Chief Architect – Banking & Financial Services, Enterprise Platforms & AI

The Company

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant has over 350,000 employees globally. Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 1000, and the Fortune 500, and is recognized among the fastest growing companies worldwide.

Banking & Financial Services Consulting

Cognizant’s Banking & Financial Services (BFS) Consulting practice partners with global banks, financial institutions, fintech organizations, and capital markets firms to drive large-scale business and technology transformation. Our teams help clients modernize business platforms, accelerate cloud adoption, optimize enterprise architecture landscapes, and leverage emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation.

This role offers an opportunity to shape strategic technology visions for leading financial institutions, helping clients build resilient, scalable, and future-ready digital ecosystems while accelerating innovation and business growth.

About the Role

As a Chief Architect – Banking & Financial Services, Enterprise Platforms & AI, you will provide strategic technology leadership across client engagements, driving enterprise architecture transformation and shaping next-generation business platforms. You will serve as a trusted advisor to CIOs, CTOs, and business executives, establishing architecture vision, technology strategy, and transformation roadmaps that align business objectives with long-term technology investments.

You will lead architecture teams across cloud, data, AI, platform modernization, and digital transformation initiatives while helping clients adopt innovative technologies that improve operational efficiency, customer experience, and competitive advantage.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Architecture Leadership

• Define and drive enterprise architecture strategies that support business transformation within Banking and Financial Services organizations
• Establish architectural frameworks, governance models, reference architectures, and technology standards aligned with business priorities
• Provide executive-level architecture leadership across large-scale transformation programs
• Drive architecture alignment across business, application, data, technology, security, and operational domains
• Promote modern architecture practices and scalable operating models across complex enterprise environments

Business Platform Transformation

• Define and oversee architecture strategies for modern business platforms supporting front-to-back banking operations
• Guide transformation initiatives across domains including Core Banking, Payments, Lending, Cards, Wealth Management, Treasury, Finance, and Customer Engagement platforms
• Drive platform modernization initiatives that improve agility, operational efficiency, customer experience, and business scalability
• Identify opportunities to simplify technology landscapes while enabling innovation and growth
• Establish platform architecture principles that support composable, API-driven, and ecosystem-based business models

Cloud Strategy & Modernization

• Lead cloud transformation strategies across hybrid, multi-cloud, and cloud-native environments
• Define cloud architecture blueprints that ensure scalability, security, resilience, compliance, and cost optimization
• Advise clients on cloud adoption models, migration approaches, platform operating models, and cloud governance frameworks
• Collaborate with engineering and infrastructure teams to modernize legacy technology estates and accelerate cloud delivery
• Drive adoption of industry-leading cloud technologies and emerging platform capabilities

Generative AI & Agentic AI Leadership

• Define enterprise AI strategies that leverage Generative AI, Agentic AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation capabilities
• Identify opportunities to embed AI-led innovation across customer, operational, risk, compliance, and enterprise functions
• Establish architectural standards, governance models, and operating frameworks for responsible AI adoption
• Guide AI platform architecture, model integration, automation ecosystems, and AI-enabled business capabilities
• Partner with client executives to accelerate AI transformation and create measurable business value

Technology Strategy & Executive Advisory

• Serve as a trusted advisor to CIOs, CTOs, Chief Architects, and senior business stakeholders
• Develop strategic technology roadmaps aligned with business objectives and future industry trends
• Assess emerging technologies and market developments to identify opportunities for innovation and transformation
• Support executive decision-making through technology assessments, architecture reviews, and strategic recommendations
• Drive business-technology alignment across enterprise transformation initiatives

Innovation & Industry Leadership

• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across consulting and delivery teams
• Promote experimentation and adoption of emerging technologies, platforms, and operating models
• Collaborate with commercial and delivery teams to develop innovative client solutions and offerings
• Represent Cognizant in industry forums, conferences, and executive client engagements
• Contribute to market-facing thought leadership and strategic initiatives

Architecture Governance & Standards

• Establish enterprise architecture governance frameworks, standards, and best practices
• Ensure architecture decisions align with regulatory, security, risk, and compliance requirements
• Drive consistency, quality, and technical excellence across transformation programs
• Lead architecture review boards and governance forums to ensure strategic alignment and solution integrity
• Promote architecture disciplines that support long-term business and technology sustainability

Skills & Experience

Domain Expertise

• Deep expertise within Banking and Financial Services, including Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Payments, Lending, Wealth Management, Capital Markets, and Digital Banking
• Strong understanding of enterprise business platforms and end-to-end financial services operating models
• Experience leading digital transformation, platform modernization, and technology strategy initiatives
• Knowledge of industry regulations, risk management, governance frameworks, and compliance requirements

Functional Skills

• Proven experience developing enterprise architecture strategies and transformation roadmaps
• Strong expertise in business capability modeling, operating model transformation, and enterprise architecture governance
• Experience advising senior executives on technology investments and transformation priorities
• Ability to align technology initiatives with measurable business outcomes
• Exceptional consulting, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills

Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks including TOGAF and modern architecture methodologies
• Expertise in hybrid cloud, multi-cloud, and cloud-native architectures across AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform
• Strong understanding of IT4IT platforms, IT operating models, and engineering excellence frameworks
• Experience with enterprise business platforms including CRM, Core Banking, Payments, Lending, Cards, Wealth Management, and Finance platforms
• Knowledge of modern data platforms, analytics ecosystems, digital engineering practices, and API-led architectures
• Strong understanding of Generative AI, Agentic AI, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, AI Governance, and Intelligent Automation
• Familiarity with developer productivity platforms, cybersecurity architectures, and emerging technologies

Delivery Experience

• 15+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, technology strategy, or digital transformation leadership roles
• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience within Banking and Financial Services organizations
• Proven track record leading large-scale transformation initiatives across global enterprises
• Experience building and leading high-performing architecture, consulting, and technology organizations
• Experience managing complex stakeholder environments across business, technology, and regulatory functions
• International experience supporting global transformation initiatives is highly desirable

Personal Attributes

• Inspirational leader with the ability to influence and align executive stakeholders across large organizations
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and future-focused perspective
• Strong communicator capable of translating complex technical concepts into executive-level discussions
• Analytical and solution-oriented with exceptional problem-solving capabilities
• Collaborative and relationship-driven with a strong focus on client success
• Passionate about innovation, technology disruption, and continuous learning
• Demonstrates Cognizant’s core values of client-centricity, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation

Contribution to Development of Practice

• Contribute to the growth and evolution of Cognizant’s Banking & Financial Services Consulting practice
• Develop reusable architecture frameworks, transformation methodologies, and industry accelerators
• Drive thought leadership through white papers, industry forums, executive briefings, and market insights
• Mentor senior architects, consultants, and technology leaders across the organization
• Support business development activities, proposal creation, and strategic account growth initiatives
• Strengthen Cognizant’s market position as a trusted transformation partner for financial institutions

Industry Experience

• 15+ years of experience in Enterprise Architecture, Technology Strategy, Digital Transformation, or Chief Architect roles
• 10+ years of leadership experience within Banking and Financial Services organizations
• Proven experience advising CIOs, CTOs, and executive leadership teams on enterprise transformation initiatives
• Demonstrated success delivering large-scale modernization programs involving cloud, AI, data, and business platform transformation
• Active participation in industry forums, professional organizations, and technology communities is highly desirable
• Experience working across global, multi-regional financial institutions preferred

Certifications (Preferred)

• TOGAF Certification or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification
• AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Professional Architect certifications
• AI and Machine Learning certifications from recognized providers
• ITIL, IT4IT, or related IT governance certifications
• Relevant Banking, Cloud, Security, or Digital Transformation certifications

Location

United Kingdom / Europe (Hybrid)

Travel: Willingness to travel as required to support client engagements and executive stakeholder interactions.