Data Architect

Job Title: Senior Manager - Data Architect (Modern Data & Cloud) 

Rank/Level: Senior Manager 

Service Line / Function: Technology Consulting - Data & AI 

Location: South Africa 

Reporting Line: Technology Consulting Partner / Associate Partner - Data & AI (to be confirmed) 

Team Size: Matrix leadership of data architects, data engineers, analytics specialists and global delivery teams; direct line responsibility to be confirmed 

Brief Description: 

EY Technology Consulting South Africa is growing its Data & AI capability to help Financial Services clients modernise data platforms, strengthen governance, improve regulatory reporting and build foundations for analytics and AI at scale. 

This Senior Manager role is a senior data architecture leadership position responsible for defining enterprise and domain-level data architectures across modern cloud data platforms. The successful candidate will advise CDOs and executive stakeholders, lead complex data modernisation programmes and build EY data architecture capability while contributing to commercial growth. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Define enterprise and domain data architectures across modern cloud data platforms. 

• Design and govern scalable data platforms supporting analytics, AI, real-time, risk and regulatory workloads. 

• Advise CDOs, CIOs and executive stakeholders on data strategy, data operating models, governance and modernisation roadmaps. 

• Lead complex data modernisation, cloud migration and data platform delivery programmes for Financial Services clients. 

• Act as senior data design authority across multiple workstreams and delivery teams. 

• Support major Financial Services pursuits by shaping data-led value propositions, solution architecture, estimates and delivery approaches. 

• Build, lead and mentor data architects, data engineers and analytics specialists across EY and global delivery teams. 

Key Deliverables (6-12 months): 

• Enterprise or domain data architecture vision, roadmap and target-state blueprint for priority client engagements. 

• Cloud data platform architecture covering ingestion, storage, processing, analytics, AI enablement, metadata, lineage and security. 

• Data governance, data quality, metadata and lineage design aligned to client operating model and regulatory requirements. 

• Architecture foundations for AI / ML, regulatory reporting, risk analytics and digital data use cases. 

• Data architecture input into major pursuits, including value proposition, solution scope, estimates and delivery model. 

• Development of reusable data architecture patterns, delivery accelerators and coaching interventions for local capability building. 

Technical Skills: 

• Enterprise data architecture, data modelling, data platform architecture and data management across complex enterprise environments. 

• Modern cloud data platform experience, including Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Synapse and Snowflake where applicable. 

• Lakehouse, data warehouse, data lake, streaming, batch, ELT / ETL, API and integration architecture patterns. 

• Data governance, metadata management, lineage, master data, reference data, data quality and data controls. 

• Architecture foundations for analytics, AI / ML, real-time data products, risk data and regulatory reporting. 

• Knowledge of Financial Services data, privacy, security, resilience and regulatory expectations. 

Leadership Skills: 

• C-suite advisory capability, particularly with CDO, CIO, CRO, CFO and senior business data stakeholders. 

• Ability to translate data strategy into executable architecture, delivery plans and operating model implications. 

• Strong facilitation of data design authority forums, architecture governance and cross-functional decision-making. 

• Commercial awareness with the ability to shape data-led propositions, pursuits and client business cases. 

• Large-team leadership across data architects, engineers, analysts, vendors and distributed delivery teams. 

• Coaching and capability-building mindset, with the ability to establish high standards for data architecture delivery. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• 12+ years of experience in data architecture, analytics, data platform delivery or enterprise data environments. 

• Strong experience designing modern cloud data architectures at enterprise or domain level. 

• Financial Services experience across banking, insurance, wealth, risk, regulatory reporting or related data environments. 

• Ability to operate at enterprise architecture and C-suite advisory level. 

• Proven leadership of large data delivery teams and multiple workstreams. 

• Demonstrated accountability for architectural quality and delivery outcomes. 

Preferred Requirements: 

• Certifications or deep delivery experience in Azure data services, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks or Snowflake. 

• Data management certification or strong practical experience aligned to DAMA, CDMP or equivalent frameworks. 

• Experience with regulatory reporting, risk data aggregation, data lineage, data quality remediation or AI-ready data foundations. 

• Consulting experience in a Big Four, systems integrator or specialist data advisory environment. 

• Knowledge of the South African Financial Services data and regulatory landscape. 

Stakeholders (Internal/External): 

• External: CDO, CIO, CTO, CRO, CFO, heads of data, analytics leaders, risk and finance stakeholders, enterprise architecture, data governance, information security, regulators where relevant, vendors and platform partners. 

• Internal: EY Data & AI Partners and Directors, Technology Consulting leadership, engagement teams, commercial and pursuit teams, global delivery teams, risk and quality teams, Talent and local practice leadership. 

Key Challenges: 

• Balancing enterprise data ambition with legacy data quality, fragmented ownership, regulatory demand and platform migration complexity. 

• Designing modern cloud data platforms that can support analytics, AI, real-time and regulatory workloads without creating unnecessary complexity. 

• Aligning business, risk, technology and governance stakeholders around common data architecture decisions. 

• Building delivery momentum while ensuring data controls, lineage, quality and security are embedded from the outset. 

Strategic Importance: 

• Critical to EY Technology Consulting South Africa growth in Data & AI and Financial Services transformation. 

• Enables EY clients to unlock analytics, AI and regulatory value through trusted, governed and scalable data platforms. 

• Strengthens EY credibility as a senior data strategy and data architecture advisor. 

• Builds reusable capability, delivery assets and senior talent depth within the local Data & AI practice. 

Budget / Salary Range: To be confirmed by EY Talent, Reward and the relevant Technology Consulting Partner. 

ACI / Transformation: To be aligned with EY South Africa employment equity and transformation commitments; specific ACI priorities to be confirmed with Talent and business leadership. 

Urgency / Start Date: High priority; preferred start date as soon as approvals and candidate availability allow. 

Reason for Vacancy: Growth and capability build in response to increased Financial Services demand for modern data architecture, cloud data platforms and AI-ready data foundations.