Vice President of Products

Job Title:Vice President of Product – Payments

Location: London, UK (Hybrid)

Company: Leading Global Payments Company

Role Overview: We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Vice President of Product – Payments to lead the strategy, development, and execution of our core payments product suite.

This is a senior leadership role requiring deep expertise across global payment systems, including Faster Payments, SEPA, SWIFT, and related infrastructure.

The ideal candidate brings a strong finance background, proven leadership in payments product management, and a track record of delivering scalable,compliant, and innovative payment solutions in a fast-paced environment.

This role operates at the highest levels of the organisation, working closely with C-level stakeholders to shape overall business and product strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Vision
• Define and execute the product vision and roadmap across domestic and cross-border payment rails.
• Drive innovation across Faster Payments, SEPA (SCT/SDD/Instant), SWIFT, and emerging real-time payment systems.
• Align product strategy with company-wide commercial, regulatory, and technology objectives in partnership with C-level leadership.

• Leadership & Team Management
• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing product organization.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Compliance, Operations, and Commercial teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and customer-centricity.

• Executive Collaboration
• Work closely with the CEO, CFO, CTO, and other C-level executives to define strategic priorities and drive execution.
• Provide clear product insights and recommendations to the executive team and Board where required.
• Act as a trusted advisor on payments strategy and market opportunities.

• Payments Expertise & Execution
• Own end-to-end product lifecycle for payment solutions including clearing, settlement, reconciliation, and liquidity management.
• Ensure robust integration with banking partners, schemes, and payment networks.
• Drive enhancements in payment performance, resilience, and scalability.

• Financial & Commercial Acumen
• Leverage strong finance expertise to optimize pricing, margins, and unit economics.
• Build business cases and assess ROI for new product initiatives.
• Monitor P&L performance and identify growth opportunities.

• Regulatory & Risk Management
• Ensure all products comply with UK and European regulatory frameworks (e.g., PSD2, FCA requirements).
• Collaborate with Risk and Compliance teams to mitigate operational and financial risks.

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as a key external and internal spokesperson for payments products.
• Engage with banking partners, regulators, and industry bodies.
• Translate complex technical and financial concepts into clear strategic direction.

Required Experience & Skills

• Proven track record - the ideal candidate would likely have (10+ years) in payments product management, with significant leadership experience.
• Deep expertise in:
• Faster Payments
• SEPA (SCT, SDD, Instant)
• SWIFT (MT/MX messaging, cross-border flows)
• Strong finance background (e.g., prior experience in finance roles, fintech, banking, or related fields).
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, mission-critical payment systems.
• Experience working directly with C-level stakeholders and influencing executive decision-making.
• Strong understanding of payment flows, settlement mechanisms, and liquidity management.
• Experience working in regulated financial environments.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical and commercial capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fintech or high-growth payments organizations.
• Familiarity with open banking and API-driven payment solutions.
• Exposure to emerging payment technologies and real-time payment innovations.
• MBA, CFA, or equivalent financial qualification (preferred but not required).

What We Offer

• Senior leadership role in a high-growth, market-leading payments company.
• Hybrid working model with significant flexibility.
• Competitive base salary with performance-based bonus.
• Opportunity to participate in equity or long-term incentive plans.
• Opportunity to shape the future of payments across Europe and globally.

This is a great opportunity for a leading payments expert to work with a market leader.

Interviews slots now available!

Apply now to be considered!