Project Manager - Payment Operations

Project Manager - Payment Operations:

Faster Payments, BACS, SEPA, CHAPS/SWIFT, VISA, MasterCard

• £70-80k + bonus & benefits
• Hybrid - London office 2/3 days per week

Our client is an international card issuer & payment processor, with an extensive product portfolio and fantastic customer base. They are a highly collaborative and innovative team, who place customers at the heart of everything they do. With that in mind, they are keen to hire a strong Project Manager into the Payment Operations team, helping to modernise, automate and develop a world class operation. This team manage relationships with schemes, acquirers, networks and service providers, overseeing & monitoring best in class delivery. As part of our group wide company transformation programme, this role sits firmly within our Payments Operations workstream.

About the role:

• We are looking for a hands-on Project Manager who thrives on delivery and takes pride in seeing initiatives through to completion.
• You will be detail-oriented, with a strong grasp of the complexity of our business and the ability to manage resources and dependencies across multiple time zones. Success in this role means combining structured project management discipline - clear plans, governance, and accountability - with the agility to roll up your sleeves and drive actions forward.
• You will embed operational readiness into every project, ensuring processes, controls, and teams are prepared for seamless transition to BAU. You will also work closely with Compliance to align with regulatory and scheme requirements from the outset.
• This role demands exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills. You will report status, milestones, risks, and issues, providing clarity and confidence through concise, accurate updates.
• End-to-End Delivery: Own planning, execution, and cutover for multiple Payment Ops projects simultaneously.
• Operational Readiness: Define and implement readiness criteria, run rehearsals, and ensure BAU teams are equipped for go-live.
• Project Planning & Governance: Develop integrated project plans with milestones, dependencies, and critical paths; maintain RAID logs; run structured governance forums with clear decision-making.
• Status Reporting: Provide accurate, timely reporting on project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks, and issues to stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Scheme & Provider Implementations: Deliver projects involving payment schemes (Faster Payments, BACS, SEPA, CHAPS/SWIFT), card schemes (Visa/Mastercard), and service providers.
• Tracking & Reporting: Monitor progress against plan, manage risks/issues proactively, and provide concise, executive-ready updates.
• Compliance & Assurance: Integrate regulatory and scheme requirements early; maintain audit-ready documentation.

About you:

• Proven delivery of payment and/or card scheme implementations.
• Hands-on experience of initiative delivery in Payment Operations or Card Operations.
• Strong understanding of operational processes, scheme rules, and readiness planning.
• Solid project management capability: planning, governance, RAID management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Intermediate proficiency in MS Project, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, and SharePoint, with experience presenting to stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.
• Governance Balance: Apply minimum effective process for speed and control.
• Excellent Communication & Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage at all levels, summarise complex information clearly, and influence decisions effectively.
• Demonstrate sound judgement in resolving business problems, making decisions, and identifying priorities.