The Finance Technology Transformation program is a strategic, multi-year initiative to modernize our core finance platforms by migrating to Oracle SaaS. This transformation is fundamentally redesigning our finance operating model, impacting accounting engines, end-to-end data flows, and enterprise-wide financial reporting.
The Lead Business Architect is a senior, independent leader responsible for defining the target state business architecture for critical domains within this program. This role is not technology-focused; it is centered on shaping the future of our finance function by defining business capabilities, end-to-end processes, data flows, and controls. You will be the primary driver in translating strategic goals into a coherent business blueprint that will guide the transformation.
Reporting to the Principal Architect, you will lead a small team of business architects and work with senior stakeholders across Finance, Operations, and Technology to ensure the program's success from a business process and functional perspective.
What You'll Do- Define Target State Architecture: Lead the definition and modeling of the target state business architecture for key finance domains, including Accounting Engines, General Ledger, Financial Close, Data Substantiation, and Reconciliation.
- Process Mapping & Analysis: Map and critically analyze current state business processes to identify gaps, pain points, and opportunities for simplification, standardization, and automation.
- Design Business Blueprints: Develop detailed business process models, functional designs, and data flow diagrams that articulate the future state, ensuring they align with strategic objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Champion Data & Controls: Champion the design of robust reconciliation and substantiation frameworks from a business process and data integrity perspective, ensuring data is complete, accurate, and timely.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with senior business stakeholders across Finance, Front Office, and Operations to gather requirements, build consensus, and ensure the target architecture meets critical business needs.
- Bridge to Technology: Partner with Technology teams to translate the business architecture into functional requirements, ensuring the delivered solutions are fit-for-purpose and solve the right business problems.
- Lead & Mentor: Lead and mentor a team of Senior Business Architects, fostering a culture of business process excellence, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the finance function.
- Extensive Experience: Proven track record as a Business Architect, Process Architect, or in a similar strategic role within the financial services industry.
- Deep Subject Matter Expertise: Deep functional knowledge of core finance and accounting processes, including General Ledger, sub-ledger accounting, financial close and consolidation, data substantiation, and multi-system reconciliation.
- Business Process Modeling: Demonstrated ability to model business capabilities and design complex, end-to-end business processes at scale within a global organization.
- Financial Data Acumen: Strong understanding of financial data flows, data governance principles, and the critical data elements required for financial control and reporting in a regulated environment.
- Transformation Experience: Significant experience in large-scale business transformation programs, preferably involving a migration to a SaaS-based ERP or accounting platform (e.g., Oracle, SAP).
- Stakeholder Influence: Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to influence senior leaders and articulate complex business concepts to diverse audiences.
- Strategic Mindset: A strategic thinker who can connect detailed process design to broader business outcomes and long-term objectives
Qualifications:
10+ years relevant experience in Solutions Architecture with true end to end business processes hands on experience
Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication
Management and prioritization skills
Ability to develop working relationships
Ability to manage multiple activities and changing priorities and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
Self-starter with ability to take the initiative and master new tasks quickly
Education:
Bachelor’s/University degree or equivalent experience, potentially Masters degree
This job description provides a high-level review of the types of work performed. Other job-related duties may be assigned as required.
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Job Family Group: Technology------------------------------------------------------
Job Family:Architecture------------------------------------------------------
Time Type:Full time------------------------------------------------------
Primary Location:Jersey City New Jersey United States------------------------------------------------------
Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:$176,720.00 - $265,080.00
In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
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Most Relevant Skills Please see the requirements listed above.------------------------------------------------------
Other Relevant Skills For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.------------------------------------------------------
Anticipated Posting Close Date:Jul 23, 2026------------------------------------------------------
Automated Processing and AIWe use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.
Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.
Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right
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Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.
View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
Skills Required
- 10+ years relevant experience in Solutions Architecture with end-to-end business process hands-on experience
- Proven track record as a Business Architect or Process Architect within financial services
- Deep functional knowledge of General Ledger, sub-ledger accounting, financial close and consolidation, data substantiation, and reconciliation
- Experience modeling business capabilities and designing complex end-to-end business processes at scale in a global organization
- Strong understanding of financial data flows, data governance principles, and critical data elements for financial control and reporting
- Significant experience in large-scale business transformation programs
- Experience with migrations to SaaS-based ERP/accounting platforms (e.g., Oracle, SAP)
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, ability to influence senior leaders
- Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor senior business architects or equivalent team
- Management and prioritization skills; ability to manage multiple activities and changing priorities under pressure
- Self-starter with initiative and ability to learn new tasks quickly
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience (Master's potentially preferred)
Citi Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Citi and has not been reviewed or approved by Citi.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits coverage is positioned as comprehensive, including health, dental, and vision insurance plus on-site clinics, prescription drug support, and disability coverage. Family-building support such as fertility assistance is described as a notable differentiator within the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are framed as strong, highlighted by a 401(k) with matching and additional plan options like a Roth 401(k). Financial support is reinforced through discounts and broader financial guidance resources tied to the benefits ecosystem.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing support extends beyond insurance through programs like an Employee Assistance Program, counseling/legal resources, and gym or wellness reimbursement. These offerings increase the perceived total rewards value even when cash compensation sentiment varies by role.
Citi Insights
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