Systems Architect - Finance sector

Overview

The Account System Architect (SA) is a customer‑focused technical sales professional who provides high level technical support and guidance to customers. He/she collaborates with the Account Team to recommend and develop appropriate customer solution offerings.

Responsibilities

• Serve designated accounts in the Finance Sector, focusing on large customers primarily.
• Drive the adoption of Cisco's solution portfolio within these accounts, while shaping the technical account strategy.
• Offer a comprehensive architectural perspective across Cisco's product portfolio, leveraging technical specialization and networking expertise to address specific opportunities effectively.
• Proactively identify and generate leads through customer engagements, seminars, and educational initiatives, while effectively qualifying opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with key cross‑functional teams, including Architecture Teams, Sales, Services, and Engineering, to drive alignment and deliver comprehensive solutions.
• Play an active role in the development of a comprehensive technical account plan.
• Assess and qualify business opportunities.
• Analyze customers' business challenges and priorities within a technical context and translate these priorities into actionable technical roadmaps.
• Develop solution options and clearly communicate the benefits of Cisco's offerings.
• Develop a deep understanding of the business economics and industry/technical trends within the customer's specific vertical markets and demonstrate how Cisco solutions can deliver both financial and strategic value.
• Facilitate the progression of deals through the sales process by strategically identifying the right timing and engaging the appropriate Cisco and partner resources.
• Build strong relationships both within Cisco and with external stakeholders, quickly establishing credibility through confidence and expertise.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a technical role as Solutions Architect or Systems Engineer.
• Knowledge of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and awareness of data protection laws (e.g. GDPR).
• Strong understanding of the customer business model and common financial pain points; ability to frame Cisco offerings in terms of business drivers.
• Advanced understanding of Cisco vision and technology; articulate the vision from the customer perspective.
• Experienced in leading and designing complex large‑scale projects with multiple integration points.
• Proficient in German and English, both spoken and written.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field or equivalent work experience.
• Good knowledge of Cisco’s portfolio and strategy.
• Cisco certification like CCNP, CCDP, CCIE are beneficial.
• Understand customer business drivers and how to map these to a customer network platform.
• Understand networking industry trends, including new products and solutions.
• Advanced knowledge in Core Networking, AI Cloud and security technologies.
• Excellent technical consulting skills, including ability to define trade‑offs, ask probing questions, and incorporate Cisco solutions into a broader technology environment.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.