Payments Lead

About Arena

Arena is a digital entertainment company building platforms people genuinely love. Since 2021, our portfolio has grown to include MetaWin, WOW Vegas, BetZoo Media, Hit.com, and Rolla, with further brands in development. Our teams operate across London, Malta, Gibraltar, and Miami. We move fast, back bold ideas, and use data and technology to make smarter decisions at every level of the business. Payments is one of the most strategically important functions in how we operate and grow globally.

The Role

We are looking for a Payments Lead to own and optimise the full payments infrastructure across Arena's sweepstake casino portfolio. This commercially critical, hands‑on role requires understanding the complexity of running payments across multiple countries, currencies, and regulatory environments, and building a provider network that is reliable, cost‑efficient, and genuinely competitive. The primary focus is managing payment operators and orchestrating the payments provider network across the regions and markets we operate in. The Payments Lead will be the central point of contact for all payment service providers, responsible for routing, optimisation, and scaling transactions globally, and accountable for the performance of the payments function end to end. The role reports to the Director and works closely with product, engineering, finance, compliance, and operations teams to ensure our payment infrastructure supports a seamless player experience while meeting all regulatory and commercial requirements.

What You Will Own

• Payments Orchestration and Provider Management: Own the payments orchestration strategy across Arena's portfolio, designing and managing routing logic, provider mix, and failover frameworks that keep transactions flowing reliably across all markets. Manage relationships with payment service providers, acquirers, and payment processors, acting as the primary point of contact for all PSP partners and leading commercial negotiations to secure competitive rates, favourable terms, and strong service levels. Continuously evaluate the provider landscape, identify new PSPs, alternative payment methods, and emerging payment technologies that could improve conversion, reduce costs, or open new markets. Onboard new payment solutions for current and future target markets, both regulated and regulating.
• Transaction Performance and Optimisation: Monitor transaction performance across all markets in real time, tracking approval rates, decline rates, chargebacks, processing costs, and conversion metrics at a granular level. Identify friction points in the payment flow and drive improvements, working with product and engineering to resolve issues quickly and build a cashier experience that maximises successful transactions for players. Own the payments performance reporting framework, providing regular insight‑led updates to the Director with clear analysis of what is working, what is not, and what the business should do.
• Multi‑Market and Regional Expansion: Lead the payments strategy for new market entry, assessing the payment landscape in each target region, identifying the right provider mix, and ensuring Arena can accept and pay out the methods players in that market expect. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for payment processing in each jurisdiction we operate in, integrating compliance into our operations rather than adding it later. Maintain a strong understanding of payment behaviour and preferences across key regions including North America, Europe, and emerging markets relevant to our growth roadmap.
• Fraud, Risk and Compliance: Work closely with the compliance and risk teams to ensure the payments function operates within AML, KYC, and relevant regulatory frameworks across all markets. Support the identification and escalation of suspicious transaction activity, recommend payment methods that do not expose the business to undue risk, and ensure our fraud prevention tools and chargeback management processes are fit for purpose.
• Internal Collaboration: Act as the internal expert on payments, advising product, engineering, and operations teams on integration requirements, technical standards, and the capabilities and limitations of each provider. Lead PSP integrations alongside the payments and technology teams, oversee testing and quality assurance for newly added payment methods, and ensure all payment processes are regularly reviewed and up to date.

What We Are Looking For

Proven experience in a payments management or orchestration role within iGaming, sweepstake, fintech, or a high‑volume consumer transactional environment. Hands‑on experience managing PSP relationships and negotiating commercial terms, a strong understanding of payment routing and orchestration logic, and the ability to work across multiple markets with different payment landscapes simultaneously. Data‑driven, comfortable building analysis, tracking performance metrics closely, and using insight to make fast, well‑reasoned decisions. Familiarity with regulatory environment around payments in online gaming markets, AML and fraud prevention frameworks, crypto or alternative payment methods, multi‑currency or multi‑jurisdiction payment management experience, and experience within social sweepstake or US‑facing gaming operators would strengthen an application significantly.

What We Offer

Arena offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, a performance bonus tied to payments function outcomes, and genuine ownership of one of the most commercially important functions in the business. The role is office‑based with a fast‑moving, international team, private healthcare after probation, regular company socials, reward and recognition programmes, and 20 days annual leave plus 12 bank holidays.

Arena is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building diverse, inclusive teams and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.