Guardian Financial Services
Enterprise Architect FTC, Hybrid / Reading

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Guardian's Mission
At Guardian, our mission is simple: to ensure every family has protection they truly believe in. We’re challenging the market with a fresh approach and a brand promise — Life. Made Better.
Enterprise Architect Role
We are looking for an Enterprise Architect to join on a six month fixed term basis.
Role Overview
What does a Team Manager, Back Office do?
Guardian experienced rapid growth supported by a fully digital, Microsoft Azure cloud-based platform. The onboarding journey for advisers and policy holders is entirely digital, whilst servicing customers post policy inception is hybrid digital/manual.
Given the rapid growth, there has now been the build-up of tech debt and Guardian has launched an Architecture Review to understand where architectural constraints may hamper future growth plans and market opportunities.
Phase 1 of the review was an internal deep dive, and we’re now looking for an external ‘pair of eyes’ to validate our findings and assumptions and to help us plan and sequence the work we need to do to ensure our architecture is simplified, brought up to date and is fit to support Guardian in the next phase of its journey.
Requirements
Who are we looking for?
You will have experience of and be able to demonstrate:
- Prior experience of working in the UK Financial Services sector, ideally within the Life and Protection space
- Experience of creating, developing and managing architectural roadmaps
- Experience of establishing and driving architecture governance processes
- Experience of designing and transitioning to an evolutionary architecture model supporting multiple parallel workstreams
- Experience of working with DevOps, Developers, business analysts, solution architects and business stakeholders
- Experience of technical leadership on complex multi-vendor solutions
- Ability to work with limited supervision but collaboratively and enthusiastically with a strong team ethic
- Excellent communication skills and stakeholder management (to CxO and board level)
- Ability to ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations and best practices
- Demonstrable consideration of risk management and the mitigation of technical risks associated with architecture decisions
- Demonstrable consideration of future needs in terms of efficiency, simplicity, agility, adaptability, maintainability
- Understanding of legal and regulatory requirements
- Fully cognisant of information and Cyber security, business continuity and disaster recovery needs.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Knowledge/Understanding
Knowledge/Understanding of the following areas would be advantageous:
- Microsoft Azure cloud technologies
- Data warehousing and analytics solutions
- Data modelling and development of API definitions
- Microsoft DevOps and Github
- Relational and non-relational database technologies
- Common architectural and integration design patterns
- Implementation of standards-based authentication and identity management solutions
- Business domain specific standards such as ORIGO messaging
- A background in either C#/.Net or Java centric development
- Familiarity with Atlassian tool set (JIRA/Confluence)
- Familiarity with one or more architecture methodologies (e.g. TOGAF)
- Familiarity with Agile Delivery Principles, Methods and Tools
- Familiarity with Domain Driven Design and Clean Architecture


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Benefits
What’s in it for you?
- Private Medical Insurance with rewards for yourself with discounted rates for your family members
- Competitive Company Pension Scheme
- Access to several employee discounted schemes to suit your lifestyle including but not limited to:
- Private dental insurance
- Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Comprehensive Europe and Worldwide Travel Insurance
- Medical Cash Plan
- Gym memberships
- Access to 24/7 GP service for you and your family
- 25 days pro rata holiday with the option to purchase more
This is an exciting time to be joining us with plenty of opportunity for professional growth we invite you to apply to become part of our award-winning team.
Equal Opportunities Employer
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds, identities and experiences and we actively promote equal opportunities in our recruitment process.
Most of our vacancies can be offered on a hybrid basis, working 50% of your working time per month from the office. We can also consider flexible working. Should you wish to learn more about the role, or have any questions, please contact our HR Team via hrservicedesk@puntersouthallgroup.com.
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