At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and development for innovative card and payment solutions.
- Company: Join Cardaq, a fast-growing fintech in London with global reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, direct access to senior leadership, and impactful work.
- Other info: High-ownership culture with opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments and make a real difference in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years in product management within payments or fintech, strong knowledge of card schemes.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
ABOUT CARDAQ
Cardaq is a London-based Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Operating since 2011, we deliver end-to-end card processing and acquiring solutions for low- and medium-risk merchants globally. As a Principal Member of Visa, Mastercard, and China UnionPay, we offer a full suite of card issuing and acquiring products and we're growing fast.
THE ROLE
Reporting directly to the COO, the Product Manager will own the strategy, development, and commercialisation of Cardaq's card and payment products. This is a dual-facing role, you'll be responsible for driving product roadmaps that serve both merchant and institutional clients, while also ensuring our operational processes support effective product delivery. You'll need a strong grasp of how card scheme products work in practice from scheme rulebooks to technical certification and the commercial instinct to translate that knowledge into products clients want to buy.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own and maintain the product roadmap for Cardaq's acquiring and issuing product lines, aligned to commercial and strategic objectives set by the COO.
- Define product requirements, use cases, and acceptance criteria in collaboration with engineering, compliance, and operations.
- Develop deep expertise in Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay scheme products — including acquiring, issuing, prepaid, and virtual card programmes — and translate scheme capabilities into Cardaq product offerings.
- Act as the internal subject matter expert on scheme mandates, product certification processes, and scheme-driven roadmap requirements (e.g. network tokenisation, 3DS2, contactless mandates, scheme fee changes).
- Work with the COO to define go-to-market strategy for new products and enhancements, including pricing models, merchant segmentation, and partner positioning.
- Work with the COO and scheme account managers at Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay to stay ahead of scheme developments and identify new product opportunities.
- Monitor product performance metrics, approval rates, chargeback ratios, revenue per transaction and use data to drive continuous improvement.
- Support operational product delivery: onboarding flows, API documentation, merchant integration, and client-facing product collateral.
- Manage the product backlog and run sprint ceremonies in partnership with the IT team.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- 3-5 years of product management experience within payments, card issuing, acquiring, or a related fintech environment.
- Strong knowledge of card scheme products and operations across Visa, Mastercard, and/or UnionPay including scheme rules, product certification, and mandate compliance.
- Experience defining and shipping payment products either on the acquiring or issuing side (both is a strong plus).
- Familiarity with FCA-regulated environments and the compliance constraints that shape product decisions.
- Comfortable working across technical and commercial teams, you can write a PRD and present a business case with equal confidence.
- Data-driven approach to product decisions, experience with analytics tools and payments KPIs.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to engage scheme partners, merchants, and internal stakeholders clearly.
DESIRABLE
- Direct experience working at or alongside a card scheme (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay).
- Knowledge of open banking, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), or tokenisation platforms.
- Experience with white-label card programme builds or PSP product delivery.
- Familiarity with PCI DSS Level 1 environments and associated product constraints.
- Agile/Scrum certification (CSPO or equivalent).
Location: London (5 days in-office)
Reporting To: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Notice Period: 1 month
WHY CARDAQ
Shape the product direction of a growing FCA-regulated payments business with global reach. Principal membership of Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay — rare access to scheme-level relationships and product opportunities. Direct reporting line to the COO with a clear path to senior product leadership. High-ownership, low-bureaucracy environment where you'll move fast and see real impact.
Product Manager in London employer: Cardaq
At Cardaq, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a high-ownership, low-bureaucracy environment where innovation thrives. Located in the heart of London, our team enjoys direct access to key industry relationships with Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay, providing unique opportunities for professional growth and impactful contributions. As a Product Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our product strategy while benefiting from a clear path to senior leadership within a dynamic and rapidly growing fintech landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fintech space, especially those who work with card schemes. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out 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 potential employers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your knowledge of card scheme products and your experience in product management. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've driven product success in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a role that excites you, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Apply through our website and follow up with a friendly email expressing your enthusiasm. It shows initiative and can help you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for the interview like it’s game day! Research Cardaq thoroughly, understand their products, and think about how your skills align with their needs. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth and success in the payments landscape.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Product Manager role at Cardaq. Highlight your experience in payments and card issuing, and don’t forget to showcase your knowledge of Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay products. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about product management in the fintech space. Share specific examples of how you've driven product roadmaps or improved product performance metrics in your previous roles. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role is data-driven, make sure to highlight your experience with analytics tools and how you've used data to inform product decisions. We want to know how you’ve tackled challenges using data in your past roles, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cardaq
✨Know Your Products Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of card scheme products, especially those from Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay. Familiarise yourself with their rules, certification processes, and how they translate into marketable products. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to take ownership of the product roadmap.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Given the technical nature of the role, be ready to discuss specific product requirements and use cases. Brush up on your understanding of payment metrics like approval rates and chargeback ratios. Being able to articulate how you would use data to drive product improvements will impress the interviewers and show your data-driven approach.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
As a Product Manager, you'll need to work closely with various teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with engineering, compliance, and operations in the past. Highlight your ability to write clear PRDs and present business cases, as this will demonstrate your comfort in bridging technical and commercial teams.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Research Cardaq's position in the payments industry and its competitors. Be prepared to discuss potential product opportunities and how you would define a go-to-market strategy for new offerings. Showing that you understand the broader market context will indicate that you're not just focused on the role but also on the company's growth.
