At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global operations, driving performance in payments, KYC, and customer support.
- Company: Dynamic financial services firm with a focus on cross-border payment solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, growth opportunities, and a chance to shape operational excellence.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career advancement in a rapidly expanding business.
- Why this job: Join a high-growth company and make a real impact in the financial services sector.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in operational leadership within FX or payments.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 € per year.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 employer: Space Executive
As a Group Operations Director in this high-growth financial services firm, you will thrive in a dynamic environment that champions innovation and operational excellence. The company fosters a collaborative work culture, prioritising employee development and offering ample opportunities for career progression as it expands globally. With a commitment to maintaining a client-first approach and a focus on continuous improvement, this role provides a unique chance to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Operations Director - Payments
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working in operations or payments. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s operations and recent news. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how they run their business and how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in KYC, onboarding, and payments. Highlight your leadership style and how you build high-performance teams.
✨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
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the Group Operations Director role. Highlight your operational leadership experience in payments or financial services, 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. Talk about your hands-on experience with banking partners and how you can drive operational performance and continuous improvement.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your operational excellence. Use metrics where possible to show how you’ve improved processes or driven growth in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our growing team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Space Executive
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the operational functions relevant to the role, especially KYC, onboarding, and payments. Brush up on the latest trends in financial services and be ready to discuss how you would enhance operational performance and compliance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your experience managing multi-disciplinary teams. Highlight specific examples where you've built a high-performance culture and driven cross-functional collaboration. This is your chance to demonstrate how you lead by example and develop talent within your team.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the company's position in the market, especially regarding their expansion plans and M&A strategy. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their growth and navigate the complexities of global operations.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Expect questions about your communication skills and how you manage relationships with banking partners and other stakeholders. Have examples ready that showcase your ability to connect operational excellence with business outcomes and how you've handled challenges in the past.
