In a nutshell
Very experienced Enterprise and Solution Architect, co-author of "Software Systems Architecture"
Availability
Temporarily unavailable
Location
London, United Kingdom
Skills
HM Expert Since
Sunday February 10, 2019
About Nick
I have twenty years’ experience in solutions and enterprise architecture, in the finance, government, retail and manufacturing sectors. I have taken senior architectural and technology leadership roles for:
- ICBC Standard Bank, where I set up and led a Bank-wide, cross-functional Enterprise and Solutions Architecture team;
- Barclays Investment Bank, where I was the architect for Rates front office IT, and later a CTO Lead Architect;
- Barclays Global Investors, where I set up and led the Enterprise Architecture team;
- Marks and Spencer, where I was Lead Technical Architect for Integration.
I have extensive skill and experience in designing and documenting current- and target-state architectures, developing roadmaps to move towards the target, and leading and supporting the execution of the roadmap.
I work with stakeholders at all levels: developer, requirements analyst, project / programme manager, other architects, and senior business and technology stakeholders up to CxO.
- ICBC Standard Bank, where I set up and led a Bank-wide, cross-functional Enterprise and Solutions Architecture team;
- Barclays Investment Bank, where I was the architect for Rates front office IT, and later a CTO Lead Architect;
- Barclays Global Investors, where I set up and led the Enterprise Architecture team;
- Marks and Spencer, where I was Lead Technical Architect for Integration.
I have extensive skill and experience in designing and documenting current- and target-state architectures, developing roadmaps to move towards the target, and leading and supporting the execution of the roadmap.
I work with stakeholders at all levels: developer, requirements analyst, project / programme manager, other architects, and senior business and technology stakeholders up to CxO.
Current Role Details
Enterprise Architect contract with a global payments company which offers a wide range of B2B and B2C payment services. The company has grown substantially through acquisition and merger, which has resulted in systems duplication and inefficiency.
Currently developing a detailed capability model with senior business stakeholders, focussing on real-time and post-authorisation risk management, and mapping these capabilities to internal systems and to external services. The model will be used to identify opportunities for application rationalisation, simplification and consolidation.
Currently developing a detailed capability model with senior business stakeholders, focussing on real-time and post-authorisation risk management, and mapping these capabilities to internal systems and to external services. The model will be used to identify opportunities for application rationalisation, simplification and consolidation.
Roles & Results
ICBC STANDARD BANK - Head of Enterprise Architecture and Integration
Delivery and Achievements
Drove multiple initiatives to simplify and consolidate the Bank’s application portfolio. Worked with senior business and technology stakeholders to: understand business goals, business capabilities and the existing system and data landscape; define, articulate and ratify the front-to-back target-state enterprise architecture; and define, articulate and ratify the roadmap to take the Bank to the target-state. My oversight ensured that major change programmes for business transformation, business growth and production stabilisation aligned with the Bank’s strategic goals and priorities.
Drove multiple initiatives to simplify and consolidate the Bank’s application portfolio. Worked with senior business and technology stakeholders to: understand business goals, business capabilities and the existing system and data landscape; define, articulate and ratify the front-to-back target-state enterprise architecture; and define, articulate and ratify the roadmap to take the Bank to the target-state. My oversight ensured that major change programmes for business transformation, business growth and production stabilisation aligned with the Bank’s strategic goals and priorities.
ICBC STANDARD BANK - Head of Enterprise Architecture and Integration
Delivery and Achievements
Managed a team of solution architects assigned to major change programmes including: selection and implementation of an Enterprise Data Management platform, and its rollout to the Bank’s strategic systems; implementation of a strategic service for regulatory monitoring and reporting, initially for MIFID II, which was then extended to other regulatory regimes; implementation of a highly secure online portal, which the Bank’s clients used to manage their precious metals inventory. My leadership ensured that solution architects worked effectively with major programme teams throughout the inception, design and implementation phases.
Managed a team of solution architects assigned to major change programmes including: selection and implementation of an Enterprise Data Management platform, and its rollout to the Bank’s strategic systems; implementation of a strategic service for regulatory monitoring and reporting, initially for MIFID II, which was then extended to other regulatory regimes; implementation of a highly secure online portal, which the Bank’s clients used to manage their precious metals inventory. My leadership ensured that solution architects worked effectively with major programme teams throughout the inception, design and implementation phases.
ICBC STANDARD BANK - Head of Enterprise Architecture and Integration
Delivery and Achievements
Led an Integration Refresh Programme to replace the Bank’s legacy infrastructure for real-time integration. Ran an RFP to select a new vendor product (IBM Integration Broker), and oversaw a pilot project to prove the capabilities of the chosen platform before starting the full rollout. My involvement ensured the new service woulddeliver significant improvements in cost, time to market and agility for major IT programmes.
Led an Integration Refresh Programme to replace the Bank’s legacy infrastructure for real-time integration. Ran an RFP to select a new vendor product (IBM Integration Broker), and oversaw a pilot project to prove the capabilities of the chosen platform before starting the full rollout. My involvement ensured the new service woulddeliver significant improvements in cost, time to market and agility for major IT programmes.
BARCLAYS INVESTMENT BANK - CTO Lead Architect
Delivery and Achievements
Ran the Investment Bank Architecture Board (IBAB) which reviewed and approved the architectures of important new systems. Created and rolled out a comprehensive questionnaire for architectural review. Set up and led the bank-wide Architecture Community of Practice (sponsored by the CTO), which brought together practicing architects to share information, ideas and knowledge.
Ran the Investment Bank Architecture Board (IBAB) which reviewed and approved the architectures of important new systems. Created and rolled out a comprehensive questionnaire for architectural review. Set up and led the bank-wide Architecture Community of Practice (sponsored by the CTO), which brought together practicing architects to share information, ideas and knowledge.
BARCLAYS INVESTMENT BANK - Architect for Fixed Income Rates
Delivery and Achievements
Led the architecture and design of systems to help the bank meet its regulatory requirements under US, European and British legislation, working to regulatory deadlines and constantly changing requirements. The first delivery was to meet the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was introduced by the US government after the systematic banking crash of 2008, and required the Bank to report derivatives trades in a standardised format, in real-time (within 15 minutes of execution)
Led the architecture and design of systems to help the bank meet its regulatory requirements under US, European and British legislation, working to regulatory deadlines and constantly changing requirements. The first delivery was to meet the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was introduced by the US government after the systematic banking crash of 2008, and required the Bank to report derivatives trades in a standardised format, in real-time (within 15 minutes of execution)
MARKS AND SPENCER - Lead Technical Architect for Application Services
Delivery and Achievements
Developed the Integration Strategy and Vision, ratified it with the IT Leadership team, and championed it across the IT Group. Developed a roadmap for the implementation of a new messaging service, led the specification and selection of a product for stateless messaging, and provided architectural sponsorship and oversight to the implementation programme. Nick’s leadership drove out across-the-board service improvements, and enabled projects to be developed on a robust set of application platforms more quickly, cheaply and to a high standard of quality
Developed the Integration Strategy and Vision, ratified it with the IT Leadership team, and championed it across the IT Group. Developed a roadmap for the implementation of a new messaging service, led the specification and selection of a product for stateless messaging, and provided architectural sponsorship and oversight to the implementation programme. Nick’s leadership drove out across-the-board service improvements, and enabled projects to be developed on a robust set of application platforms more quickly, cheaply and to a high standard of quality
CAP GEMINI - Technical Architect
Delivery and Achievements
Led a team of senior architects on one of Europe’s largest deployments of Siebel eFinance CRM software for a major UK retail bank, to replace a number of the client’s core client-facing applications which served over 12,000 users. After defining the data and integration architectures, Nick went on to lead the team which designed, developed and deployed the batch integration solution and various other subcomponents. Nick’s work helped ensure that the transition to the new platform went smoothly and successfully, with no impact on customer service or data quality.
Led a team of senior architects on one of Europe’s largest deployments of Siebel eFinance CRM software for a major UK retail bank, to replace a number of the client’s core client-facing applications which served over 12,000 users. After defining the data and integration architectures, Nick went on to lead the team which designed, developed and deployed the batch integration solution and various other subcomponents. Nick’s work helped ensure that the transition to the new platform went smoothly and successfully, with no impact on customer service or data quality.
SYBASE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - Technical Team Lead
Delivery and Achievements
Senior member of a project which specified, designed and implemented a bespoke global exposure management system for an investment bank. He captured the requirements and algorithms for exposure consolidation for the bank’s financial instruments and produced the logical data model for the system. He went on to architect, design and deliver the subsystem which performed exposure calculations.
Senior member of a project which specified, designed and implemented a bespoke global exposure management system for an investment bank. He captured the requirements and algorithms for exposure consolidation for the bank’s financial instruments and produced the logical data model for the system. He went on to architect, design and deliver the subsystem which performed exposure calculations.
SYBASE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - Technical Consultant
Delivery and Achievements
Carried out a large number of small technical consultancy engagements, such as: advising clients on Sybase installation, configuration, performance and tuning; producing or reviewing architecture and design documents; and helping clients build systems which made best use of the Sybase platform. Delivered a wide range of public training courses to classes of up to 25 students, including deep technical topics such as Replication Server and Sybase Internals.
Carried out a large number of small technical consultancy engagements, such as: advising clients on Sybase installation, configuration, performance and tuning; producing or reviewing architecture and design documents; and helping clients build systems which made best use of the Sybase platform. Delivered a wide range of public training courses to classes of up to 25 students, including deep technical topics such as Replication Server and Sybase Internals.
