Anaplan Solution Architect

What you'll be doing:

Anaplan Solution Architect

📍 Location: Birmingham | 🕒 Full-Time | 💻 Hybrid/Flexible Working
Department: Digital & Technology | Company: Compass Group UK & Ireland

Compass Group PLC is the world’s largest provider of food and support services, with over £22.9 billion in global turnover. Serving millions daily across sectors like healthcare, education, defence, and sports & leisure, we’re trusted to deliver excellence at scale.

As part of our ongoing digital transformation, we’re investing in smarter, data-driven planning. We’re now looking for an experienced Anaplan Solution Architect to lead the end-to-end design and delivery of enterprise-grade Anaplan solutions that will revolutionise forecasting and financial planning across the business.

This is a unique opportunity to drive large-scale transformation in a complex, fast-moving organisation — while influencing executive decision-making and building the future of planning at Compass.

What you'll be doing

🔹 Strategic Architecture & Delivery

• Own the architecture of large-scale Anaplan implementations, ensuring scalability, performance, and alignment with business goals

• Translate complex business requirements into efficient, driver-based forecasting solutions across Finance use cases

• Deliver planning models that integrate seamlessly with Compass’s wider data strategy

• Champion innovation, best practice, and continuous improvement across all aspects of Anaplan development

🔹 Technical Leadership

• Lead a team of Anaplan Model Builders, offering hands-on guidance and technical mentorship

• Define data needs and work cross-functionally to ensure quality data feeds into the models

• Oversee full project lifecycles — from design to deployment — ensuring on-time, high-impact delivery

• Maintain consistent, logical structures across all models using scalable methodologies

🔹 Stakeholder & Business Engagement

• Collaborate with Finance, Commercial, and Technology stakeholders to shape use cases and priorities

• Facilitate workshops, design sessions, and demos with senior leaders and end users

• Represent the planning function in leadership forums, influencing roadmap direction and adoption

• Build relationships with Anaplan and other technology partners to ensure maximum value from tools and capabilities

🔹 Knowledge Sharing & Capability Building

• Promote knowledge sharing across the wider Anaplan and digital community within Compass

• Mentor junior team members and help develop internal capability

• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives across planning, data, and transformation programmes

What we're looking for

• Proven success designing and delivering enterprise-level Anaplan solutions

• Deep knowledge of financial planning, forecasting, and performance management

• Strong technical and commercial acumen with experience applying driver-based modelling

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience influencing at senior level

• Experience leading or mentoring model builders and cross-functional teams

• Anaplan certifications (Model Builder, Solution Architect) strongly preferred

• Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery in a complex environment

What success looks like

• Delivery of scalable, high-impact Anaplan solutions that drive forecasting accuracy and insight

• High adoption and engagement from Finance and commercial users

• Recognition of the Anaplan function as a key enabler of business performance

• Consistent delivery of improvements in planning efficiency, process, and visibility

• Development of team capability and leadership in planning innovation

Why join Compass Group?

• You'll receive a competitive salary and benefits including a Bonus, private healthcare and pension contributions

• Lead planning transformation for the UK’s largest food & support services business

• Work in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment with a strong culture of innovation

• Access career growth within a global FTSE 100 company

• Join a collaborative, supportive team where your ideas and expertise are valued

Ready to architect the future of enterprise planning?
Apply today and help shape how Compass plans, performs, and grows.