At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate UK Payments technology strategy at ClearBank.
- Company: Join ClearBank, a forward-thinking bank focused on diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive culture.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a commitment to diversity and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments and make a real impact in banking.
- Qualifications: Senior tech leadership experience in payments or financial services required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
The Director of Engineering – UK Payments will provide senior technology leadership for ClearBank’s UK-focused payments capabilities, owning the technical strategy, delivery oversight, and evolution of this domain, providing a highly utilised and relied upon set of capabilities for clients.
This role will lead an established set of teams as they evolve payments capabilities to scale and meet developing client needs. The Director will collaborate closely with Product partners to shape the long‑term roadmap, ensure robust technical foundations, and guide ClearBank’s progression in this vital domain.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Own the technology strategy for UK Payments, ensuring alignment with ClearBank’s wider platform and technology strategy.
- Partner with the Head of Product for UK to define and evolve a clear, credible roadmap covering near‑term delivery and longer‑term technical direction.
- Provide domain leadership and technical challenge, supporting informed decisions on build, buy, and partner options as the capability matures.
- Delivery & Execution
- Provide senior oversight of an existing UK Payments engineering teams, ensuring delivery remains on track as the products evolve and new products are introduced.
- Ensure strong engineering fundamentals, including resilience, scalability, security, and operational readiness, appropriate for a regulated bank.
- Support the evolution of a highly utilised set of capabilities as they scale to meet future client needs.
- Technology & Architecture
- Guide architectural decisions for payments capabilities while maintaining ClearBank standards.
- Define the technical direction of travel for payments, including how the platform could evolve to support additional capabilities and ease of further expansion.
- Ensure payments services integrate effectively with ClearBank’s other services.
- People & Leadership
- Lead and develop engineers and engineering managers within the UK Payments domain.
- Set clear expectations, provide coaching, and build a culture of ownership, learning, and delivery.
- Contribute to the wider Director community, strengthening domain specialism while maintaining consistency across the technology organisation.
- Risk, Regulation & Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with Risk, Compliance, and Legal teams to ensure UK Payments capabilities operate within applicable regulatory frameworks.
- Communicate clearly with senior stakeholders on progress, risks, and trade‑offs in a complex and evolving domain.
- Ensure appropriate controls, documentation, and operational processes are in place as the product scales.
What We’re Looking For
- Essential Experience
- Senior technology leadership experience (Director or equivalent) within payments, financial services, or adjacent regulated domains.
- Demonstrable experience owning and evolving complex platforms, preferably in a high throughput environment.
- Strong domain understanding of payments, sufficient to develop strategy and challenge technical decisions (deep blockchain specialism is not required).
- Proven ability to partner effectively with Product leadership to shape and deliver long‑term strategy.
- Desirable Experience
- Experience integrating with third‑party schemes and platforms.
- Exposure to regulatory environments for payments.
- Experience scaling teams and platforms as product maturity and customer adoption increase.
Leadership & Behaviours
- Pragmatic and outcome‑focused, with sound judgement to balance speed, risk, and long‑term value.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and guiding teams through an evolving domain.
- Clear communicator who can explain complex concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Role‑model for ClearBank’s expectations around ownership, delivery, and collaboration.
Director of Engineering - Payments employer: ClearBank
ClearBank is an exceptional employer that prioritises innovation and collaboration within its Developer Experience team. With a flexible working philosophy, employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance alongside numerous benefits and opportunities for professional growth in the rapidly evolving field of AI integration. Joining ClearBank means being part of a forward-thinking environment where your contributions directly impact the future of banking technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering - Payments
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like ClearBank. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Engineering - Payments
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to ClearBank.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on ClearBank's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at ClearBank
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with ClearBank.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at ClearBank will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former ClearBank employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
