Services orientated architecture needs servicing

'Services orientated architecture' is a nebulous concept. But there are plenty of jobs in the area.

The number of services orientated architecture (SOA) roles is on the up. According to one recruitment firm, it's risen 30% in the past 12 months and hasn't run out of steam yet.

"Technology-enabling projects are huge on the agenda," said Louise Clarke, head of IT in banking at recruitment firm Robert Walters. "More organisations have gone right back to basics and to identifying the need for core business management and core change management."

But what is SOA exactly? This is a little harder to pinpoint. Loosely, it's a strategic way of enabling systems (software, hardware and infrastructure) to communicate better and improve the efficiency of business processes according to the business's long-term goals.

Clarke says enthusiasm for all things SOA-related is partly due to the increasing use of remote resources, such as offshoring. It's also down to regulatory changes, such as Basel II and Sarbanes Oxley, which require business processes (and the systems used to support them) to be flexible, efficient, and operate in the long term.

What about the jobs in the area? Banks need everything from solution architects to project managers, says Ross Riddleston, principal consultant at recruitment firm Anson McCade. The skill set required for SOA positions is typically 'T-shaped', he adds - namely, experienced candidates with a combination of deep technical knowledge and business management skills.

When it comes to project or change management roles around SOA, Clarke says banks want strong business analysis experience and familiarity with project management methodologies, such as Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

She says experienced and skilled candidates applying for SOA-related roles can command a premium of between 10% and 20% due to the shortage of people on the market.