Chief Operating Officer in London

• Chief Operating Officer
• Stream. Money
• Reporting To: CEO
• About Stream Money

Stream Money is a rapidly growing financial services and payments organisation delivering innovative solutions across Banking-as-a-Service (Baa S), Payments, Foreign Exchange (FX), and Digital Assets.

We work with businesses globally to provide regulated financial infrastructure, payment capabilities, and cross-border solutions that enable our clients to scale efficiently and compliantly.

As we continue our growth trajectory, we are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead and optimise our operational infrastructure, ensuring excellence in service delivery, regulatory compliance, and operational scalability.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role responsible for building, managing, and enhancing the operational framework that supports Stream Money's regulated financial services activities.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping operational strategy while remaining hands-on in day-to-day execution.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise from a Banking, Electronic Money Institution (EMI), Payments, Foreign Exchange, or Banking-as-a-Service environment and possess a strong understanding of regulatory expectations within the UK financial services sector.

This position offers a unique opportunity to join an ambitious, high-growth organisation and contribute directly to its continued expansion.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership
• Develop and execute the company's operational strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead and manage all operational functions across payments, foreign exchange, transaction processing, reconciliation, and banking operations.
• Build scalable operational processes capable of supporting significant business growth.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, automation, and customer experience.
• Establish and maintain operational KPIs, SLAs, and management reporting frameworks.
• Work across functional teams within Compliance, Sales, Technology and Finance.
• Banking-as-a-Service & Payments
• Oversee operational delivery of Banking-as-a-Service programmes and partnerships.
• Manage payment operations across domestic and international payment rails.
• Ensure operational resilience across payment processing, settlement, safeguarding, and treasury functions.
• Support the launch of new products, services, and market expansion initiatives.
• Work closely with banking partners, payment providers, and technology vendors.
• Regulatory & Risk Management
• Ensure operational adherence to FCA requirements and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Maintain robust operational controls, governance processes, and audit readiness.
• Support compliance teams in managing regulatory reporting obligations.
• Collaborate with Risk, Compliance, and Finance functions to identify and mitigate operational risks.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and controls remain fit for purpose as the business scales.
• Financial Control & Reconciliation
• Oversee operational finance processes including client money safeguarding, reconciliations, settlement processes, and reporting.
• Ensure accurate and timely operational reporting.
• Work closely with Finance to maintain strong financial controls and governance.
• Support audit activities and regulatory reviews.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing operations team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership across Commercial, Product, Technology, Compliance, and Finance functions.
• Act as a key operational representative with regulators, banking partners, and external stakeholders where required.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Hands on Operations
• 15+ years of operational leadership experience within Financial Services.
• Proven experience working within a regulated Banking, Electronic Money Institution (EMI), Payments, Foreign Exchange, or Banking-as-a-Service environment.
• Deep understanding of payment operations, transaction processing, settlement, and operational controls.
• Strong knowledge of FCA regulatory requirements and financial services governance frameworks.
• Experience building and scaling operational processes in a growing organisation.
• Demonstrable leadership experience managing cross-functional operational teams.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Highly Desirable
• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting EMI licensing, regulatory authorisations, or regulatory change programmes.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, client money management, treasury operations, and reconciliation processes.
• Experience within fintech, embedded finance, Banking-as-a-Service, or high-growth financial technology businesses.
• Exposure to international payments and cross-border financial services.
• Personal Attributes
• Hands-on and execution-focused.
• Commercially minded with strong business acumen.
• Detail-oriented while maintaining strategic oversight.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Passionate about building scalable operational excellence.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and executive benefits package.
• Opportunity to join a high-growth fintech and play a key role in its future success.
• Exposure to innovative Banking-as-a-Service, Payments, and Foreign Exchange solutions.
• A collaborative, ambitious, and entrepreneurial culture.
• Potential participation in long-term incentive and equity programmes.
• Equal Opportunities

Stream Money is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background, identity, or experience.