ACI Retail Finance is seeking a strategic, results-driven Senior Technical Consultant to join our technology advisory practice in London. In this senior client-facing role, you will serve as a core technical authority bridging retail financial operations with complex digital architecture, cloud integrations, and payment engineering platforms.
Working alongside retail clients, executive stakeholders, solution architects, and software delivery teams, you will lead technical discovery sessions, evaluate legacy retail banking system architectures, and govern end-to-end platform deployments. This position balances high-level solution design with practical technical oversight, providing clear opportunities to drive digital innovation across key UK retail finance operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical Strategy & Advisory: Partner with executive leadership and client stakeholders to assess existing retail finance IT ecosystems, identify operational bottlenecks, and define scalable digital transformation roadmaps.
- Architecture & Solution Design: Design secure, high-performing enterprise architectures across public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), hybrid infrastructure, and API payment integration gateways.
- Requirements Scoping & Blueprinting: Lead technical discovery workshops, capture functional and non-functional requirements, and author detailed architectural diagrams, Statements of Work (SOWs), and technical proposals.
- Delivery Governance & Compliance: Oversee technical project execution, ensuring solution implementation aligns with architectural standards, security frameworks, and financial regulations (PCI-DSS, UK GDPR, FCA guidelines).
- Pre-Sales & Stakeholder Engagement: Support business development teams during pre-sales phases, present technical demonstrations, and craft comprehensive responses to RFPs and RFIs.
- Thought Leadership & Mentorship: Stay current with emerging fintech and retail payment trends, publish internal architectural standards, and mentor junior technical consultants.
Skills & QualificationsEssential
- 5+ years of commercial experience as a Technical Consultant, Solutions Architect, or Technical Practice Lead within retail finance, fintech, or consultancy environments.
- Proven track record delivering enterprise solution architecture and cloud modernization initiatives (AWS or Azure).
- Deep technical expertise in modern integration patterns, microservices architecture, payment gateway technologies, and identity access management.
- Demonstrated ability to engage C-suite stakeholders, communicating complex technical and financial technology concepts clearly to non-technical business leaders.
- Hands-on background in software engineering, enterprise integration, or cloud infrastructure platforms.
- Exceptional technical writing and documentation skills, with extensive experience producing architectural designs, SOWs, and technical proposals.
Desirable
- Relevant Professional Certifications: TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Professional), Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or PRINCE2 / Agile credentials.
- Domain experience with retail credit systems, consumer lending platforms, PCI-DSS compliance, or Open Banking APIs.
- Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance & Technology, or Business Systems.
- Prior background in technical pre-sales or management consulting.
Benefits
- Annual performance-based bonus
- Hybrid working model (3 days central London office / 2 days remote)
- 25 days annual leave plus UK bank holidays
- Enhanced pension scheme (up to 8% company match)
- Private medical and dental cover
- Life assurance (4x base salary)
- £1,500 annual personal learning and professional development budget
- Fully paid professional certifications, examination fees, and conference passes
- Cycle to Work scheme & Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Regular company socials, industry meetups, and team events
How to Apply
If you are a driven Technical Consultant ready to guide complex technology initiatives at ACI Retail Finance, submit your updated CV today to begin the application process.
Pay: £77,000.00-£81,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
