At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive SME payment growth in untapped markets and lead innovative initiatives.
- Company: Join Mastercard, a global leader empowering economies and people worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic, cross-functional environment with opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming payment solutions for SMEs globally.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategy or commercial roles, with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide.
Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper.
We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible.
Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
- Title And Summary
- Manager, Global SME Market Expansion
- Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide.
Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper.
We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible.
Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
- Title And Summary
- Manager, Global SME Market Expansion
- Overview
The SME Global Market Expansion team is a newly established unit within Mastercard's Global SME organization, focused on unlocking incremental SME payment flows in underpenetrated geographies.
The team identifies high-potential markets and drives initiatives to expand card usage, acceptance, and share of wallet among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
The Manager, SME Global Market Expansion will play a critical role in setting and executing strategies to accelerate the shift from cash, checks, and wire payments to card-based solutions.
This role combines strategy, analytics, and hands-on execution, with clear accountability for commercial outcomes including Gross Dollar Volume (GDV), Net Revenue (NR), and pipeline creation.
- Role
- Define and execute the SME card conversion strategy across prioritized markets, with a focus on displacing cash, checks, and wires
- Own and deliver against commercial targets, including GDV growth, Net Revenue (NR), and qualified pipeline generation
- Identify target SME segments, industries, and use cases with the highest card displacement potential
- Diagnose key blockers to growth and design actionable solutions
- Lead end-to-end execution of growth initiatives: from ideation and business case development to pilot, measurement, and scale
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy Development & Commercial Ownership
- Own market expansion strategies with clear accountability for GDV, NR, and pipeline impact
- Build and maintain robust business cases linking initiatives to measurable financial outcomes
- Prioritize initiatives based on expected ROI, scalability, and market impact
- Execution & Scaling
- Translate strategy into actionable pilots and test-and-learn programs
- Define clear KPIs and success metrics
- Rigorously track performance, extract insights, and scale what works across markets
- Drive execution discipline, ensuring initiatives move quickly from concept to impact
- Market & Customer Insights
- Leverage data, research, and feedback to understand payment behaviors and switching barriers
- Track competitive dynamics, fintech innovation, and alternative payment trends shaping SME behavior in selected regions
- Opportunity Identification
- Identify high-value use cases and spend categories for market expansion
- Define target segments and verticals with the highest growth potential
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Partner with Finance, Marketing, Regional, and Market teams to shape and execute initiatives
- Align stakeholders around strategic priorities and drive coordinated execution
- Partnership Development
- Identify and evaluate strategic partners to accelerate adoption
- Support partnership strategies that unlock channel distribution or use cases
- Value Proposition & Initiative Design
- Translate insights into differentiated value propositions for SMEs
- Design and prioritize initiatives that drive measurable increases in expansion markets
- All About You
- Experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, operations, sales, or commercial roles within payments or financial services industry
- Experience in global or highly matrixed organizations is strongly preferred
- SME-obsessed: Deep understanding of SME needs, behaviors, and pain points
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to link insights to commercial outcomes
- Proven ability to own and deliver against financial targets (GDV, revenue, pipeline)
- Strong execution mindset: experience running pilots, defining KPIs, and scaling successful initiatives
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with experience influencing senior stakeholders
- Strong presentation skills, with the ability to distill complex ideas to clear, actionable narratives
- Ownership mindset: Acts like an owner - accountable, proactive, and results-driven
- Bias for action and urgency: Moves quickly from insight to execution and maintains momentum
- Ability to thrive in cross-functional, global environments
Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree required
- MBA or advanced degree preferred
- Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
- Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
- Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
- Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
- Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Manager, Global SME Market Expansion employer: Mastercard
As a Senior Site Reliability Engineer at Connex, you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to maintaining the UK's national payment infrastructure, where innovation and collaboration are at the forefront of our work culture. We offer a supportive environment that prioritises continuous improvement and professional growth, alongside competitive benefits and a commitment to work-life balance. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the financial services sector while enjoying the unique advantages of working in a cutting-edge technology space.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Manager, Global SME Market Expansion
✨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 Manager, Global SME Market Expansion
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.
