At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead SME sales strategy, identify growth opportunities, and build relationships with fintech issuers.
- Company: Join Mastercard, a leader in fintech innovation and SME solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on collaboration and strategic growth in the payments landscape.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech space and drive growth for SMEs.
- Qualifications: Experience in fintech sales, strong analytical skills, and ability to influence stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are seeking a commercially focused and highly collaborative Director, SME Specialist Sales – to support Mastercard’s SME agenda across the UK&I Division. This Director-level role will partner closely with UK&I account teams, business development, product and services colleagues to identify, shape and win high-value SME opportunities with fintech issuers, embedded finance platforms, expense management providers and other digital-first partners.
The successful candidate will bring deep knowledge of fintech issuing models, strong sales discipline and the ability to translate Mastercard’s SME capabilities into clear client propositions that accelerate revenue growth and strengthen Mastercard’s position in the SME segment.
- Support the execution of the UK&I SME fintech growth strategy in close partnership with account teams, business development and key internal stakeholders.
- Act as a specialist SME sales partner to account teams, bringing fintech issuer expertise, market insight and disciplined opportunity management to priority client engagements.
- Identify SME growth opportunities with fintech issuers, qualify pipeline, shape client propositions and support deal conversion from early origination through to execution.
- Work closely with Mastercard Services to identify data, loyalty, cyber, consulting and optimisation opportunities that enhance fintech issuer value propositions.
- Build strong relationships with fintech issuer stakeholders and internal partners to unlock SME issuing, commercial card, embedded finance and spend management opportunities.
- Represent Mastercard as an SME fintech issuer specialist in relevant UK&I client conversations, internal forums and industry engagements.
- Understand the priorities, pain points and growth ambitions of fintech issuers serving SME customers, and translate these into actionable Mastercard sales opportunities.
- Create differentiated SME value propositions for fintech issuers, drawing on Mastercard’s payment, data, loyalty, services and commercial card capabilities.
- Support strategic account plans for priority fintech issuer clients, ensuring SME opportunities are clearly identified, sized, prioritised and pursued.
- Drive adoption of Mastercard solutions that help fintech issuers grow SME portfolios, improve customer engagement, deepen usage and expand commercial payment flows.
- Develop compelling business cases and client narratives that demonstrate the value of Mastercard solutions in helping fintech issuers serve SME customers more effectively.
- Maintain rigorous pipeline discipline, including SFDC management, opportunity tracking, forecasting and reporting against agreed UK&I SME fintech issuer sales priorities.
- Build trusted working relationships with account teams, product, services, legal, franchise, marketing and implementation colleagues to deliver coordinated support for fintech issuers.
- Help build internal SME fintech issuer knowledge by sharing client insights, use cases, win themes and emerging market trends with relevant teams.
- Apply disciplined sales methodologies and best practices aligned with Mastercard’s Sales Transformation programme.
- Support complex client engagements with strong commercial judgement, consultative selling skills and clear stakeholder management.
- Track progress against pipeline, revenue and strategic account objectives, taking action to improve focus and outcomes where needed.
- Maintain strong knowledge of the UK&I fintech issuer and SME payments landscape, including regulatory developments, competitive threats, distribution shifts and emerging technologies.
- Monitor SME fintech issuing, commercial card, spend management, embedded finance, acquiring and alternative distribution trends across the UK&I market.
- Identify opportunities for Mastercard to add value within the SME fintech issuer ecosystem, including partnerships with expense platforms, embedded finance providers, ISVs and other digital-first channels.
- Monitor competitive activity in fintech issuing, SME payments and commercial card propositions, and develop effective responses with product, account and divisional teams.
- Collaborate with product, marketing, loyalty, data and services teams to ensure Mastercard solutions address evolving fintech issuer, SME client and end-customer needs.
- Provide regular market intelligence and pipeline updates on fintech issuer opportunities to UK&I leadership and the European SME leadership team.
Qualifications:
- Do you have strong fintech SME banking experience and the ambition to help scale one of the most strategically important growth areas in payments?
- Strong influencing skills with the ability to work across account, product, services and divisional teams without direct authority.
- Proven track record of building pipeline, influencing stakeholders and supporting sales conversion with fintech issuers or digital-first financial services clients.
- Experience in financial services, payments technology, fintech issuing or commercial payments, with a proven record of driving sales growth in complex B2B environments.
- Strong understanding of the UK&I payments landscape, fintech issuing models, card issuing, commercial cards, acquiring and SME payment solutions.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and generate actionable insights.
- Experience working in or selling to fintech issuers, embedded finance platforms, expense management providers, accounting software companies or other SME-focused digital partners.
- Experience engaging senior stakeholders at fintech issuers, financial institutions, payment service providers or technology-led partners.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to create compelling value propositions for fintech issuers targeting SME customers.
- Demonstrated understanding of the SME market in the UK&I, including the needs of small businesses, mid-market clients and the fintech issuers that serve them.
Director of SME Specialist Sales (Fintech Issuers, UK & Ireland) employer: Mastercard
Mastercard is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation in the fintech sector. With a strong focus on employee growth, Mastercard provides ample opportunities for professional development and career advancement, particularly in the rapidly evolving SME market across the UK and Ireland. The company's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a supportive culture makes it an attractive place for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial services landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of SME Specialist Sales (Fintech Issuers, UK & Ireland)
✨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 Mastercard. 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 SME Specialist Sales (Fintech Issuers, UK & Ireland)
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 Mastercard.
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 Mastercard'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 Mastercard
✨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 Mastercard.
✨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 Mastercard 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 Mastercard 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.
