Data Architect

About Unity Advisory

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 are 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 embedded into how we operate and deliver. We are AI-born, not AI-retrofitted.

The Role

We are seeking a senior, commercially astute Data Architect to play a foundational role in designing Unity Advisory’s AI-native data architecture — first internally, then externally with clients.

This role will evolve in two deliberate phases:

Phase 1 – Internal Architecture & Platform Design

You will help design and establish Unity’s internal data and AI architecture — defining standards, governance and scalable design patterns that underpin our advisory model.

Phase 2 – Client-Facing Data & AI Advisory

Once foundations are established, you will transition into a client-facing role, helping CFOs architect modern, AI-ready data environments that enable finance transformation, automation and deal value creation.

This is a rare opportunity to design a modern advisory data architecture from first principles — and then take it to market.

Phase 1 - Internal Data & AI Architecture (Foundational Build)

In the initial phase, your focus will be internal — shaping the architectural backbone that supports Unity’s product, AI and advisory ambitions.

What You’ll Do Internally

Define Unity’s Enterprise Data Architecture

- Design our target-state, AI-ready data architecture.

- Establish architectural principles across:

- Structured and unstructured data

- Snowflake-centric analytical environments

- Vector and retrieval layers

- AI interaction patterns

- Define scalable, secure integration patterns across systems.

Architect AI-Ready Foundations

- Design semantic models and governed data layers that support:

- LLM-powered extraction and reasoning

- Internal knowledge systems

- AI copilots and workflow automation

- Ensure data is structured for retrieval, explainability and control.

- Partner closely with Data Engineers, AI Engineers and Engineering Leads to translate architecture into production systems.

Governance & Control by Design

- Establish enterprise data governance frameworks.

- Embed quality, lineage and auditability into architecture.

- Define privacy-aware, compliance-aligned design standards appropriate for sensitive advisory environments.

- Ensure AI systems are grounded in trusted data.

Create Reusable Architectural Assets

- Develop reference architectures and patterns that can be reused in client engagements.

- Codify best practice across finance data integration and AI enablement.

- Help shape Unity’s long-term product roadmap from an architectural perspective.

- This phase is about building credibility, clarity and architectural maturity internally before taking it to market.

Phase 2: Client-Facing Data Architecture & Advisory Leadership

As Unity scales and our internal platform matures, you will increasingly operate externally with clients.

What You’ll Do with Clients

Architect Modern CFO Data Environments

- Design target-state data architectures for finance transformation.

- Support ERP, FP&A, BI and consolidation integration programmes.

- Develop scalable models supporting:

- CFO dashboards

- Performance analytics

- Cash and working capital insight

- Tax and compliance reporting

Embed AI into the Office of the CFO

- Design AI-ready data platforms that support:

- Text2SQL and automated reporting

- Intelligent document extraction

- AI-assisted forecasting

- Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) use cases

- Help CFOs move from fragmented data estates to AI-enabled insight environments.

- Provide pragmatic guidance on AI adoption grounded in architectural discipline.

Support Deals & Complex Transformations

Architect data environments for:

- Financial due diligence

- Carve-outs and integrations

- Post-deal reporting and synergy tracking

- Rationalise fragmented data landscapes following acquisitions.

- Provide architectural clarity in high-pressure environments.

Act as a Senior Architectural Voice

- Engage directly with CFOs, CIOs and PE stakeholders.

- Translate architectural decisions into commercial outcomes.

- Support proposals and shape data strategy components of engagements.

- Strengthen Unity’s external credibility in AI-enabled CFO advisory.

What You Bring

- Data Architecture Expertise

- 8+ years’ experience in enterprise data architecture or modern cloud data platforms.

- Proven experience designing cloud-native data env