Process Architecture Lead

We are seeking a top-tier Lead in Business Process Architecture  with a strong emphasis on business architecture to lead the design, alignment, and optimization of the bank's processes across all layers of Process architecture, including IT architecture, digital architecture, and data architecture. This role is pivotal in ensuring that the bank's business processes are effectively engineered, reimagined, and managed for maximum scalability, time-to-business (STB), efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

The role includes spearheading the end-to-end process optimization across Financial Crime control functions ensuring that every process and function is documented with a process landscape / optimized.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in Financial Crime activities and Business Process Engineering with an extensive track record in the banking sector. They must possess a profound understanding of core banking products and operations, spanning retail banking, corporate banking, risk management, and back-office functions. As part of the bank’s transformation leadership team, this role demands a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on involvement, working closely with a small, high-impact team to achieve transformative goals.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Oversee the development, implementation, and management of the  Process Architecture  framework, with a primary focus on business architecture.
• Align all layers of Process architecture —business, IT, digital, and data architectures—ensuring seamless integration to support the bank’s strategic objectives.
• Provide governance and guidance to ensure EA adherence across projects and initiatives maintaining consistency and alignment

Business Process Engineering and Management:

• Lead the documentation, analysis, and re-engineering of the bank's business processes to optimize for speed, cost, and efficiency factoring in risks / controls and legal obligation around every process/ journeys
• Develop and implement a structured approach to business process management (BPM), ensuring processes are scalable, measurable, and adaptable to change.
• Collaborate with business units and technical teams to ensure that processes align with customer needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational goals

Process Architecture and Alignment:

• Define and implement a robust business architecture strategy that integrates and supports the bank’s overall enterprise architecture framework.
• Align business processes with IT, digital, and data architectures, ensuring seamless communication and data flow across all layers.
• Work closely with product teams to design and implement processes for core banking services, including retail banking, corporate banking, risk management, and back-office operations.

Qualifications and Experience:

Core Expertise:

• Extensive experience in Enterprise Architecture, with a specialization in Business Architecture and Business Process Engineering within the banking sector.
• Proven track record of re-engineering and optimizing business processes for large financial institutions.
• Deep understanding of IT Architecture and its interplay with business and data architectures.

Banking Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of core banking products and operations, including:
  • Retail Banking: Products, processes, and systems.
  • Corporate Banking: Lending, treasury, and trade finance operations.
  • Risk Management: Credit, market, and operational risk.
  • Back-Office Operations: Reconciliation, settlements, and compliance.

Leadership and Execution Skills:

• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.
• Strong hands-on capability to execute deliverables directly, working effectively with limited team resources.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and influence at all levels of the organization.

Industry Knowledge:

• 12–15 years of experience in EA, BPM, and IT Architecture, with a significant portion of this experience in banking or financial services.
• Familiarity with banking regulations, compliance standards, and industry best practices.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on driving results.
• Strong communication skills, capable of articulating complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to execution.

Purpose of the role

To collaborate with stakeholders and use data and MI to identify process optimisation opportunities for capacity creation in relevant business areas. 

Accountabilities

• Development and implementation of strategies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of banking operations, using data led insights.
• Participation in projects and initiatives to improve performance & optimisation   efficiency and effectiveness.
• Development of reports and presentations on performance & optimisation and communicate findings to internal senior stakeholders.
• Identification of industry trends and developments, and collaboration with stakeholders across the bank to provide recommendations for change and improvement within performance and optimisation processes.
• Development and implementation of analytics and reporting performance & optimisation to mitigate risks and maintain efficient operations.
• Identification of capacity creation in operations using data and Management Information.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.