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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic payment partnerships and manage Aspire's payments portfolio for global operations.
- Company: Aspire is revolutionising financial systems for global founders with innovative technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team shaping the future of payments in a fast-paced fintech environment.
- Qualifications: 8-12 years in payments with strong negotiation and analytical skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and real-world problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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.
About 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, and be a primary contact of Aspire strategic payment partnerships including with banks, payment service providers and other financial institutions that underpin Aspire’s payment infrastructure.
- Lead end-to-end ownership of Aspire’s payments portfolio, including programme structure, commercial models, pricing strategy, and partner economics across domestic and international payment flows.
- Lead the launch and expansion of payment partners and/or payments capabilities into new markets, navigating local regulations, licensing constraints, and partner negotiation.
- Monitor portfolio performance and partner effectiveness using data and analytics; convert insights into actionable growth, cost optimisation, and reliability improvements.
- Continuously assess new payment rails, partners, and market opportunities (e.g., local rails, real-time payments, alternative cross-border routes) to strengthen Aspire’s global payments proposition.
- Partner closely with Product and Engineering teams to translate customer use cases, market needs, and partner capabilities into scalable payments products and workflows.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Risk, legal, Compliance, and Finance to ensure payments programmes meet regulatory, operational, and financial requirements across markets.
Minimum Qualifications
- 8–12 years of experience in payments, with prior roles at fintechs, banks, PSPs, or payment infrastructure providers.
- Strong understanding of local and cross-border payment fundamentals, including clearing and settlement models, FX pricing, correspondent banking, scheme and network fees, and regulatory considerations.
- Proven track record of building and managing high-value bank and PSP partnerships, with strong negotiation and commercial structuring skills.
- Demonstrated experience owning or materially influencing payments portfolio strategy, growth, and unit economics in a B2B or platform-led context.
- Strong analytical capability, with experience using data to monitor payment performance, identify growth levers, and optimise commercial outcomes.
- Proven ability to manage complex multi-partner payment infrastructures while aligning internal stakeholders across Product, Engineering, Risk, and Compliance.
- Strong communication and relationship building skills.
- Strong grasp of artificial intelligence concepts and the ability to apply AI tools and frameworks to solve real-world problems at Aspire.
Preferred Qualifications
- Has led payments strategy and growth for a multi-country payments platform, with direct accountability for scaling volumes, revenue, and margins across local, FX, and cross-border flows, including ownership of corridor prioritisation, partner and rail selection, pricing frameworks, and structural cost optimisation.
- Experience operating within API-led, embedded finance, or finance operating system environments, with the ability to translate platform capabilities into scalable, customer-facing payment use cases and partner-integrated workflows.
- Exposure to treasury and liquidity operations, working closely with banking partners to optimise FX management, settlement structures, and funding efficiency to support overall corporate and payments strategy.
Associate Director Payments (Strategy & Operations) employer: Aspire
Contact Detail:
Aspire Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director Payments (Strategy & Operations)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fintech space. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meetups. You never know who might be looking for someone with your skills!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back on sharing your insights about payment strategies and market trends. It’ll show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who can really contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Aspire’s mission and values. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals in building a seamless financial operating system. Tailor your responses to reflect that understanding!
✨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 you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Aspire team.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director Payments (Strategy & Operations)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Associate Director Payments role. Highlight your experience in payments, fintech, and 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 payments and how you can contribute to Aspire's vision. Be genuine and let your personality come through – we love that!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since data-driven decision-making is key for this role, make sure to include examples of how you've used analytics to drive growth or optimise performance in your previous roles. We’re all about insights that lead to action!
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 keen on joining the Aspire team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aspire
✨Know Your Payments Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of local and cross-border payment fundamentals. Understand the clearing and settlement models, FX pricing, and regulatory considerations. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the industry but are also ready to take ownership of Aspire's payment partnerships.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss how you've used data analytics in previous roles to monitor payment performance and identify growth opportunities. Bring examples of how you've converted insights into actionable strategies. This will demonstrate your ability to optimise commercial outcomes, which is crucial for the role.
✨Highlight Your Partnership Experience
Be ready to talk about your experience in building and managing high-value partnerships with banks and payment service providers. Share specific examples of successful negotiations and how you structured commercial agreements. This will illustrate your capability to lead Aspire’s strategic payment partnerships effectively.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with Aspire's vision and how the payments portfolio fits into it. Be prepared to discuss how you would align payment solutions with customer needs and market demands. Showing that you can think strategically about the future of payments at Aspire will set you apart from other candidates.
