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Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office Job Opening at Polaris Bank Limited

Location: Lagos

Posted on: 9 July 2026

Employment Type: Full Time

Salary Range: 0 - 0 (Naira)

Deadline: 9 September 2026

Company Summary

Polaris Bank was established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 21, 2018 to offer commercial banking services to the Nigerian public. The bank commenced services on the same day, having purchased the assets and assumed certain liabilities of the defunct Skye Bank.With a footprint of over 350 branches across the country, Polaris Bank prides itself in delivering exceptional customer experience, leveraging best in class/state of the art Information Communication Technology (ICT). By focusing on ICT solutions across multiple service delivery channels (mobile banking, ATMs, POS and online platforms) Polaris Bank maintains a pivotal role in the Nigerian banking industry, providing customers with simple, convenient and secured banking services.

Job Description

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office

Location: Lagos

Job Type: Full Time

About the Role

  • The Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office owns the technology architecture, standards, and governance framework that ensures every development initiative across Polaris Bank's digital and retail banking arms is scalable, secure, and well-integrated.
  • This is a leadership and governance role: you will set direction, define standards, and provide architectural oversight across three specialist domains — Solution Architecture, Security Architecture, and Integration & API Architecture — working through and with specialist architects and leads in each area, rather than executing all specialist work personally.

Key Responsibilities

Governance & Standards:

  • Define and maintain the enterprise architecture framework, technology standards, and design principles applied across all development initiatives
  • Chair architecture review boards; approve or escalate designs that deviate from standards
  • Own the technical governance process, ensuring traceability between business requirements and architectural decisions

Solution Architecture:

  • Oversee the design of end-to-end solutions for major business initiatives, ensuring architectural integrity, scalability, and alignment with enterprise standards
  • Guide the application of microservices architecture, domain-driven design, and cloud architecture patterns across teams
  • Ensure solution designs are maintainable and support long-term platform evolution

Security Architecture:

  • Set secure-by-design standards and oversee their application across all solution designs
  • Ensure threat modeling, identity & access management design, and cryptographic standards are consistently applied
  • Partner with Information Security to ensure architecture decisions meet regulatory and compliance requirements
  • Oversee remediation of architecture-level vulnerabilities identified through security assessments

Integration & API Architecture:

  • Set standards for integration patterns, API design, API gateway usage, and middleware architecture
  • Oversee API lifecycle governance to ensure consistency, reusability, and performance across the API portfolio
  • Guide adoption of event-driven architecture patterns for high-throughput, real-time use cases

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; relevant certifications (TOGAF, AWS/Azure Architect, CISSP, or equivalent) an advantage
  • Demonstrated track record leading architecture functions in a regulated industry, ideally banking/financial services

Core Competencies:

  • Enterprise architecture leadership and technical governance
  • Working knowledge across solution, security, and integration architecture disciplines (deep expertise in at least one is expected; working fluency across the others to lead specialist teams credibly)
  • Stakeholder management across engineering, security, product, and compliance functions
  • Ability to translate business requirements into architectural strategy

Familiarity With Tools (used by the function, not a personal daily requirement):

  • Enterprise architecture tools (BizzDesign, Sparx EA), Draw.io/Lucidchart, Confluence, JIRA; OWASP tools, Burp Suite, IAM platforms; API gateways, Swagger/OpenAPI, Postman, Mulesoft, Apache Camel, Kafka, RabbitMQ.

Application Closing Date

Not Specified.

Application method:

Interview Preparation Techniques for Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office

Learn practical strategies to prepare confidently for your Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office interview, improve communication skills, and increase your chances of getting hired by 99%.

👇

Successful Application, Interview and Career for Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office

Interview Preparation Guide for the Position of Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office in the Nigerian Banking Sector

Introduction

The Nigerian banking industry is undergoing one of the biggest digital transformations in Africa. With the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, open banking, fintech collaboration, digital payments, cybersecurity frameworks, enterprise integration, and regulatory technology (RegTech), banks require technology leaders who can design scalable, secure, and future-ready enterprise solutions.

One of the most strategic leadership positions driving this transformation is the Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office.

This role goes far beyond designing applications. It requires enterprise-wide technology leadership, governance, architecture standardization, innovation management, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and strategic decision-making.

If you have been invited for an interview for this position in any Nigerian commercial bank, development bank, fintech, or financial institution, this comprehensive guide will help you understand the role, prepare effectively, and confidently answer both technical and executive interview questions.

Understanding the Role

A Head of Solution Architecture & Standards Office provides strategic direction for technology architecture across the organization.

The role ensures every technology solution aligns with:

  • Business strategy
  • Enterprise architecture
  • Security policies
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Digital transformation roadmap
  • Technology standards
  • Cloud strategy
  • Scalability requirements

This executive works closely with:

  • CIO
  • CTO
  • Chief Digital Officer
  • CISO
  • Head of Infrastructure
  • Software Development Teams
  • Product Owners
  • Enterprise Architects
  • Project Managers
  • Risk Management
  • Information Security
  • Compliance Teams
  • Business Executives
  • Vendors
  • Regulatory bodies

Major Responsibilities

The interviewer expects candidates to understand the strategic responsibilities of the office.

Typical responsibilities include:

Enterprise Solution Architecture

Design enterprise-wide technology solutions that support business objectives.

Examples include:

  • Internet Banking
  • Mobile Banking
  • Core Banking Integration
  • API Platforms
  • Digital Lending Platforms
  • Payment Gateways
  • Treasury Systems
  • CRM Platforms
  • Fraud Management Systems

Architecture Governance

Develop governance processes that ensure every technology project complies with approved architecture principles.

Responsibilities include:

  • Architecture review boards
  • Design approvals
  • Technology assessments
  • Solution assurance
  • Risk assessments

Technology Standards

Create and enforce standards covering:

  • Coding standards
  • API standards
  • Integration standards
  • Security standards
  • Cloud standards
  • Database standards
  • Infrastructure standards
  • Documentation standards

Enterprise Integration

Ensure seamless integration between systems including:

  • Core Banking
  • ATM Switches
  • Payment Platforms
  • ERP
  • CRM
  • Identity Management
  • Fintech APIs
  • Regulatory Reporting Systems

Digital Transformation Leadership

Lead architecture initiatives supporting:

  • AI adoption
  • Machine Learning
  • Data Analytics
  • Open Banking
  • Digital Channels
  • Cloud Migration
  • Automation
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Innovation Management

Identify emerging technologies capable of improving:

  • Customer experience
  • Operational efficiency
  • Risk management
  • Revenue generation

Vendor Solution Assessment

Evaluate vendor products before procurement by considering:

  • Scalability
  • Performance
  • Security
  • Cost
  • Compliance
  • Integration capability
  • Vendor support

Regulatory Compliance

Ensure architecture complies with:

  • Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations
  • Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA)
  • PCI DSS
  • ISO 27001
  • IT Governance Frameworks

Skills Interviewers Look For

Technical Skills

Candidates should demonstrate expertise in:

Enterprise Architecture

Knowledge of:

  • TOGAF
  • Zachman Framework
  • ArchiMate

Cloud Architecture

Experience with:

  • Microsoft Azure
  • AWS
  • Google Cloud

Topics include:

  • Hybrid Cloud
  • Multi-cloud
  • Cloud Governance
  • Cloud Security

API Management

Knowledge of:

  • REST APIs
  • SOAP
  • API Gateway
  • Open Banking APIs
  • OAuth
  • JWT

Integration Technologies

Experience with:

  • Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)
  • Message Queues
  • Kafka
  • RabbitMQ
  • Microservices

DevSecOps

Knowledge of:

  • CI/CD
  • Jenkins
  • Azure DevOps
  • GitHub Actions
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes

Security Architecture

Strong understanding of:

  • IAM
  • Zero Trust
  • Encryption
  • Tokenization
  • PKI
  • MFA
  • Secure SDLC

Data Architecture

Knowledge of:

  • SQL
  • Data Warehouses
  • Data Lakes
  • Big Data
  • Data Governance

Infrastructure Architecture

Understanding of:

  • Servers
  • Storage
  • Networking
  • Virtualization
  • Disaster Recovery
  • High Availability

Leadership Skills Required

Interviewers pay equal attention to leadership competencies.

These include:

  • Strategic thinking
  • Executive communication
  • People management
  • Budget management
  • Vendor negotiation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Stakeholder management
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Change management
  • Innovation leadership

Banking Knowledge Expected

Candidates should understand:

Core Banking Systems

Knowledge of:

  • Customer accounts
  • Loans
  • Treasury
  • General Ledger
  • Deposits
  • Trade Finance

Payment Systems

Understanding of:

  • NIBSS
  • Instant Payments
  • POS
  • ATM
  • Card Switching
  • Mobile Money

Digital Banking

Knowledge of:

  • Mobile Banking
  • Internet Banking
  • USSD
  • Agency Banking
  • Digital Wallets

Open Banking

Understand:

  • API Economy
  • Customer Consent
  • Data Sharing
  • Fintech Collaboration

Cybersecurity

Banks expect strong knowledge of:

  • Fraud prevention
  • SIEM
  • SOC
  • Identity Governance
  • Threat Intelligence
  • Incident Response

Common Interview Questions and Sample Answers

Question 1

Tell us about yourself.

Sample Answer

"I am a technology architecture leader with extensive experience designing enterprise solutions that align technology investments with business objectives. My expertise spans enterprise architecture, cloud platforms, systems integration, governance, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Throughout my career, I have worked with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, secure, and resilient solutions while ensuring compliance with regulatory and industry standards. I am passionate about building architecture capabilities that enable innovation, operational efficiency, and excellent customer experiences."

Question 2

What is Solution Architecture?

Sample Answer

Solution Architecture is the process of designing technology solutions that satisfy specific business requirements while ensuring scalability, security, maintainability, integration, and compliance with enterprise architecture principles.

Question 3

What is the difference between Enterprise Architecture and Solution Architecture?

Sample Answer:

Enterprise Architecture focuses on the organization's long-term technology strategy, business capabilities, governance, and standards.

Solution Architecture focuses on designing specific technology solutions for individual business initiatives while aligning with enterprise architecture.

Question 4

How do you enforce architecture standards across multiple development teams?

Sample Answer

I establish an Architecture Governance Framework comprising:

  • Architecture Review Board
  • Design Principles
  • Technology Standards
  • Review Checklists
  • Mandatory Design Approvals
  • Compliance Audits
  • Architecture Repository
  • Continuous Training

This ensures consistency across all technology projects.

Question 5

How would you evaluate a new banking solution before approval?

I would assess:

  • Business value
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Security risks
  • Integration capability
  • Performance
  • Scalability
  • Disaster recovery
  • Vendor credibility
  • Operational cost
  • Technology roadmap alignment

Question 6

How do you manage legacy systems during digital transformation?

Sample Answer

Rather than replacing everything at once, I adopt a phased modernization strategy that includes API enablement, service decomposition, gradual migration to cloud-native services, data synchronization, and coexistence models. This approach minimizes operational disruption while reducing technology debt over time.

Question 7

How do you ensure architecture supports cybersecurity?

Discuss:

  • Security by Design
  • Zero Trust
  • IAM
  • Encryption
  • API Security
  • Secure Coding
  • Vulnerability Management
  • Threat Modeling

Question 8

How would you handle disagreements between business teams and technical teams?

Sample Answer

I facilitate collaborative discussions focused on business outcomes, clarify technical constraints in business language, evaluate trade-offs, prioritize risks, and seek solutions that balance customer needs, operational realities, and strategic objectives. Clear communication and shared decision-making are essential to maintaining alignment.

Scenario-Based Questions

Scenario 1

The CEO wants to launch a new mobile banking application in four months.

What architecture considerations would you make?

Discuss:

  • Scalability
  • Security
  • Cloud readiness
  • API integration
  • Disaster recovery
  • Customer authentication
  • High availability
  • Performance
  • Monitoring
  • Regulatory compliance

Scenario 2

Developers want to use a technology not included in the bank's standards.

How would you respond?

A strong response should include:

  • Technical evaluation
  • Risk assessment
  • Proof of Concept
  • Governance review
  • Business justification
  • Security review
  • Cost analysis
  • Final approval or rejection based on evidence

Scenario 3

A fintech partner requests access to customer APIs.

How would you secure the integration?

Discuss:

  • API Gateway
  • OAuth
  • Open Banking standards
  • Consent management
  • Rate limiting
  • Encryption
  • Monitoring
  • Logging
  • Threat detection

Questions You Should Ask the Interview Panel

Demonstrate strategic thinking by asking thoughtful questions such as:

  • What are the bank's top technology transformation priorities over the next three years?
  • How mature is the current enterprise architecture function?
  • What governance framework guides architecture decisions?
  • Which major technology modernization initiatives are currently underway?
  • How does the bank measure the success of the Solution Architecture & Standards Office?
  • What opportunities exist for innovation and continuous improvement within the architecture practice?

Common Mistakes Candidates Make

Avoid these pitfalls:

  • Focusing only on technical details without connecting them to business value.
  • Demonstrating limited understanding of banking regulations and compliance requirements.
  • Ignoring governance, architecture standards, and documentation.
  • Overlooking cybersecurity considerations.
  • Failing to discuss leadership, stakeholder management, and change management.
  • Providing generic answers without real-world examples.
  • Speaking negatively about previous employers or projects.
  • Showing unfamiliarity with emerging technologies such as AI, cloud-native architectures, and API ecosystems.

Preparation Tips Before the Interview

To maximize your chances of success:

  • Research the bank's digital transformation strategy, products, and recent technology initiatives.
  • Refresh your knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF and ArchiMate.
  • Review cloud architecture concepts, particularly hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
  • Study API management, microservices, and integration patterns.
  • Revisit cybersecurity principles, including Zero Trust, identity management, and secure software development.
  • Understand Nigerian banking regulations, payment systems, and data protection requirements.
  • Prepare examples using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, and project delivery.
  • Practice explaining complex technical concepts in clear, business-oriented language suitable for executive stakeholders.

Final Thoughts

The Head, Solution Architecture & Standards Office is a mission-critical leadership role in today's Nigerian banking sector. Success in the interview requires more than technical expertise—it demands a strategic mindset, strong governance capabilities, leadership experience, business acumen, and the ability to align technology investments with organizational goals.

Interviewers will assess your ability to shape enterprise architecture, drive innovation, manage cross-functional teams, enforce technology standards, mitigate risk, and support the bank's long-term digital transformation agenda. By combining deep technical knowledge with strong communication and executive leadership skills, you can position yourself as the ideal candidate to lead architecture excellence in a highly regulated and rapidly evolving financial services environment.

Prepare thoroughly, stay informed about industry trends, and approach the interview with confidence, demonstrating not only what you know, but also how your leadership can create lasting value for the bank and its customers.

Start your success pursuit

Bonus Tips for Online Interviews

  • Use a quiet environment
  • Ensure proper lighting
  • Dress professionally
  • Maintain camera eye contact
  • Mute unnecessary notifications
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