Architect of Data and AI - Microsoft Practice

Architect of Data and AI - Microsoft Practice

Location - United Kingdom, with travel to client sites as required

Practice - Microsoft

Focus - Data, analytics and artificial intelligence

Role type - Senior leadership and client-facing consulting

Core technologies - Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Azure Data & AI and Microsoft AI services

Our Story

BearingPoint is one of Europe’s leading independent, partner led technology services and business consulting organisations and a highly regarded strategic partner for our clients.

This is a great opportunity to join BearingPoint at a pivotal moment of growth and investment and be part of a community of like-minded consultants. We are proud to operate as a “boutique style” cohort of inspired and passionate experts in our field with focus on innovation, collaboration, and customer success.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Architect of Data and AI to join and help scale a growing Microsoft practice in the UK. The successful candidate will provide senior leadership across complex client engagements, shape market-leading propositions, support account growth and build a high-performing Data & AI capability.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can move confidently between the boardroom, presales workshops and delivery governance. The role will be more delivery-led than pure sales, while requiring the commercial credibility to originate, shape and convert opportunities alongside sector and account leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Client delivery and programme leadership

- Lead major Microsoft Data & AI programmes from discovery and strategy through architecture, delivery and value realisation.
- Act as a trusted adviser to senior client stakeholders, translating business priorities into pragmatic data, analytics and AI roadmaps.
- Provide executive oversight, design authority and delivery assurance across complex programmes, including scope, quality, risk, dependencies and commercial outcomes.
- Create repeatable delivery approaches, governance standards and quality controls that enable the practice to scale.

Sales, presales and market development

- Work with UK sector and account leaders to identify, qualify and progress Data & AI opportunities.
- Lead presales activity including client discovery, solution shaping, estimations, proposals, bids, presentations and executive workshops.
- Build compelling propositions around Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, modern data platforms, analytics, AI and responsible AI adoption.
- Develop strong relationships with Microsoft sellers, specialists and partner stakeholders to support co-selling, pipeline development and joint go-to-market activity.
- Contribute to revenue growth, pipeline quality and the commercial performance of the Microsoft practice.

Practice and capability leadership

- Define and execute the UK Data & AI capability plan, balancing near-term delivery needs with longer-term growth.
- Recruit, mentor and develop consultants, architects, engineers and analysts, creating clear career pathways and a strong community of practice.
- Establish reusable accelerators, reference architectures, demonstrations, case studies and sales collateral.
- Coordinate effectively with wider UK and international teams to bring the best capability to clients.
- Promote an inclusive, collaborative and high-accountability culture.

Required experience and skills

- Significant experience leading enterprise data, analytics or AI consulting engagements within a professional services, systems integration or technology environment.
- Demonstrable leadership of client programmes, with accountability for successful delivery, senior stakeholder management and commercial outcomes.
- Strong hands-on understanding of Microsoft Fabric, including platform architecture, data engineering, integration, lakehouse and warehouse patterns, governance and security.
- Deep Power BI expertise, including semantic models, data visualisation, governance, adoption and enterprise reporting approaches.
- Practical knowledge of AI and generative AI, including use-case identification, solution shaping, responsible AI, data readiness and integration into business processes.
- Broad knowledge of the Microsoft data ecosystem, such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, Azure SQL, Microsoft Purview and Power Platform.
- Proven presales capability with experience leading discovery, solution design, estimates, proposals, bids and executive presentations.
- Commercial acumen and the ability to balance client value, delivery feasibility, risk and profitability.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, with the gravitas to influence executive stakeholders and the ability to explain technical topics in business language.
- Experience building teams, propositions, methods or a consulting capability in a growth environment.

Desirable experience

- Sector experience in utilities, government or financial services, particularly where data sensitivity, regulation, resilience or security are material considerations.
- Experience establishing or growing a Microsoft Data & AI practice, capability or centre of excellence.
- Knowledge of Microsoft partner programmes, co-selling motions and Microsoft-funded engagement models.
- Experience with data strategy, operating models, data governance, master data management, data quality and analytics adoption.
- Familiarity with cloud economics, FinOps and optimisation of data platform consumption.
- Relevant Microsoft certifications in Fabric, Power BI, Azure or AI.
- Existing or previous eligibility for UK security clearance would be beneficial for selected public-sector engagements.

Measures of success

- S uccessful leadership and assurance of priority Data & AI engagements.
- Growth in qualified pipeline, win rate and revenue for Microsoft Data & AI services.
- Creation of differentiated, repeatable propositions and client proof points.
- Growth of a skilled, engaged and deployable UK capability.
- Stronger executive client relationships and productive Microsoft collaboration.
- Consistent delivery quality, commercial discipline and client satisfaction.

Why join

This role offers the opportunity to shape a strategic capability at an early stage of growth. You will have the mandate to influence propositions, hiring, delivery standards and go-to-market activity, while working alongside an established consulting business and the wider Microsoft ecosystem. It will suit a leader who wants to remain close to clients and delivery while building a team and market presence around Microsoft Data & AI.

Why work for us?

BearingPoint provides a highly competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support employee well-being, career development, and work-life balance. This includes private health and dental insurance, pension contributions, annual bonuses, gym membership support, professional subscriptions, paid maternity and paternity leave, income protection, nursery workplace benefits and many more.

Plus, we offer:

- Professional development: In order to aid career progression, you will be provided with the opportunity to attend exclusive business courses to help accelerate professional and network growth.
- Being part of a team with an entrepreneurial spirit that values stewardship and developing both our people and future generations. We want someone to seize the opportunity to drive us forward in directions that are meaningful to them and our clients
- Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

For further information, please see BearingPoint’s careers website.

Equal Opportunities

BearingPoint is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce where each individual feels they belong. Fostering a work environment with a strong sense of community and where everyone can thrive is a core pillar of our business. We are focused on attracting and retaining the best people with the right skills and the desire to deliver excellent results, regardless of background. In return, we will provide a working environment in which everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, where their talents are fully utilised and company goals are met. We celebrate the strength that comes from our similarities and our differences through local initiatives which promote inclusion, outreach, and respect.