Enterprise Architect

Are you an Enterprise Architect looking to join one of the top companies in the Banking industry?

Are you looking to further your career and grow?

Do you have experience in developing and integrating applications using relevant software architecture principles and patterns?

If you answered yes to those three questions, then apply today!

Acara Solutions seeks highly qualified candidates to work Remotely with our client in Buffalo, NY. Interested?

Here's what you'd do:

• Documents, visualizes, and articulates the overall technical health, as well as the current and target states of the Enterprise Architecture, in collaboration with domain leadership.
• Develops roadmaps in collaboration with domain leadership to incorporate industry trend data for a targeted domain/function, and connects them to the broader Enterprise technology landscape, including alignment with industry Enterprise Architecture standards, thereby building a pathway to achieve target state goals.
• Leverage expertise in technical and business strategy to collaborate with Technology domain leadership to support strategic decision-making.
• Provide consultation services to domain leadership to improve technology delivery and operational efficiency.
• Research and communicate fact-based recommendations to Master Architects to support the domain in the Enterprise Architecture governance process.
• Provide thought leadership and build strong stakeholder partnerships to articulate the current state, target state, and domain roadmap.
• Partner with delivery teams and domain leadership on architecture areas to include business, application, data, Cloud/infrastructure, security, integration, operations, and support in preparation for S1/S2 leadership meetings and architectural peer group meetings.
• Research, understand, and apply existing, new, and emerging technologies and trends to determine their potential impact on technology domains.
• Translate the enterprise's technology future-state architecture vision into principles, guidelines, standards, and patterns to ensure alignment with broader strategic goals.
• Identify opportunities and approaches for solving domain problems from a broad enterprise perspective that include new products, new platforms, or system enhancements to support Agile teams and domain leadership, promoting the reuse of existing technical investments and capabilities.
• Create and maintain reference materials for use by the technical delivery team to ensure consistent and compliant solutions for enterprise-level architecture patterns.
• Participate in the planning and design of strategic initiatives that need architecture guidance.
• Understand and adhere to the Companyas risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Companyas Risk Appetite.
• Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.
• Promote an environment that fosters diversity and aligns with the client's brand.
• Maintain the client's internal control standards, including the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, as well as addressing any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.
• Additional duties as assigned.
• As an Enterprise Architect for Consumer at the client, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the organization's technology strategy, landscape, and roadmap.
• In this role, you will serve as an integrative force across business and technology domains, establish trusted advisor partnerships with senior leaders, and drive the architecture of complex, high-priority initiatives that deliver significant business value.
• Your work will influence large-scale programs that are critical to the client's long-term success, ensuring scalable, resilient, and forward-looking solutions.
• Strategic Planning: Define and evolve enterprise architecture strategies and roadmaps that align business priorities, regulatory requirements, and long-term technology vision.
• High-Level Design: Develop high-level architectural models and frameworks that support secure, scalable, and resilient solutions across the client, aligned with the strategic direction established by the Enterprise Architecture function.
• Detailed Solutions Architecture: Translate strategic objectives into actionable solution architectures that provide clear direction to delivery and engineering teams.
• Regulatory & Risk Alignment: Ensure architectural solutions comply with financial industry regulations, internal risk frameworks, and data privacy standards, supporting auditability and operational integrity.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with business leaders, product owners, and technology teams to ensure architectural alignment across client services, digital platforms, and core client systems.
• Implementation Leadership: Provide architectural oversight and governance throughout the solution delivery lifecycle, ensuring adherence to enterprise standards and successful on-time execution of high-impact initiatives.
• Trusted Advisor: Build relationships with management, providing expert advice and insights to support decision-making.
• Communication: Clearly and persuasively convey complex architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, fostering alignment and informed decision-making.
• Vendor & Partner Engagement: Collaborate with external technology providers and service partners to ensure solutions meet enterprise standards for performance, cost-effectiveness, and agility in a highly regulated environment.
• Ensure interoperability between systems along the entire value stream of retail/consumer products and services.
• Technology Enablement: Lead the selection and implementation of CRE technologies (IWMS, CAFM, lease accounting, innovative building platforms).
• Ensure seamless integration with enterprise systems, including ERP, HRIS, and financial reporting tools.
• Continuous Learning: A passion for staying updated on financial services-related technologies and their rapidly evolving tools, features, and best practices.
• Architecture Roadmaps: Visual and narrative representations of the existing and target architecture landscapes, including capability maps, system interactions, and technology stacks, that align technology capabilities with business goals across technology domains.
• High-Level Design Documents: Comprehensive documentation for major initiatives or programs, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards and business requirements.
• Architecture Principles and Standards: Defined guidelines and best practices to ensure consistency, scalability, and compliance across technology solutions.
• Technology Assessments and Recommendations: Evaluations of emerging technologies, platforms, or vendor solutions with documented recommendations for adoption or integration.
• Gap Analyses and Impact Assessments: Identification of gaps between current and future states, along with assessments of business and technical impacts.
• Stakeholder Presentations and Briefings: Engaging executive-level presentations that communicate progress and outcomes to business and technology leaders.
• Reference Architectures and Patterns: Reusable templates and design patterns that accelerate solution delivery and promote architectural consistency.
• This role is for an Enterprise Architect supporting the Retail/Consumer Domains.

Here's what you'll get:

Pay: $48.37 - $80.62 / hour.

Hours: 40 hrs/Week.

Length: Contract (6 months).

Sound like a good fit?

APPLY TODAY

About Acara Solutions

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies attract and retain top talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver comprehensive staffing solutions, including contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services, worldwide.

• High School Diploma or GED with 11 years of experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in developing and integrating applications using relevant software architecture principles and patterns.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in software engineering, software delivery, and solution architecture.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in integrating diverse systems, platforms, and data sources to create cohesive, interoperable solutions that support seamless client experiences and operational efficiency.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in vendor and third-party solution evaluation, selection, and integration strategies.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in retail and consumer platforms such as Hogan (mainframe core), Genesys (contact center), as well as ATMs, item processing, products & pricing, workflow and robotics, sales enablement, and branch.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Retail/Consumer-related technology within a financial institution.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in cloud architecture.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in driving and delivering innovation within the realm of financial services.
• Minimum 11 years of experience in software engineering, software delivery, and solution architecture, including developing and integrating applications using relevant software architecture principles and patterns.

• Bachelor's Degree in Business or Science or Computer Science or Information Technology or Engineering with 7 years of experience.
• This position will interface with senior leaders.
• It will need excellent communication skills, along with basic knowledge of new and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of those trends for strategic use.
• Working knowledge of architectural frameworks.
• Working knowledge of enterprise architecture tools.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align technology architecture with business strategy, identifying opportunities to drive value, efficiency, and innovation across complex financial services ecosystems.
• Business Acumen: Deep understanding of financial services, particularly the needs in the Consumer client sector, with the ability to translate those needs into effective architectural solutions.
• Expertise in the whole consumer lifecycle, with a firm grasp of regulatory frameworks and a forward-looking perspective on digital client innovations.
• Enterprise Architecture Expertise: Proficiency in developing and applying enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman) to guide technology planning, governance, and execution.
• Solution Design: Skilled in designing end-to-end solutions that are scalable, secure, and aligned with enterprise standards, while addressing both current and future-state business capabilities.
• Risk and Compliance Awareness: Good grasp of regulatory and risk considerations in financial services, with the ability to architect solutions that meet compliance, audit, and data governance requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proven ability to collaborate with senior business and technology leaders, facilitating alignment, managing expectations, and influencing strategic decisions.
• Communication and Visualization: Ability to convey complex architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences through clear documentation, presentations, and visual models.
• Change Leadership: Ability to lead through ambiguity, drive consensus, and support organizational change as part of large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Critical Thinking Skills: A creative and analytical approach to diagnosing and resolving technical challenges.
• Certification and experience working with Cloud technologies and vendors.
• Experience working in an Agile environment.
• Certification in enterprise architecture frameworks.
• Experience working in the financial services industry.
• Experience working in two or more technical roles related to client, technical design, and roadmap planning.
• Good knowledge of financial services industry domains, particularly consumer client services, including consumer products, customer profiles, risk assessments, and customer experience/engagement.
• Understanding of modern technology architectures, including cloud, microservices, APIs, data platforms, and integration patterns.
• Awareness of cybersecurity principles, data privacy standards, and secure architecture practices.
• Familiarity with business capability modeling, value stream mapping, and other business architecture techniques.
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to financial institutions (FFIEC, SOX, GLBA, GDPR).
• Proficiency in using architectural modeling tools and documentation standards.
• Knowledge of IT governance, portfolio management, and enterprise change management processes.
• Understanding of data architecture concepts, including data governance, master data management, and analytics enablement.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies and their potential impact on financial services.
• Awareness of agile, DevOps, and product-centric delivery models and how architecture supports them.
• Knowledge of institutional client products and services, including capital markets, investment management, structured finance, and M&A.
• Working knowledge of architecture diagramming practices, architectural frameworks, and enterprise architecture tools.
• This role is ideal for a strategic thinker with good technical expertise and a passion for driving innovation in the financial sector.
• Retail/Consumer Technology Domain Experience.
• Enterprise Architecture Governance & Artifact Development.
• Strategic Technology Planning, Rationalization, and Health Assessments.

Additional Information:

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check and a drug screen.
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.