Lead Data Architect (Ref: 195605)

As an independent external recruitment partner, we collaborate with financial institutions to attract senior talent that aligns with strategic goals and regulatory standards. Our focus is on clarity, speed, and candidate quality, delivering bespoke talent solutions that respect privacy and compliance throughout the process.

We’re seeking a seasoned Lead Data Architect for our client, a respected institution within the UK financial sector, based in London. This leadership position guides the data strategy, governance, and architectural blueprint to enable data-driven decision making across the enterprise. The role requires collaboration with business units, risk, compliance, and technology teams to craft scalable, compliant data platforms and models that support growth and competitive advantage.

• Define and own the data architecture strategy aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements.
• Design and govern data models, data lineage, metadata management, and data quality frameworks.
• Lead the evolution of data platforms (on-prem and cloud) with scalable, secure, and resilient architectures.
• Partner with data engineering and platform teams to implement solutions that enable analytics, reporting, and advanced analytics initiatives.
• Establish governance structures, policies, and standards for data management, privacy, and security.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to translate business needs into architectural roadmaps.

• Extensive experience as a data architect or lead data architect within large financial services organisations.
• Proven expertise in data modelling, data governance, and data architecture governance frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of data platforms (data warehouses and lakes) across on-prem and cloud environments (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
• Experience with modern data processing paradigms (streaming, batch, lakehouse) and data security and privacy controls (including regulatory requirements like GDPR).
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, capable of translating complex concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Strong leadership capabilities with experience guiding cross-functional teams and managing senior stakeholders.

• Competitive base salary and performance-based incentives
• Enhanced pension provisions and private medical insurance
• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid models
• Support for continuous learning and professional accreditation
• Defined career progression with leadership opportunities

Our client operates within the resilient UK financial services sector, providing essential banking products and services with a focus on governance, risk controls, and regulatory compliance. This is a senior, strategic appointment intended to drive data-centric outcomes across the organization.