Data Architect

Unity Advisory is a next-generation CFO advisory firm, launched in 2025 with the backing of Warburg Pincus and up to $300 million in committed funding. We’re building a modern alternative to the Big Firms — agile, partner-led and technology-powered.

We work with private equity-backed and upper mid-market businesses (typically £150m–£1.5bn revenue) across the full CFO agenda — finance operations, tax, deals, digital transformation and deal readiness. We do not provide audit services, allowing us to remain independent and fully outcome-focused.

💡 AI and data are at our core. We are AI-born, not AI-retrofitted.

We’re looking for a senior, commercially sharp Data Architect to help design and scale Unity’s AI-native, Databricks-powered data architecture — first internally, then with clients. This role is deliberately split into two high-impact phases:

Build the foundation. Define how Unity thinks about data, AI and scalable architecture.

Take it to market. Help CFOs transform their data landscapes into AI-enabled engines of insight and value.

👉 This is a rare opportunity to design from first principles and then apply it in real-world, high-value situations.

You’ll shape the backbone of Unity’s technology platform — the layer that powers everything we do.

1. Define Unity’s Enterprise Data Architecture

• Design a modern Databricks lakehouse architecture from the ground up

• Establish principles across:

  • Structured & unstructured data

  • Delta Lake storage & processing

  • Medallion architecture (🟤 bronze → ⚪ silver → 🟡 gold)

  • Vector search & retrieval layers

  • AI interaction patterns

Define scalable ingestion across batch + streaming sources

2. Architect AI-Ready Foundations

• Build curated, semantic data layers to power:

  • 🤖 LLM-driven extraction & reasoning

  • 📚 Internal knowledge systems

  • ⚙️ AI copilots & workflow automation

• Leverage the Databricks ecosystem:

  • Unity Catalog (governance)

  • MLflow (model lifecycle)

  • Vector search / embeddings (RAG use cases)

• Ensure data is structured for retrievability, explainability and control

• Partner closely with engineers to turn architecture into production reality

3. Governance & Control by Design 🔐

• Establish robust governance using Unity Catalog

• Embed:

  • Data quality

  • Lineage

  • Auditability

• Design for privacy, compliance and sensitive financial environments

• Ensure AI systems are grounded in trusted, governed data

4. Create Reusable Assets ♻️

• Develop reusable lakehouse reference architectures

• Codify best practices across finance + AI

• Contribute directly to Unity’s long-term product vision

👉 This phase = credibility, clarity and building something that actually works.

Once the platform is proven, you step into a more external, high-impact role.

1. Architect Modern CFO Data Environments

• Design Databricks-based lakehouse architectures for finance transformation

• Integrate ERP, FP&A, BI and consolidation systems

• Deliver scalable models for:

  • 📊 CFO dashboards

  • 📈 Performance analytics

  • 💰 Cash & working capital insight

  • 🧾 Tax & compliance reporting

2. Embed AI into the Office of the CFO 🤖

• Design AI-ready platforms supporting:

  • Text2SQL & automated reporting

  • Intelligent document extraction

  • AI-assisted forecasting

  • RAG-based insight generation

• Help clients move from fragmented data → unified lakehouse platforms

• Bring practical, grounded AI thinking (not hype)

3. Support Deals & Transformations ⚡

• Architect data environments for:

  • Due diligence

  • Carve-outs & integrations

  • Post-deal reporting

• Rationalise messy, fragmented data estates into something usable

• Operate confidently in high-pressure, high-stakes environments

4. Be a Senior Architectural Voice 🎯

• Work directly with CFOs, CIOs and PE stakeholders

• Translate architecture into commercial outcomes

• Shape proposals and data strategy

• Help position Unity as a leader in AI-enabled CFO advisory

• 8+ years in enterprise data architecture or modern cloud platforms

• Strong experience with Databricks / lakehouse architectures (or similar)

• Deep knowledge of:

  • Delta Lake & medallion design

  • Semantic modelling

  • Governance (Unity Catalog or equivalent)

  • Data pipelines (batch + streaming)

• Experience designing AI-ready architectures (LLMs, RAG, etc.)

• Familiarity with ERP, FP&A, reporting, tax or deal environments

• Ability to connect architecture → CFO priorities

• Strong commercial judgement (speed vs cost vs scalability)

• Understanding of how LLMs interact with enterprise data

• Familiarity with embeddings, vector search, hybrid retrieval

• Exposure to Databricks AI/ML ecosystem (MLflow, feature stores, etc.)

• Balanced view of AI — opportunity and risk

• Comfortable in a fast-moving, build-focused environment

• Clear communicator — can simplify complexity

• Aligned to Unity’s values:

  • Straightforward

  • Commercial

  • Open

  • Experimental

  • Team-first

Unity is deliberately shifting from traditional advisory → technology-enabled, scalable delivery.

This role sits right at the centre of that shift.

You will help us:

• 🚀 Embed AI into CFO advisory

• 🧱 Build scalable, governed lakehouse platforms

• 📈 Improve quality and consistency across engagements

• 🔁 Enable recurring, product-led revenue

• 🏆 Establish Unity as a category leader

💥 This is not a maintenance role.

It’s a build, shape and scale role — with real influence on how a modern advisory firm is created from scratch.