SAP S/4HANA Finance Solution Architect

Inside IR35 - Hybrid Work (South West, England) - 6 month initial contract

Role: SAP S/4HANA Finance Solution Architect

We are seeking an experienced SAP S/4HANA Finance Solution Architect to support a major ERP transformation programme within a highly regulated Defence environment.

The successful candidate will provide end-to-end solution architecture leadership across the finance domain, ensuring SAP solutions align with business objectives, governance requirements and operational needs. The role will act as the primary design authority for Finance-related workstreams, working closely with business stakeholders, programme leadership, system integrators and technical teams to define, govern and deliver robust finance solutions.

This is a hands-on architecture role requiring deep SAP Finance expertise combined with strong stakeholder engagement and delivery experience. The successful candidate will be capable of translating business requirements into scalable SAP solutions whilst ensuring compliance with regulatory, audit and security requirements.

Essential: Candidates must hold, or have previously held, BPSS and SC Security Clearance, or be eligible to obtain and maintain both.

Core Functional Requirements & Experience

Finance Solution Architecture

• Lead the architecture and design of SAP S/4HANA Finance solutions across the programme
• Act as the design authority for Finance-related business processes and solution decisions.
• Translate complex business and regulatory requirements into practical SAP solutions.
• Ensure alignment between Finance, Enterprise Architecture and wider programme objectives.
• Lead design reviews and solution governance activities.
• Support business process harmonisation and standardisation initiatives.

SAP Finance Solution leadership

Provide architecture leadership across the following key areas:

Financial Accounting (FI)

• General Ledger
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Asset Accounting
• Intercompany Accounting
• Financial Close and Reporting

Controlling (CO)

• Cost Centre Accounting
• Internal Orders
• Profitability Analysis
• Product Costing
• Management Reporting

Forecasting & Budgeting (Essential)

• Budget planning and management processes.
• Forecasting and financial planning solutions.
• Integration between operational and financial planning activities.
• Experience supporting enterprise planning and budgeting processes within SAP environments.

Multi-Bank Connectivity (Essential)

• Multi-bank solutions and banking integration.
• Treasury and cash management processes.
• Electronic bank statement integration.
• Payment processing architecture.
• Banking interfaces and financial control frameworks

Digital Tax (Essential)

• Digital tax compliance and reporting requirements.
• VAT, indirect tax and regulatory reporting frameworks.
• Tax determination and reporting processes within SAP.
• Support for evolving digital tax regulations and compliance obligations.

Governance, Risk & Compliance (Essential)

• SAP GRC Access Control.
• Segregation of Duties (SoD).
• Risk and compliance management.
• Audit and controls frameworks.
• User provisioning and governance processes.
• Support for internal and external audit requirements.

Integration & Cross-Functional Design

• Collaborate with Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and HR workstreams to ensure end-to-end process integration.
• Define finance integration requirements across SAP and non-SAP platforms.
• Ensure integrity of financial data and reporting across the enterprise landscape.
• Support data migration, testing and deployment activities from a finance architecture perspective.

Required Experience

Essential

• Minimum.*10 years SAP Finance experience*.
• Extensive SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA Finance architecture experience.
• Proven experience acting as Lead Finance Solution Architect or Senior Finance Architect on large transformation programmes
• Demonstrable expertise in:
  • Digital Tax
  • Multi-Bank Connectivity
  • Forecasting & Budgeting
  • SAP GRC
  • Strong understanding of Finance operating models and finance transformation.
  • Experience leading architecture decisions within complex ERP programmes
  • Ability to engage and influence senior Finance, Technology and Programme stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • SAP S/4HANA Greenfield or Brownfield transformation programmes.
  • SAP Treasury and Risk Management.
  • SAP Group Reporting.
  • SAP Analytics Cloud for Planning.
  • SAP BTP and integration technologies.
  • Experience working with major System Integrators.

Key Skills

• SAP S/4HANA Finance Architecture
• SAP FI/CO
• Digital Tax
• Multi-Bank Connectivity
• Forecasting & Budgeting
• SAP GRC
• Finance Transformation
• Enterprise Integration
• Business Process Design
• Solution Governance
• Stakeholder Management
• Programme Delivery

Personal Attributes

• High intellectual calibre with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Confident engaging with Finance Directors, CFOs, Programme Leadership and Technical Teams.
• Strong communication, facilitation and influencing skills.
• Able to balance strategic architecture with practical delivery considerations.
• Collaborative, pragmatic and outcome focused.
• Comfortable operating within complex, highly regulated environments.

Preferred Sector Experience

• Defence
• Aerospace & Defence (A/&D)
• Government & Public Sector
• Nuclear
• Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
• Other highly regulated industries