Technical Solution Architect Review

The role is heavily focused on supporting the move of IBM from legacy financial reporting ledger systems to SAP S/4 HANA. On most days, I work with Portfolio teams and accounting focuses to design, test and deploy their reporting interfaces into SAP S/4 HANA, through 6-month-long projects that encapsulate the entire Finance organisation.

Indeed. I was in charge of delivering a total of 6 Portfolio teams' integration into S/4 HANA over the course of a year. Additionally, I was the focal point for delivering the enablement of 4 new payroll reporting interfaces that were due to be integrated in SAP.
From an administrative perspective, I was the iteration manager of our squad, leading daily stand-ups, retrospectives and planning sessions, as well as managing our backlog.

Yes, I have learned quite a few new skills as well as honed existing ones.
New Skills Acquired
SAP, JIRA, Mural, Business Analytics, User Storywriting and Agile, Requirement Analysis
Developed Existing Skills
Cross-cultural communication, time management and more

The support was always there. At IBM, you get at least 2 managers who look after your progress, a Foundation Manager, who is solely focused on your growth and progress in the company, as well as the HR side of the role, as well as a Task Manager, who's main responsibility is to assign you into projects and check the progress of your work. Moreover, there are societies and a comprehensive online learning platform you can always go to for support.

There is a heavy focus on being agile and resilient. As we worked unforeseen hiccups would come up and we were expected to adapt quickly and deliver a solution to it. Furthermore, the company is driven by its growth behaviours, which you see displayed in any instance you work with fellow IBMers. Here I would like to mention being growth-minded and having a constant appetite for learning more and thinking outside the box.
Generally, the atmosphere in the Area I worked in was quite relaxed. However, when push came to shove, it was all hand on deck from everyone. A blindening example of teamwork at its finest.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at IBM, as I got to learn leads as well as got the chance to deliver on projects alongside some great fellow IBMers. I absolutely enjoyed the independence I had in taking up new projects, learning paths or just kicking off new initiatives inside our squad.
If I was asked whether I would like to a do a Graduate Scheme with IBM, my answer would be: Absoultely!

Yes