IT Architecture Consultant

Scope of Work

1. Overall Systems Architecture

Design the end-to-end architecture covering

Client-facing application

Investia web/mobile platfor

Investia technology layer

APIs

data layer

workflow engine

AI capabilities

External services

eKYC

AML/sanctions screening

electronic signatures

payment/banking systems

Financial back office

TEA Computers MFMS/ICSS or equivalent systems

External financial infrastructure

banks

custodians

MCDR and other relevant parties where required.

1. TEA Computers Technical Review

Review TEA’s current proposal and advise Investia on:

minimum required TEA modules;

MFMS requirements;

ICSS production requirements;

UAT requirements;

API requirements;

whether the TEA mobile application is necessary;

Oracle requirements;

Microsoft SQL requirements;

WebLogic requirements;

server/cloud requirements;

disaster-recovery requirements;

annual maintenance requirements; and

potential areas of vendor lock-in.

The consultant should participate in technical discussions with TEA on behalf of Investia where required.

1. API Architecture

Define the API architecture connecting:

Investia applications;

TEA Computers;

eKYC providers;

AML providers;

payment systems;

banks;

external financial institutions;

future partners; and

future white-label clients.

The architecture should allow Investia to replace individual vendors in the future without rebuilding the entire platform.

1. Infrastructure Architecture

Recommend the appropriate infrastructure for:

production;

UAT;

disaster recovery;

backup;

database hosting;

application hosting;

cybersecurity;

monitoring; and

system administration.

The consultant should evaluate:

cloud versus physical servers;

Oracle and SQL licensing;

infrastructure sizing;

data localisation requirements;

availability requirements; and

• five-year expected infrastructure costs.

1. Cybersecurity and Data Governance

Define minimum requirements for:

identity and access management;

privileged-user access;

encryption;

API security;

network security;

logging and audit trails;

cybersecurity monitoring;

backup;

disaster recovery;

business continuity;

personal-data protection;

client-data ownership; and

third-party access to Investia data.

1. eKYC and AML Architecture

Advise on how external eKYC and AML providers should connect to the Investia platform.

Define:

onboarding workflow;

identity-verification workflow;

sanctions and PEP screening;

handling of failed or referred applications;

ongoing AML monitoring;

storage of KYC status;

audit records; and

interfaces with the financial back office.

1. Digital Subscription Process

Design the technical workflow covering:

Investor registration

eKYC/AML

product selection

disclosures

subscription instruction

payment confirmation

back-office processing

unit allocation

client confirmation

portfolio reporting

The same architecture should support subsequent redemptions and additional subscriptions.

1. Future Architecture

The system should be designed from the beginning to accommodate future phases including:

IFP portfolio management;

public-market investing;

international portfolios;

robo-advisory;

AI investment assistance;

digital suitability/risk profiling;

white-label banking platforms;

additional fund managers;

sukuk products;

tokenisation where appropriate; and

additional financial service providers.

Required Deliverables

At completion of the assignment, the consultant will deliver:

1. Current-state technology assessment
2. Target architecture diagram
3. Detailed systems architecture
4. TEA Computers technical assessment
5. Minimum TEA system requirements
6. API architecture and integration map
7. Data architecture
8. Cybersecurity architecture
9. Production/UAT/DR infrastructure requirements
10. Cloud and database recommendations
11. eKYC and AML integration architecture
12. Digital subscription workflow
13. Vendor responsibility matrix
14. ICG internal technical-team responsibility matrix
15. Technology implementation roadmap
16. Phase 1 MVP specifications
17. Phase 2 and future scalability plan
18. Estimated technology budget and five-year cost framework

The consultant should also provide sufficient documentation for Investia’s internal engineers to take over implementation.

Required Qualifications

Candidates should have at least 10–15 years of relevant technology experience, with substantial senior-level responsibility.

Strong candidates will have experience in several of the following areas:

banking technology;

asset-management systems;

securities or brokerage systems;

fintech platforms;

digital wealth management;

fund administration;

financial-system APIs;

cloud architecture;

cybersecurity;

financial databases;

eKYC/AML integrations;

payment-system integrations.

Experience with Egyptian financial institutions or regulated non-bank financial activities is strongly preferred.

Knowledge of some of the following would be particularly valuable:

FRA technology requirements;

MCDR connectivity;

Egyptian banking infrastructure;

Oracle databases;

Oracle WebLogic;

Microsoft SQL Server;

REST APIs;

cloud platforms;

identity management;

information-security standards.

Candidate Profile

This is not primarily a programming position.

The successful candidate must be capable of understanding management’s business objectives and translating them into a practical technology architecture.

The individual should be able to challenge software suppliers and technical teams where appropriate rather than simply accepting vendor recommendations.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are:

independent-minded;

commercially aware;

hands-on;

able to simplify complex systems;

experienced in vendor negotiations;

capable of identifying unnecessary technology expenditure;

comfortable working with senior management;

able to supervise engineers without needing to write every component themselves.

Independence

Candidates should disclose any current or previous commercial relationship with:

TEA Computers;

proposed technology suppliers;

cloud providers;

systems integrators; or

other vendors they may recommend.

The selected consultant will act primarily in the interests of Investia Capital Group.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates should submit:

• CV/profile;
• summary of relevant financial-services technology experience;
• examples of similar architecture projects;
• experience with Egyptian financial institutions, if applicable;
• familiarity with Oracle/MS SQL/cloud/API environments;
• proposed approach to the assignment;
• estimated time required;
• availability; and
• proposed professional fees.