Enterprise Architect

Knights is the UK’s largest legal and professional services business outside of London. We have grown consistently over the past decade, building a reputation for being a premium law firm, with regional expertise combined with national capability.

We are investing back into the business with new offices and 11 refurbishments in the last 2 years. We have grown to over 1500 colleagues across 30+ locations meaning we are now a more diversified business with strengthened positions in our key target markets.

Our business model and culture remain a clear differentiator from many legal services businesses, enabling us to recruit individuals who wish to work in a modern professional services business that invests in training, technology, quality of life for employees and quality of service.

Our premium service is defined by speed, access and communication. These three words guide our actions, both internally and externally and form the foundation our clients’ experience.

About the role:

Our intense growth has been consistent for over a decade, fueled by numerous acquisitions and organic growth on a national scale. Since inception we have maintained the same practice management software which has been developed over the years, and every acquisition or technological investment has diversified the data bases and the number of supporting applications that we use, resulting in us managing various complex data flows for finance, HR, clients etc.

As we continue our ambitious growth trajectory, we seek a highly skilled Enterprise Architect to lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive data architecture blueprint. This blueprint will serve as the foundation for a cohesive data strategy that supports our expanding operations and technological investments.

We are open to considering this role as a permanent opportunity to join Knights and be part of our long term success, or on a contract basis with project milestones to be agreed at a later date.

Key objectives:

• Architecture leadership: Develop and document a robust data architecture blueprint for Knights’ landscape from which we can establish a strategy for continued growth and improvements including cloud migration strategy and enhanced reporting.
• Stakeholder engagement: Act as a strategic partner to stakeholders, including approximately 30+ business leaders up to C-level, driving the communication and timelines of project initiatives to ensure alignment of data architecture with operational needs and compliance requirements.
• Risk: Identifying and mitigating risks with the project on an ongoing basis.
• Technical: Analyze existing data infrastructure, identifying duplication, inefficiencies, and opportunities for consolidation.
• Strategic alignment: Define the target state for data platforms, systems integration, and data flows across departments (Finance, HR, Client Services, etc.) ensuring alignment with business strategy.
• Governance and standards: Develop and maintain a comprehensive data governance framework, establish architecture principles including data ownership, quality, lineage, and security standards.
• Design: Design scalable, efficient data flows and integration strategies across finance, HR, client management, and other key functions.
• Enablement: Drive system integration efforts, ensuring a seamless data ecosystem across legacy platforms, practice management software, and acquired systems.
• Support rationalisation of the technology stack by recommending decommissioning, replacement, or enhancement of existing tools.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic technology investments to enhance data capabilities.
• Maintain comprehensive architectural documentation, including current-state analysis and transition plans.
• Provide thought leadership and mentorship to technical teams including cybersecurity on architecture and design principles.

What does Knights offer:

• You will be part of a One Team culture that promotes direct responsibility with an expectation to always deliver the best service possible for clients within a collegiate, team-based environment.
• You can help change the way we all think about and deliver the future of legal and professional services in a friendly, caring business, with minimal hierarchy.
• Reporting directly to the Chief Information Technology Officer you will be exposed to stakeholders at the highest level in a highly impactful role.
• Our culture provides a great platform for people to take their careers to the next level.
• We have an exceptional office environments and facilities at 30 locations nationwide, including our Head Office in Stoke.
• An excellent training and onboarding programme makes all new starters feel welcome from day 1; an engaging on-site training team will give you the skills and knowledge to succeed in your role.
• Access to learning and development tools such as CBT Nuggets and PluralSight.
• There are monthly tech round tables on topics such as new technology, new solutions and learning from the more experienced members of the team.
• Great work-life balance with employee wellbeing and healthcare benefits.
• Excellent benefits package makes Knights a great place to work including birthday gift vouchers, travel to work schemes, retailer discounts platform, healthcare, eyecare and dental, life assurance, discounted legal fees, pension, share incentive plan.

Skills and experience requirements:

• Proven experience in enterprise architecture within a complex, regulated environment.
• Accomplished in digital transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, Zachman) and modelling tools.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at all levels.
• Deep understanding of cloud platforms, data architecture, integration patterns, and cybersecurity principles.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in legal, professional services, financial services or similarly structured industries.