Manager (Solution Architect)
Posted
Summary
Senior client-facing consulting role at Alpha FMC's Middle East office leading EPM solution design and delivery (primarily Anaplan) for asset/wealth management, private markets, and insurance clients. Day to day: pre-sales demos, discovery and scoping, solution architecture, requirements documentation in JIRA, and client presentations.
Alpha FMC is a specialist consulting firm focused on digital and operational transformation for Asset and Wealth Management, Alternative Investments, and Insurance clients worldwide. Our EPM practice is a fast-growing, collaborative team delivering high-quality solutions across platforms including Anaplan, Pigment, and Workiva. This role is based in out of our Middle East office, and we are unable to provide relocation for this specific role.
The Solution Architect is a senior technical and client-facing role responsible for leading EPM design and delivery. You will shape architectural approaches, lead model-building teams through agile delivery, and serve as the primary technical voice with clients. This role operates at Manager or Senior Manager level within the EMEA EPM practice.
Responsibilities
The Solution Architect is a senior technical and client-facing role responsible for leading EPM design and delivery. You will shape architectural approaches, lead model-building teams through agile delivery, and serve as the primary technical voice with clients. This role operates at Manager or Senior Manager level within the EMEA EPM practice.
Responsibilities
Pre-Sales Support
You will contribute to pre-sales activities including building and presenting platform demonstrations, either personally or by directing a model builder. You are expected to develop deep familiarity with Alpha's accelerator models for Asset Managers, Real Estate, Private Markets, and Workforce Planning, through active engagement with the wider EPM community.
You will contribute to pre-sales activities including building and presenting platform demonstrations, either personally or by directing a model builder. You are expected to develop deep familiarity with Alpha's accelerator models for Asset Managers, Real Estate, Private Markets, and Workforce Planning, through active engagement with the wider EPM community.
Scope Definition and Discovery
You will own project scoping from initial discovery through to sign-off. This involves:
You will own project scoping from initial discovery through to sign-off. This involves:
- Leading discovery sessions with client stakeholders to surface current-state processes, systems, and data flows
- Documenting business and functional requirements with precision
- Producing workflow and process diagrams of existing and future-state operations
- Identifying integration dependencies and assessing enterprise-level system alignment
- Flagging scope risks early and communicating them directly to the Project Manager and client representatives
Solution Design and Specifications
Prior to build commencement, you will translate functional requirements into detailed project specifications and sprint plans. This includes designing and documenting the future-state operating model, including how new processes, data sources, and workflows connect through the EPM solution. Where system capabilities and client specifications diverge, you will propose pragmatic workarounds.
Prior to build commencement, you will translate functional requirements into detailed project specifications and sprint plans. This includes designing and documenting the future-state operating model, including how new processes, data sources, and workflows connect through the EPM solution. Where system capabilities and client specifications diverge, you will propose pragmatic workarounds.
Requirements Documentation
You will lead requirements gathering and maintain documentation discipline throughout the delivery lifecycle. User Stories are captured in JIRA. As part of this process, you will examine existing systems to identify improvement and integration opportunities.
Client Engagement
You will engage directly with client stakeholders throughout the project, from discovery through to deployment. This includes preparing and presenting sprint reviews, progress updates, integration reports, and demonstrations. You should be equally comfortable communicating with business sponsors and technical counterparts.
You will also receive evolving requirements from clients during delivery and work with the Project Manager to prioritise and re-plan accordingly..
Requirements
You will lead requirements gathering and maintain documentation discipline throughout the delivery lifecycle. User Stories are captured in JIRA. As part of this process, you will examine existing systems to identify improvement and integration opportunities.
Client Engagement
You will engage directly with client stakeholders throughout the project, from discovery through to deployment. This includes preparing and presenting sprint reviews, progress updates, integration reports, and demonstrations. You should be equally comfortable communicating with business sponsors and technical counterparts.
You will also receive evolving requirements from clients during delivery and work with the Project Manager to prioritise and re-plan accordingly..
Requirements
Experience and Qualifications
- University degree or equivalent professional qualification
- Anaplan Solution Architect Certified
- Strong consulting background, with 5 years+ of managing Anaplan platforms in internal Finance teams
- Demonstrable experience in requirements gathering, documentation, and scoping across complex programmes
- Desired: Financial modelling experience in Private Markets, Asset Management or Insurance.
Technical Skills
- Deep knowledge of Anaplan, including advanced concepts, model design best practices, and integration design patterns
- Strong Excel modelling background; familiarity with broader EPM and finance systems is advantageous
- Proficiency in process mapping tools such as Visio or LucidChart
- Experience with JIRA or equivalent agile project tooling for user story and backlog management
- Competency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and Word, for client-facing deliverables
Consulting and Client Skills
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present confidently to both business and technology audiences
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with attention to detail and the ability to quickly grasp complex, cross-functional requirements
- Track record of managing client relationships and delivering under pressure
- Ability to interact effectively with vendors and partners to gather technical information critical to project scope and execution
Personal Attributes
- Self-motivated, proactive, and organised in a fast-paced consulting environment
- Able to prioritise workload and manage competing expectations across multiple stakeholders
- Genuine interest in Financial Services, Private Markets, and the technology landscape underpinning these sectors
- Appetite to grow knowledge across Alpha's broader EPM platform portfolio
- Arabic fluency is a bonus
Skills
As published by greenhouse · 15 questions
Basics
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Location
Short answers (10)
- Please share below the URL to your LinkedIn profile?
- Do you require any reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process (and if so, please provide further detail)?
- Please provide your current base salary (in GBP)?
- Please outline your current pension scheme (specifically, the employer contribution)?
- Please outline your bonus/profit share entitlement if applicable (including realistic recent payout)?
- Please outline your car/travel allowance entitlement if applicable?
- Please share any other benefits you receive below?
- What is your current notice period?
- Please share your expectations in terms of salary/uplift to total package?
- Please provide your address here (this will be used if you are to be successful in receiving an offer)?
Pick from a list (5)
- Which office are you applying to?
- How did you hear about Alpha?
- Are you currently based in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, or wouldn't require any relocation support to work in the set location?
- Are you fluent in Arabic? optional
- Do you have 5+ years experience working with Anaplan?
