At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and improve payment processes while supporting audits and performance metrics.
- Company: Join IG, a leading fintech with a legacy of innovation since 1974.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible benefits, private medical cover, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech world while solving complex problems.
- Qualifications: Experience in payment operations and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
So, who are we? IG has been at the centre of retail trading and investment since 1974, when we helped create the market for financial spread betting. Today, we're a FTSE100 fintech operating across five continents, serving over 700,000 clients and handling billions in transactions - built on decades of scale, trust and proof. We didn't pivot to innovation; it's how we've always operated. What that means for the people who work here is real: genuinely complex problems to solve, the technology and resources to tackle them properly, and the kind of scope that’s rare in established businesses. The bar is high - bring a curious and forward-thinking mindset and we'll give you the platform to define what comes next. Join us at IG – the future gets built here.
Your role in the Team’s Success
We are hiring a 12 month FTC on a full time basis, Hybrid in London. This Senior Payments Specialist will be a senior individual contributor within the Payment Operations team, responsible for maintaining and improving payment processes, supporting audits and control assurance, and managing the performance metrics that measure operational health across payment operations. The role combines deep payments subject matter expertise with a continuous-improvement mindset, ensuring payment journeys are accurate, efficient, well controlled and compliant, while acting as a trusted point of reference for colleagues across operations, technology, product, customer experience and risk.
What you’ll do
- Process ownership, maintenance and improvement
- Maintain, document and continuously improve core payment processes across deposits, withdrawals, reconciliations, client verification and payment investigations.
- Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks and points of client friction, and design and implement process improvements.
- Keep standard operating procedures, process maps and knowledge resources current, and provide operational guidance and second-line support to payment operations teams.
- Support the introduction of new payment methods, providers and products, ensuring processes are operationally ready ahead of launch.
- Audit, controls and governance
- Support internal and external audits, assurance reviews and regulatory examinations, including preparing evidence, walkthroughs and control documentation.
- Own and operate key payment operations controls, and design and implement control enhancements arising from audit and risk findings.
- Ensure processes remain compliant with applicable regulatory, financial crime and internal policy requirements.
- Contribute to risk assessments and maintain a clear, well-evidenced control environment.
- Performance metrics and reporting
- Define, track and report on key performance indicators and service levels across payment operations, such as processing times, success and failure rates, backlog levels, reconciliation breaks, cost per transaction and fraud losses.
- Build and maintain dashboards and management information that give clear visibility of operational performance.
- Analyse performance trends, identify areas of underperformance or emerging risk, and drive corrective action with the relevant teams.
- Provide regular, accurate performance reporting to operational leadership and wider stakeholders.
- Fraud, risk and quality
- Monitor payment activity for fraud indicators and operational risk, and help strengthen preventative controls.
- Conduct quality and control reviews, ensuring transactions are processed accurately and in line with policy.
- Investigate operational incidents and errors, identify root causes and implement preventative measures.
- Automation and transformation
- Identify and progress opportunities to automate manual activity and increase straight-through processing.
- Partner with technology and product teams on tooling, self-service and system improvements that improve efficiency and client outcomes.
- Stakeholder management
- Work closely with customer experience, product, technology, finance, compliance, fraud and regional operations teams.
- Act as the operational point of contact for payment-related projects and initiatives.
- Translate operational needs into practical, well-controlled solutions.
What you’ll need for this role
- Substantial experience in payment operations within financial services or a comparable regulated environment.
- Strong knowledge of payment processes across deposits, withdrawals, reconciliations, verification and investigations.
- Demonstrable experience supporting audits and owning or remediating operational controls.
- Proven ability to define and manage performance metrics, with strong analytical and data skills and confidence working with reporting and business-intelligence tools.
- Track record of process improvement and, ideally, automation or transformation delivery.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
- Methodical, detail-focused and able to balance business-as-usual delivery with change and improvement.
What success looks like
- Payment processes are well documented, efficient and continuously improving.
- Audits and control reviews are well supported, with findings remediated on time.
- Operational performance is clearly measured, reported and improving against agreed metrics.
- Fraud and operational risk are effectively controlled.
- Manual effort is reduced through automation and better tooling.
How we work
- We think like a start-up, but we deliver like a FTSE 100 — so the bar is high, and we won't pretend otherwise. We work hybrid, which means three days in the office.
- Own the ambiguity: You'll work through it without a playbook, and get real ownership over how you solve it — excellence isn't optional here, it's the standard you hold yourself to.
- Question everything: Curiosity is our currency — question what exists, and you'll have the platform to define what comes next.
- Deliver at pace: The pace is real, but so is the momentum: deliver at speed, unpick hard problems, and help define the future of fintech.
- Raise the bar: Take your craft seriously, and you'll be surrounded by people who take theirs just as seriously — that's the legacy you're building on, and adding to.
The perks
- It really is more than a job. We’ll recognise your talent and make sure that you can still have a life – at work, and outside of it.
- Competitive salary
- Flexible Benefits Package on top of your salary (12%)
- Private medical cover for you and your family
- Life insurance
- Contribution to gym memberships
- 25 Days holiday, with 1 additional day off to celebrate your Birthday & 2 additional days off a year for voluntary work (28 in total)
- The option to buy or sell holiday days
- Unlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning Platform
- A comprehensive global and local onboarding process
- Employee-led LGBTQ+, Women’s, Black and Parents & Carers networks with an annual budget for organising events & projects that foster an open, diverse and inclusive culture
- Option to participate and create ESG initiatives based on IG Brighter Future Fund
- Enhanced primary (maternity), secondary (paternity), and shared parental pay and leave, as well as a range of support and benefits for parents
- Study package to support completion of the CGI qualification (if part qualified).
Learn more about the Perks here! Join us for this exciting journey.
Senior Payments Specialist in London employer: IG Group
IG Group is an exceptional employer located in the heart of London, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. With a hybrid work model, comprehensive benefits, and a strong focus on employee development, you will have the opportunity to grow your career while delivering premium service to high-net-worth clients. Join us to be part of a culture that values excellence and empowers you to make a meaningful impact in the financial services industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Payments Specialist in London
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like IG Group. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from IG Group.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like IG Group. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Payments Specialist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in IG Group and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show IG Group how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at IG Group
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with IG Group.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with IG Group's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
