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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global operations, ensuring top-notch performance in payments and customer support.
- Company: Join a high-growth financial services company with a dynamic team across multiple countries.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a vibrant work culture.
- Other info: Exciting opportunities for growth as the company expands into new markets.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in operational leadership within financial services and strong team management skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
The Company
This is a high-growth, profitable business operating at the heart of global financial services. With 250+ people across offices in the UK, Toronto, and Dubai, they deliver cross-border payment solutions, Virtual IBAN, and FX risk management capabilities to a diverse client base. With APAC expansion on the horizon and an active M&A strategy, the business is entering an exciting new phase of scale.
The Opportunity
This is a senior operational leadership role with a broad, global remit. As Group Operations Director, you will own and drive the performance of the operational function - spanning KYC/onboarding, customer support, treasury/safeguarding, and payments - as the business continues to grow in complexity and geographic reach. This is a high-impact position for an operationally minded leader who understands how a best-in-class operations function should be structured, and who can bring the rigour, process, and people leadership to make it a reality.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership
Own the end-to-end operational function, setting the strategy and standards across all teams. Act as the senior point of accountability for operational performance, risk, and continuous improvement. Partner closely with the COO and broader leadership team to ensure operations enables - rather than constrains - commercial growth. - Team Leadership
Directly manage a team of 6 reports across Onboarding, Customer Support, Treasury/Safeguarding, and Payments. Build a high-performance culture: clear goals, strong accountability, and a genuine commitment to developing talent. Drive cross-functional collaboration and alignment across operational disciplines. - KYC & Onboarding
Own first-line KYC and client onboarding processes, ensuring a frictionless yet compliant experience. Continuously refine onboarding workflows to improve speed, quality, and scalability. Work closely with compliance and risk to ensure regulatory obligations are met globally. - Payments & Treasury / Safeguarding
Oversee payment operations and treasury/safeguarding functions, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Manage and develop key banking relationships, ensuring operational continuity and the ability to scale. Identify and mitigate operational risk across payment flows and treasury activities. - Customer Support
Lead the implementation and ongoing development of the customer support function. Set and monitor service standards, driving a client-first culture across the team. Use client feedback and data to identify recurring issues and drive structural improvements.
What We're Looking For
- Experience
Significant experience in an operational leadership role within FX, payments, or broader financial services. Proven track record managing multi-disciplinary teams across complex, regulated environments. Hands-on experience working with banking partners and navigating banking relationships at a senior level. - Skills & Approach
A clear understanding of how a modern, scalable operations function should be structured and run. Strong process orientation - able to introduce structure and rigour without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Commercially astute, with the ability to connect operational excellence to business outcomes. Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills at all levels. A hands-on leader who leads by example and is comfortable rolling up their sleeves when needed.
Group Operations Director - Payments in City of London employer: Space Executive
Contact Detail:
Space Executive Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Operations Director - Payments in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their payment solutions and operational challenges. This will help you showcase how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your leadership style and operational expertise can drive performance and support their growth strategy. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Operations Director - Payments in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Group Operations Director role. Highlight your operational leadership experience in FX or payments, and don’t forget to showcase your ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this high-impact position. Share specific examples of how you've driven operational performance and improved processes in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to see how you lead! In your application, give us a glimpse into your leadership style. Talk about how you build high-performance cultures and drive cross-functional collaboration. We love hands-on leaders who lead by example!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Space Executive
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's operations, especially their payment solutions and KYC processes. Understanding their business model and recent developments will show your genuine interest and help you connect your experience to their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to discuss your approach to team leadership and how you've built high-performance cultures in the past. Share specific examples of how you've driven accountability and collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams, as this role requires strong people management skills.
✨Demonstrate Operational Excellence
Highlight your experience in managing operational functions, particularly in payments and treasury. Discuss how you've implemented processes that enhance efficiency and compliance, and be ready to suggest ideas on how to improve their current operations.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly around risk management and client onboarding, and how you successfully navigated them.