Principal Banking Cloud Architect | Client Partner | Technology Consulting

Principal Banking Cloud Architect | Client Partner | Technology Consulting

Location: Toronto, ON (Hybrid - 1-2 days onsite plus occasional client meetings and industry events)

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Banking Cloud Architect / Client Partner to help financial institutions navigate complex technology transformation initiatives.

This opportunity is ideal for someone who combines deep banking industry expertise with enterprise cloud architecture knowledge and strong client relationship skills. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior banking executives, helping shape technology strategy while expanding long-term client partnerships.

This is not a traditional delivery-only architecture position or a pure sales role. Success requires the ability to operate comfortably between executive strategy, enterprise architecture, solution development, and business growth.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with banking executives, technology leaders, enterprise architects, and delivery teams.
• Lead executive discussions surrounding cloud transformation, platform engineering, enterprise architecture, AI, data modernization, cybersecurity, and application modernization.
• Translate banking business priorities, regulatory requirements, and operational challenges into practical technology strategies and executable roadmaps.
• Provide architecture leadership across Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and hybrid/multi-cloud environments.
• Guide solution discovery, architecture design, proposal development, mobilization, and delivery.
• Develop strategic account growth plans alongside sales, consulting, and delivery leadership.
• Lead executive workshops, architecture reviews, technology assessments, and strategic presentations.
• Remain engaged throughout project delivery to ensure successful outcomes while identifying future opportunities.
• Mentor architects, consultants, and engineering teams supporting banking clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor throughout the complete client lifecycle.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in banking technology, enterprise architecture, consulting, or technology leadership.
• Deep understanding of banking operations, governance, compliance, regulatory requirements, and technology strategy.
• Experience within one or more banking domains including:
  • Retail Banking
  • Commercial Banking
  • Payments
  • Lending
  • Wealth Management
  • Capital Markets
  • Risk Management
  • Finance
• Experience advising senior business and technology leaders.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at executive and technical levels.

Technical Expertise

Candidates should possess enterprise-level technical depth, including:

• Cloud Platform Architecture (Azure, AWS and/or Google Cloud Platform)
• Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Architecture
• Enterprise Cloud Governance
• Landing Zones
• Identity & Access Management
• Networking & Connectivity
• Cloud Security
• High Availability & Resilience
• Observability & Monitoring
• Platform Engineering
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation or similar)
• CI/CD Pipelines
• Kubernetes & Container Platforms
• API Strategy & Integration
• Modern Application Architecture
• Data Platforms
• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
• Application Modernization

While this role is not hands-on engineering focused, candidates must possess the technical credibility to assess enterprise architectures, challenge technical direction, identify risks, and guide solution decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working directly within a major financial institution or consulting to banking clients.
• Background in technology consulting, systems integration, professional services, or cloud advisory.
• Demonstrated success growing strategic client relationships and expanding technology programs.
• Experience leading enterprise cloud transformation or digital modernization initiatives.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Experience developing technology roadmaps, proposals, executive presentations, and business cases.

What You'll Bring

• Executive presence and consultative leadership.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Strategic thinking balanced with technical depth.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for mentoring and developing technical talent.
• Ability to build long-term trusted client relationships.
• A collaborative approach to solving complex business and technology challenges.