Enterprise Architect

Job Description:
POSITION SUMMARY

The Enterprise Architect is a member of the Application Development and Reporting division in the Internal Client Services Information Technology department. The primary purpose of the position is to provide overall direction, guidance and definition of enterprise architecture to effectively support Grant Thornton LLP's business strategy.

The Enterprise Architect will have world-class application architecture skills. This position will be responsible for setting a vision for Grant Thornton's application architecture. This vision will span multiple disciplines and lines of businesses. This person will be responsible for facilitating, conceptualizing and defining systems solutions in accordance with this vision. These solutions will be developed with teams representing both IT personnel and business stakeholders

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-Consults on architecture related concerns and directions.
-Designs reference and application architectures.
-Maintains knowledge of the accounting industry and firm developments and proposes changes to the enterprise architecture to keep pace with these developments.
-Recommends and advocates the appropriate use of architecture, infrastructure, and processes to the development teams.
-Guides application areas in developing appropriate system technical maturity cycle planning.
-Reviews and analyzes feasibility of new applications.
-Identifies need, and ensures architectural resources are appropriately engaged in projects.
-Provides direction that decreases the redundancies and inconsistencies across the applications thereby lowering the overall cost structure and increasing speed to market for new functionality.
-Provides guidance to senior IT leadership on architecture issues and resolution definition.
-Leverages reference architectures that fit within the overall architectural blueprint for a particular project or discipline.
-Drives requirements for architectural designs for a specific initiative ensuring business drivers are met and all impacted areas are involved.
-Advocates effective architectural designs (including reference architectures) and optimizes current architecture and processes.
-Balance the usage of tactical solutions with overall application refresh strategy.
-Identifies opportunities to provide architecture / design review to ensure quality is built into systems.
-Identify risks, opportunities, and compliance issues.
-Designs updates for application architecture and communicates to affected teams.
-Develops appropriate architectural solution concepts and supports project team with feasibility and high-level project estimation.
-Develop and maintain current and future state architecture documentation.
-Defines the architectural portion of RFPs ( when applicable ) and analyze responses.
-Supports vendor selection and analysis process by evaluating vendor-supplied architecture(s) and their fit within Grant Thornton.
-Mentors and coaches peers and colleagues.
-Builds and sustains relationships.
-Adhere to the highest degree of professional standards and strict confidentiality in matters that require discretion.
-Attend professional development and training sessions on a regular basis.
-Perform other job-related duties as required.

Job Experience:
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
-Bachelor degree in computer science or engineering.
-15 years of experience in a leading edge software development environment designing or developing large and complex systems with 5 years of exclusive focus on application architecture.
-Experience designing and developing high traffic web applications or other high volume transaction processing applications.
-Experience and in depth knowledge of workflow systems as well as methodologies and standards.
-In depth knowledge and experience in one or more of the following: ASP.NET, C++/C#, HTML, SQL, SOA, SOAP, Java or XML experience desired.
-.Net Framework.
-Microsoft Office Products including Visio.
-Working knowledge of formal enterprise architecture methodologies ( Zachman, TOGAF ).
-In depth knowledge of common integration methodologies ( SOA, Hub and spoke ).
-Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to impart technical concepts to all levels cross functionally ( both technical and non-technical audiences ).
-Experience with back office systems ( CRM/ERP ) strongly preferred.
-World-class experience and multiple years architecting and designing applications.
-Solid experience with security, hosting, and storage products, practices and tools.
-Lead architect on multiple complex solutions and or organizations.
-Experience designing high availability solutions.
-Excellent communication and client interaction skills at the senior most levels.
-Experience in large-scale application design and deployment projects.
-Technical certification desirable.
-Good understanding of n-tier architecture and full life cycle application development.
-Good understanding of software development methodologies and principals including standard waterfall, iterative, and agile approaches.
-Working knowledge of the professional services industry, preferably accounting and business advisory services.
Ability to work additional hours as needed.

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS POSITION
-Reports directly to: Director of Systems
-Estimated percentage of travel: