns.
- Exposure to AI, RPA and machine learning in finance contexts.
- Working knowledge of security, identity and access management, and data privacy by design.
- Experience facilitating and leading cross-functional design workshops and architecture forums.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office, Visio or equivalent modelling tools, Jira, and both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.

QUALIFICATIONS
- Degree or Diploma in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or a related field.
- Industry-recognised architecture certification (e.g. TOGAF, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect, or equivalent).

DESIRABLE ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Knowledge of South African financial and insurance regulations, including IFRS 17 and prudential reporting requirements.
- Familiarity with actuarial business capabilities, processes and IT architecture.
- Experience with POPIA-aligned data protection design.
- Experience mentoring architects, analysts and technical leads.

HOW TO APPLY
Applications must be submitted via the Centrax Digital careers portal: https://careers.centraxdigital.com/jobs/Careers. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.