Senior Manager - Solution Architect, General/Specialty Insurance

The opportunity

As part of the EY Consulting Insurance Technology practice, you will have the opportunity to work across a portfolio of engagements that will challenge you in areas such as Insurance Core Platform implementations, leveraging emerging technology within the insurance domain, technology enabled business transformations. Our EMEIA focus means that our team has a footprint that spans several geographies in Europe and continued investment in our practice has grown the team circa 30% year-on-year.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with an agile mindset, problem solving skills, industry knowledge of Insurance and/or Technology Consulting practices to supplement our strong capabilities and fuel our continued growth.

Location(s): London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester

Responsibilities, Qualifications, Certifications - External

Your key responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with clients, establishing a business-driven vision for the future of their IT systems, processes and infrastructure through the application of leading practices and improving their capabilities
• Create IT strategies and architecture roadmaps, including well-articulated views of transition stages toward the final goal
• Understand the full architecture stack, including network, data, application, system, security & integration architectures
• Create artefacts at appropriate levels of detail to be able to communicate effectively with both business and technical audiences
• Define and document key design decisions based on objectives of the engagement
• Develop and maintain detailed coordination and liaison activities with business and technical teams during the solution design and delivery phases
• Provide technical expertise for the evaluation and selection of software products, standards and services, as well as the design of standard and custom software configurations
• Leading EY practise and people development activities
• Building and leading high performing teams
• Taking a leading role in development of EY solutions and supporting tools and methods
• Support architecture governance against industry good practice, IT standards, and client technical policy

Skills and attributes for success

• 8 years minimum experience as an Architect
• 10+ years in Financial Services Technology
• Good knowledge of ERD/UML/process diagram notations
• Good working knowledge of enterprise integration patterns
• Ability to articulate technical solutions to stakeholders and build strong business relationships
• Drive high-quality work products within expected timeframes and on budget
• Thorough knowledge in Insurance (General and/or Specialty)
• Ability to articulate the key design considerations around governance, support and organisation of Technology
• Strong technical background with technology package implementation (i.e. Guidewire, Fadata, Duckcreek, Pega etc.) experience
• Technology architecture experience, including but not limited to enterprise, solution, infrastructure, security and data architecture
• Large scale programme delivery (e.g. agile and waterfall) skills
• Experience around cloud solutions, AI, microservices and emerging technologies
• Ability to develop and deliver high quality output against stated project objectives and meet tight deadlines
• High level of drive, commitment to achieving solutions, and ability to work under pressure
• Exhibit strong technical communication skills with demonstrable experience of working in rapidly changing and challenging client environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage requirements between technical and business stakeholders.
• Ability to comfortably work with a wide range of stakeholders across all levels of the organization including senior management at the C level
• Ambition to build/develop a career in EY and our Insurance Technology practice
• Ability to successfully deliver multiple engagements, exceed client expectations, and manage quality and risk
• Maximise team performance - accountability for ensuring a collaborative and committed way for teams to work effectively together, providing coaching and leadership, and sharing knowledge
• Acting as a career counsellor to a small team and being involved in the recruitment process as required

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Ability to demonstrate your skills for structured thinking and communication
• Experience in Insurance gained through a top tier consultancy, a specialist financial services consultancy and/or a top tier insurer
• Experience working as an architect role – being responsible for alignment with business strategy, delivering solution design documents, providing solution options and explaining their pros and cons
• Business and technical analysis and requirements development experience
• Strong Insurance industry knowledge
• Proven skills to communicate efficiently with both senior stakeholders to get solution buy-in and team members to explain and constructively discuss the rationale and merits of various solution options
• Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, client service and technical writing skills including conveying complex messages to a senior audience
• Track record of successful end to end delivery on large technology implementations and transformation programmes
• Practical knowledge of SDLC and Agile methodologies
• Experience with managing cross- functional teams
• Exposure to development teams, wider technology operating model and ongoing solution support using frameworks such as ITIL and COBIT

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Familiarity/working knowledge with key components of Amazon / Azure cloud stack
• Understanding of main principles / experience of applying TDD / BDD practices in development
• Experience with cloud solutions, AI, blockchain, microservices and emerging technologies
• Good appreciation of current market trends and how these are likely to impact key industry players
• Business development, sales experience, and client management
• Ideally TOGAF 9.1 and/or Zachman Certified

What we look for

• Strong interest and commitment to developing and delivering leading edge solutions
• We look for individuals who show the potential to develop strong client relationships
• Ability to demonstrate intellectual strength / flexibility to rapidly understand complex problems and rationalise these into a workable solution which can then be delivered
• Team players and leaders who openly support, encourage and share knowledge with colleagues
• Trusted advisors who can build strong client relationships

What working at EY offers

We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you