Solutions Architect

Term: Permanent
Department: IT
Location: London
The firm

Boodle Hatfield has been providing practical advice to businesses and individuals for 300 years. Our clients come from a wide range of sectors, both in the UK and internationally, and include some of the most well-established owner-managed businesses and property companies as well as fast-growing entrepreneurial enterprises and ultra-high net worth families. Our chief priority is helping our clients achieve their commercial objectives, whatever form their business takes.

Our approach is to become the long-term trusted adviser to leading wealth creators and owners as well as their commercial and investment enterprises. Having a holistic view of our clients' structures and affairs means we can leverage this to provide the most appropriate and commercial advice to them. This approach has enabled us, throughout our 300-year history, to help our clients successfully navigate the continually changing and sometimes challenging markets in which they operate.

With a history like ours, we know we are built to last. But this isn’t the time to rest on our laurels but instead a chance to reflect and build on our heritage. We are merely today’s custodians of the Boodle Hatfield name, and we want to create a legacy that our successors will be just as proud of.

To commemorate our 300 year anniversary, last year we rolled out an extensive programme of activities, each of which sowed the seeds for the future success of others – our local neighbourhoods, the wider legal profession, and of course our valued clients and our own team.

Summary of role

Reporting to the Head of IT and Head of Business Intelligence & Systems, the Solutions Architect plays a key role in ensuring the firms use of technology is efficient, secure and continually improving.

Working with key stakeholders throughout the firm, the Solutions Architect needs to make improvements to existing systems and suggest new solutions that will increase the efficient delivery of legal services whilst maintaining the highest level of data and system security.

The work undertaken requires a high and broad level of technical proficiency and the ability to acquire new skills at a reasonably fast pace.

Being proficient in managing a busy pipeline of work in a controlled and efficient way is essential.

The Solutions Architect needs be highly skilled in identifying pain points and designing or modifying technical solutions to solve company problems and enhance the internal and external client experience. They must be deeply involved in daily work across all business units, regularly interacting with both stakeholders and subject matter experts.

Skills and experience

Objectives

  • Develop a deep understanding of our existing IT infrastructure and the cyber security defences we have in place and actively search for areas of improvement
  • Streamline workflows by implementing inventive technical solutions which create a stable, high performing and secure environment for our users to deliver legal services.
  • Assist in the creation and continued development of a technology strategy which aligns with the overall firm strategy. To ensure this is achieved, engagement with stakeholders across the firm is essential.
  • Drive organisation-wide process optimization through targeted technology implementation.
  • Evaluate existing and emerging technologies on a regular basis and recommend areas for change as part of a continual improvement program.
  • Develop and maintain API integrations between various systems to ensure seamless data flow and functionality.
  • Use of SQL, JSON, OData and Rest APIs to build and maintain a data warehouse, adhering to best practices for data management and storage.
  • Leverage Microsoft Power Apps to integrate with existing business systems, enhancing operational efficiency and user experience.
  • Quickly understand system architecture and identify common links to optimize system performance and integration.

Responsibilities

  • Ensure the firms technology environment is continually evolving and is configured in a way that provides a stable, high performing and secure environment that meets our user and client requirements and expectations.
  • Analyse and understand business requirements by engaging with users across all areas of the firm.
  • Design, implement and test technical architecture solutions.
  • Propose IT solutions to company and industry challenges.
  • Ensure comprehensive IT documentation is created and maintained.
  • Partner with teams across business functions to drive organizational efficiency.
  • Identify potential risks and issues related to the technology environment and develop practical solutions to mitigate these whilst maintaining an environment which promotes efficient business operations.
  • Ensure our systems are setup and configured in accordance with our security accreditations ensuring all known and emerging cyber security threats and vulnerabilities are resolved within the required timeframes.
  • Respond to incident and service requests escalated via the ServiceDesk portal.

Experience and Skills Required

  • Strong knowledge of various technologies, platforms, and architectural patterns with the ability to pick-up new technologies as they emerge.
  • Highly developed creative solution and problem solving skills.
  • Thorough understanding of the M365 technology stack.
  • Solid understanding of a broad range of general IT topics and applications across the legal industry; iManage, 3E, Intapp, Mimecast, Tessian, Litera suite.
  • Good understanding of mobile technologies and the requirements needed to support a robust hybrid working model.
  • Proven experience in writing and managing API integrations.
  • Strong knowledge of one or more coding languages for example SQL,JSON, OData, with experience in data warehousing.
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Power Apps and their integration capabilities.
  • Ability to quickly understand and navigate system architecture.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
  • Strong understanding of Azure's infrastructure and services.
  • Keen attention to detail.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools.
  • A high level of understanding and adherence to ITIL best practice methodologies, including problem management, change management and availability management.
  • Experience with other integration tools and platforms.
  • Knowledge of best practices in data security and setup.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a structured and transparent way.

Key Attributes

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • A proactive approach to problem solving, continual improvement and communication.
  • Ability to empathise with user and team issues, requirements and concerns, and translate these into actions for continuous improvement.
  • A structured approach to task management.
Equal opportunities

Boodle Hatfield is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment through its inclusive and supportive environment. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the Firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.  We are fully committed to a working environment in which all people can excel.