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- Tasks: Lead strategic partnerships and drive growth for Aspire's B2B card programmes.
- Company: Aspire is revolutionising financial systems for global founders with innovative solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team shaping the future of finance and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 8-12 years in cards/payments, strong analytical skills, and partnership management experience.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
About The Company
Founders today are building global companies from day one — but the systems that manage their money were built for a different era. Aspire exists to change that! We’re building the financial operating system for global founders, bringing banking, software, and automation into a single platform so businesses can move faster across borders and stay focused on building. Aspire is built by people who think from first principles, care deeply about solving hard problems, and take real ownership of their work. Our team brings global experience from leading fintech and technology companies, and many of us are former founders and operators who understand what it takes to build thoughtfully, make trade-offs, and deliver at scale in a global environment. Backed by leading global investors including Y Combinator, Peak XV, and Lightspeed, Aspire has been trusted by more than 50,000 startups and growing businesses worldwide to manage their finances since 2018. Together with partners like J.P. Morgan, Visa, and Wise, we’re building for the next generation of global companies.
The Role
At Aspire, we recognize that the foundation of our success lies in the seamless integration of cutting-edge payment solutions into our Finance Operating System. The Network/Infrastructure Partnership Team plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Aspire by establishing and nurturing strategic payment infrastructure alliances. Our team serves as the enabler, unlocking payment products, payment rails, paymodes, as well as building and expanding a robust payment network that aligns with the evolving needs of our clients and the overarching vision of the company.
Responsibilities
- Own and manage strategic partnerships with card networks, issuing sponsors, processors, and key card-related vendors that underpin Aspire’s B2B card programmes.
- Lead the end-to-end ownership of Aspire’s card portfolio, including programme structure, commercial models and pricing.
- Drive growth of the card business by expanding spend, improving adoption, and optimising interchange, fees, and overall unit economics.
- Partner cross-functionally with product, engineering, risk, compliance, and finance teams to deliver scalable, compliant, and resilient card capabilities.
- Lead the launch and expansion of card programmes into new markets, working across partners and internal teams to navigate regulatory, network, and operational requirements.
- Monitor portfolio performance and partner effectiveness using data and analytics, translating insights into actionable growth and optimisation initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
- A minimum of 8–12 years of experience in cards and payments, with prior roles at fintechs, card networks, issuing banks, or payment processors.
- Strong understanding of card programme fundamentals, including network rules, issuer economics, interchange, scheme fees, settlement flows, and regulatory considerations.
- Proven track record building high-value partnerships, negotiation & commercial structuring expertise.
- Demonstrated experience owning or materially influencing card portfolio strategy, growth, and unit economics in a B2B or platform-led context.
- Strong analytical capability, with experience using data to monitor portfolio performance, identify growth levers, and optimise commercial outcomes.
- Proven ability to manage complex infrastructure and network partnerships while aligning internal stakeholders across product, engineering, risk, and compliance.
- Has a strong grasp of artificial intelligence concepts and the ability to apply AI tools and frameworks to solve real world problems at Aspire.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience building and scaling B2B card use cases such as expense management, payables, or virtual cards within a fintech or payments platform.
- Exposure to multi-market or cross-border card programmes and regional scheme or regulatory nuances.
- Experience working in API-led, embedded finance, or finance operating system environments.
Associate Director Cards (Strategy & Operations) employer: Aspire
Contact Detail:
Aspire Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director Cards (Strategy & Operations)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fintech space. Attend industry events, join relevant online communities, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with someone from Aspire or any other company, make sure to highlight your experience in cards and payments. Share specific examples of how you've driven growth or optimised portfolios in the past. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly understands the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Aspire’s mission and values. Understand their approach to building a financial operating system and think about how your skills can contribute to that vision. Tailor your responses to show that you’re not just looking for any job, but that you’re genuinely excited about being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows that you’re serious about wanting to join Aspire. So, get your application in and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director Cards (Strategy & Operations)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Associate Director Cards role. Highlight your experience in cards and payments, and don’t forget to showcase any relevant partnerships you've managed. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Aspire!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about fintech and how your skills can help Aspire grow. Be sure to mention specific experiences that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since data-driven decision-making is key for this role, make sure to highlight your analytical capabilities. Share examples of how you've used data to drive growth or optimise performance in previous roles. We love seeing numbers that back up your achievements!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining the Aspire team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aspire
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on key metrics related to card programmes, such as interchange rates and scheme fees. Being able to discuss these figures confidently will show that you understand the financial landscape and can drive growth effectively.
✨Showcase Your Partnerships Experience
Prepare specific examples of how you've built and managed strategic partnerships in the past. Highlight your negotiation skills and any successful outcomes from these collaborations, as this role heavily relies on strong relationship management.
✨Understand the Regulatory Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the regulatory requirements that impact card programmes, especially in a B2B context. Being able to discuss how you've navigated these complexities in previous roles will demonstrate your readiness for the challenges at Aspire.
✨Leverage Data-Driven Insights
Be ready to talk about how you've used data analytics to monitor performance and identify growth opportunities in your past roles. This will show that you can translate insights into actionable strategies, which is crucial for optimising Aspire's card portfolio.
