Enterprise Architect - Institutional Client Services

Enterprise Architect – Institutional Client ServicesThis is a contract to hire opportunity. This role is ideal for a strategic thinker with strong technical expertise, excellent communication skills, and a passion for driving innovation in the financial sector. Note that for remote consideration, travel to Buffalo, NY will be expected every 4-6 weeks with Monday through Thursday in office.Skill Set 1: Strategic PlanningSkill Set 2: Detailed Solution ArchitectSkill Set 3: CommunicationJob SummaryAs an Enterprise Architect for Institutional Client Services (ICS) at M&T Bank, 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 bank's long-term success, ensuring scalable, resilient, and forward-looking solutions.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic 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 complex financial ecosystems.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 banking 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 strong relationships with management, providing expert advice and insights to support decision-making.Communication: Communicate complex architectural concepts clearly and persuasively 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.Expected SkillsStrategic 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 of high-net-worth clients and institutions, with the ability to translate those needs into effective architectural solutions.Enterprise Architecture Expertise: Proficiency in developing and applying enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., 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.Technology Integration: Experience integrating diverse systems, platforms, and data sources to create cohesive, interoperable solutions that support seamless client experiences and operational efficiency.Risk and Compliance Awareness: Strong 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: Excellent communication skills, with the 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.Continuous Learning: A passion for staying updated on financial services related technologies and their rapidly evolving tools, features, and best practices.Expected KnowledgeStrong knowledge of financial services industry domains, particularly institutional banking servicesUnderstanding of modern technology architectures, including cloud, microservices, APIs, data platforms, and integration patternsAwareness of cybersecurity principles, data privacy standards, and secure architecture practicesFamiliarity with business capability modeling, value stream mapping, and other business architecture techniquesKnowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to financial institutions (e.g., FFIEC, SOX, GLBA, GDPR)Proficiency in using architectural modeling tools and documentation standardsKnowledge of IT governance, portfolio management, and enterprise change management processesUnderstanding of data architecture concepts, including data governance, master data management, and analytics enablementFamiliarity with emerging technologies and their potential impact on financial servicesExperience in vendor and third-party solution evaluation, selection, and integration strategiesAwareness of agile, DevOps, and product-centric delivery models and how architecture supports themQualificationsEducation: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or related field7+ years in cloud architecture, with 3+ years focused on Azure hybrid environments.Knowledge of institutional banking products and services including capital markets, investment management, structured finance, and M&A.Experience in driving and delivering innovation within the realm of financial services.Working knowledge of architecture diagramming practices, architectural frameworks, and/or enterprise architecture toolsWork experience in software engineering, software delivery and/or solution architecture including developing and integrating applications using relevant software architecture principles and patternsExpected DeliverablesArchitecture 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.