Payments Director

Payments Director

A growing and innovative regulated financial services organisation is seeking an experienced Payments Director to lead the strategic development, governance, operational performance, and future evolution of its payments function.

This senior leadership role is responsible for overseeing payment operations, payment schemes, technology delivery, and transformation initiatives across a broad range of payment services. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future payments landscape by driving innovation, operational excellence, and the adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation.

The role requires a highly capable leader who can operate strategically while remaining close to operational delivery, ensuring payment services are efficient, scalable, compliant, and customer-focused.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership

• Develop and deliver the organisation's payments strategy across existing and emerging payment solutions.
• Act as the senior payments subject matter expert across all payment rails and payment-related initiatives.
• Partner with Product, Technology, Risk, and Operations teams to drive innovation and enhance payment capabilities.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, customer experience, and scalability through automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
• Ensure the payments function supports the organisation's growth ambitions and strategic objectives.

Payments Operations

• Oversee end-to-end payment operations across:

  • Card payments

  • Direct Debit and Direct Credit services

  • Real-time payment schemes

  • International payment services

• Ensure payment processes are efficient, resilient, scalable, and customer-centric.
• Establish meaningful management information and performance metrics to monitor service delivery and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain high levels of operational performance and service reliability.
• Provide leadership and support during operational incidents and critical business activities where required.

Scheme Governance & Partner Management

• Own and manage relationships with key payment schemes and payment service providers.
• Ensure full compliance with all scheme rules, mandates, operational requirements, and service obligations.
• Provide guidance and oversight regarding industry developments, scheme changes, and regulatory requirements.
• Support the expansion and optimisation of payment capabilities across multiple payment rails and services.
• Maintain strong governance frameworks across all payment-related partnerships and activities.

Technology, Product & Change Delivery

• Work closely with Technology and Product teams to design, develop, and implement new payment products and enhancements.
• Provide subject matter expertise on payment infrastructure, integrations, and payment technologies.
• Lead payment-related transformation and change initiatives from concept through to delivery.
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with operational, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Support the adoption of modern technologies and payment innovations to maintain a competitive market position.

Automation, AI & Operational Efficiency

Champion the use of automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven decision making across the payments function.

Drive efficiency improvements across:

• Payment processing
• Reconciliation and settlement
• Exception management
• Fraud monitoring and prevention
• Operational workflows and controls
• Utilise data and analytics to improve performance, reduce costs, and enhance customer outcomes.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

• Ensure payment activities operate within applicable regulatory, legal, and industry frameworks.
• Maintain robust controls, governance standards, and audit readiness across all payment operations.
• Support safeguarding obligations, financial crime prevention measures, and operational resilience requirements.
• Assess and manage risks associated with new products, technologies, partnerships, and payment flows.
• Promote a culture of strong governance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing payments team.
• Build capability across payment operations, scheme management, and payment technologies.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning, talent development, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Provide effective leadership across multiple teams and stakeholders.

Skills & Experience Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience within payments in a bank, fintech, payment institution, or regulated financial services environment.
• Extensive knowledge of card payment schemes, including scheme governance and compliance requirements.
• Strong experience across UK payment schemes and international payment services.
• Proven experience working closely with Technology and Product teams to deliver payment solutions and enhancements.
• Demonstrable success leading operational teams within a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong track record of driving operational improvements, automation, and change initiatives.
• Excellent understanding of payment operations, governance, risk management, and customer outcomes.
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on when required.

Desirable

• Experience across multiple card schemes and payment networks.
• Knowledge of additional UK and international payment infrastructures.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements relating to payments and e-money services.
• Experience implementing AI, automation, machine learning, or advanced analytics within operational environments.
• Exposure to European payment schemes and cross-border payment solutions.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and commercially minded.
• Passionate about innovation and emerging technologies.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to service excellence.
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative and influential, with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Results-driven with a focus on continuous improvement and delivery.

What Success Looks Like

• Delivery of a scalable and future-ready payments strategy.
• Strong operational performance across all payment services.
• Measurable efficiency gains through automation and innovation.
• Robust governance and compliance standards across payment activities.
• Successful delivery of new payment products, capabilities, and enhancements.
• A highly engaged and high-performing payments team.
• Excellent customer outcomes and consistently reliable payment services.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a growing financial services organisation at an exciting stage of its journey. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the payments function, influencing strategic direction, driving innovation, and delivering meaningful change across a business committed to growth, customer excellence, and technological advancement.

Interested? Please Click Apply Now!

Payments Director