Card Payments Senior Lead

Location: Hybrid, Manchester
 

Our client is looking for an experienced Card Payments Senior Lead to take ownership of their card payments function, ensuring the smooth, secure and compliant delivery of card issuing services across the business.

This is an exciting opportunity for a payments specialist with extensive knowledge of card issuing, payment schemes and operational excellence to play a key role in shaping the future of a growing fintech organisation. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll help drive innovation while ensuring customers continue to receive a seamless payment experience.

The Role

As Card Payments Senior Lead, you'll act as the organisation's subject matter expert for all aspects of card payments. You'll oversee the end-to-end card payment operation, manage relationships with payment partners and card schemes, and ensure compliance with industry regulations and scheme requirements.

You'll also work closely with Product, Technology, Compliance and Operations teams to support the delivery of new payment capabilities and help shape the long-term card payments strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the subject matter expert for all aspects of card payments across the business.
• Oversee card issuing, transaction processing, authorisations, settlements, disputes and chargebacks.
• Ensure compliance with card scheme rules, FCA regulations and internal governance frameworks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with card schemes, processors and payment partners.
• Monitor scheme updates, regulatory changes and emerging payment technologies.
• Lead the resolution of operational issues and card payment incidents.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, customer experience and payment performance.
• Support the delivery of new card products, payment features and technology enhancements.
• Monitor operational performance through KPIs and service metrics.
• Prepare for scheme reviews, regulatory assessments and audits.
• Drive continuous improvement across the card payments function.

Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in card payments within banking, fintech or financial services.
• Strong knowledge of Mastercard scheme rules, with Visa experience highly desirable.
• Deep understanding of the card payment lifecycle, including authorisation, clearing, settlement and reconciliation.
• Experience managing relationships with card schemes, processors and payment providers.
• Strong knowledge of chargebacks, disputes, fraud prevention and operational risk.
• Experience supporting card issuing programmes and implementing payment enhancements.
• Understanding of emerging payment technologies including digital wallets, tokenisation and virtual cards.
• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive approach with a passion for payments and continuous improvement.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Hybrid working with a flexible mix of home and office-based working.
• Company pension.
• 23 days' annual leave, increasing with service, plus bank holidays.
• Additional paid leave for your birthday, wellbeing, charity work and other life events.
• Employee assistance programme and Virtual GP access.
• Genuine opportunities to influence payment strategy within a growing fintech business.
• A collaborative, supportive environment with excellent opportunities for career development.

If you're an experienced card payments professional looking to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.