Head of Product - Payments in London

Head of Product - Payments in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
cleo

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of innovative payment solutions and infrastructure for a transformative fintech.
  • Company: Join Cleo, a fast-growing unicorn on a mission to revolutionise financial access.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible work, and generous leave policies.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture that values diversity and offers excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of payments and make a real impact in the fintech space.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in payments and fintech, with strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

About Cleo

At Cleo, we’re not just building another fintech app. We’re embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity’s relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper‑intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. That’s the future we’re creating.

Cleo is a rare success story: a profitable, fast‑growing unicorn with over $300 million in ARR and growing over 2x year‑over‑year. This isn’t just a job; it’s a chance to join a team of brilliant, driven individuals who are passionate about making a real difference. We have an exceptionally high bar for talent, seeking individuals who are not only at the top of their field but also embody our culture of collaboration and positive impact.

If you’re driven by complex challenges that push your expertise, the chance to shape something truly transformative, and the potential to share in Cleo’s success as we scale, while growing alongside a company that’s scaling fast, this might be your perfect fit.

About The Role

Cleo is building regulated financial products across multiple geographies — and payments is the infrastructure that makes it all possible. We’re looking for a Head of Product to lead the two squads that own this: Payments Infrastructure, which keeps money moving reliably across all our products today, and Payments Expansion, which launches payment capabilities in new markets and hands them over once they’re running as business‑as‑usual.

This is a senior PM leadership role. You’ll set the direction for both squads, manage the PMs within them, and be the senior payments voice across product, engineering, risk, compliance, and operations.

What Success Looks Like

  • Payments infrastructure is consistent, reliable, and observable across every product and market Cleo operates in.
  • New regulated product launches have payments capabilities embedded by default — no bespoke work required.
  • Cleo can enter a new geography with speed and confidence, following a standardised, provider‑agnostic playbook.
  • Provider integrations are measurable, cost‑effective, and easy to iterate.
  • Money movement is auditable and meets regulatory expectations everywhere Cleo operates.
  • Consistent payments user experience across all products and geos.

What you'll own

  • The roadmap for Cleo’s payments platform — rails, orchestration, provider integrations, event pipelines, and money movement flows across all products and markets.
  • Payment provider implementations: routing, performance, reliability, fallback logic, and cost efficiency.
  • Cleo’s expansion into new geographies and payment methods — provider selection, technical design, and a reusable integration playbook that doesn’t require re‑engineering for each new market.
  • The handover process from Expansion to Fraud Infra, ensuring new launches are well‑documented, observable, and transition smoothly to BAU.
  • System health: reliability, latency, monitoring, auditability, and operational tooling that reduces manual work.
  • Cross‑functional alignment across Engineering, Risk, Compliance, Fraud, and Operations.

What we’re looking for

  • Significant PM experience in payments, fintech, or regulated financial products — ideally with experience managing other PMs.
  • Deep fluency in payment rails, orchestration systems, provider integrations, and event‑driven architecture.
  • Strong product judgment in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments where reliability and growth are both non‑negotiable.
  • A track record of building scalable platform infrastructure, not one‑off solutions.
  • Experience with geographic expansion is a strong plus.
  • The ability to translate compliance and regulatory requirements into clear engineering roadmaps.

Why this role matters?

As Cleo scales regulated products across more markets, payments infrastructure becomes the foundation everything else is built on. This role will make sure we can launch safely, move money reliably, and grow without creating fragmented systems or slowing teams down. You’ll be leading the people who make that happen.

What do you get for all your hard work?

  • A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi‑annual reviews, aligned to our quarterly OKR planning cycles.
  • Work at one of the fastest‑growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms, Balderton & EQT Ventures.
  • A clear progression plan. We want you to keep growing. That means trying new things, leading others, challenging the status quo and owning your impact. Always with our complete support.
  • Flexibility. We can’t fight for the world’s financial health if we’re not healthy ourselves. We work with everyone to make sure they have the balance they need to do their best work.
  • Work where you work best. We’re a globally distributed team. If you live in London we have a hybrid approach, we’d love you to spend one day a week or more in our beautiful office. If you’re outside of London, we’ll encourage you to spend a couple of days with us a few times per year. And we’ll cover your travel costs, naturally.

Other Benefits

  • Company‑wide performance reviews every 6 months.
  • Generous pay increases for high‑performing team members.
  • Equity top‑ups for team members getting promoted.
  • 25 days annual leave a year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo, up to 30 days).
  • 6% employer‑matched pension in the UK.
  • Private Medical Insurance via Vitality, dental cover, and life assurance.
  • Enhanced parental leave.
  • 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo.
  • Regular socials and activities, online and in‑person.
  • We’ll pay for your OpenAI subscription.
  • Online mental health support via Spill.
  • Workplace Nursery Scheme.
  • And many more!

Welcoming Everyone

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio‑economic backgrounds. If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

Head of Product - Payments in London employer: cleo

Cleo is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation in the fintech space. With a competitive compensation package, clear progression plans, and a commitment to employee well-being through flexible working arrangements and generous benefits, Cleo empowers its team members to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in London or work remotely, and be part of a mission-driven company that values diversity and fosters growth as we revolutionise financial accessibility for all.

cleo

Contact Details:

cleo Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Product - Payments in London

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 cleo. 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 Head of Product - Payments in London

Product Management
Payments Infrastructure
Payment Rails
Orchestration Systems
Provider Integrations
Event-Driven Architecture
Regulatory Compliance

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 cleo.

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 cleo'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 cleo

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 cleo.

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 cleo 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 cleo 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.