(Senior) Implementation Manager, Payments/Banking - UK (m/f/d)

ABOUT US

Since 2020, Pliant has been on a mission to rethink credit cards and empower companies to grow by providing a smart way to pay that scale with their business. With our app and API-based solutions, Pliant allows companies to issue physical and virtual credit cards, automate payment processes, track spending, and seamlessly integrate these data into their finance stack.

Pliant is growing quickly. With our expansion into 30 international markets, we believe that people, passion, and diversity are the key ingredients to our future success. Our growing team of 160+ Plianteers come from 35 nationalities and work remotely or in a hybrid environment from our headquarters in the heart of Berlin. And we're looking for more talented and committed people to join us on our journey!

About the Role

We are looking for a ( Senior) Implementation Manager, Payments/Banking - UK (m/f/d) to oversee and optimise our UK card issuing and payment operations. This role is focused on project execution, stakeholder management, and regulatory compliance , ensuring efficient and compliant payment operations in the UK market.

You will work closely with banking partners, card networks, regulators, and internal teams (Compliance, Finance, Risk, and Payment Operations) to improve payment flows, ensure regulatory alignment, and enhance operational efficiency.

What You'll Do UK Card Programme & Payments Operations

• Oversee key projects related to UK card issuing and payment processes, ensuring smooth issuance, processing, and settlement.
• Work with Compliance and Risk teams to maintain full adherence to UK financial regulations, including FCA requirements, Open Banking, and PSD2.
• Manage relationships with card schemes, issuing banks, and payment processors , ensuring high authorisation rates and efficient payment flows.
• Monitor transaction performance, fraud patterns, and operational risks , driving improvements where necessary.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Act as a key point of contact for UK banking partners, acquirers, and payment processors.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams (Compliance, Risk, Finance, and Payment Operations) to ensure alignment between business needs and payment strategies.
• Support contract negotiations and service-level agreements with external partners.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all payment activities comply with FCA regulations, AML/KYC policies, and PSD2 requirements .
• Work with fraud and risk teams to enhance transaction monitoring and fraud prevention .
• Support incident management efforts , including dispute resolution, chargebacks, and compliance audits.

Operational Optimisation & Reporting

• Analyse payment trends and identify inefficiencies, working with teams to optimise payment operations.
• Provide regular performance reports on transaction volumes, decline rates, fraud trends, and operational bottlenecks.
• Work with Finance and Treasury teams to optimise FX management and cross-border payments .

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years of experience in payments, card issuing, or banking , ideally within the UK market.
• Strong expertise in stakeholder management , with experience working with banks, issuers, and regulators.
• Good understanding of UK payments regulations (FCA, PSD2, Open Banking, AML/KYC).
• Experience in project execution within payments, ensuring smooth coordination across teams.
• Ability to troubleshoot payment issues , investigate fraud cases, and improve operational processes.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with Visa, Mastercard, or payment processors .
• Familiarity with cross-border payments, treasury operations, or FX management .
• Some exposure to data tools (e.g., SQL, APIs) but not required for the role.

What We Offer

• Lead and shape UK payment operations in a fast-growing international fintech.
• Work on cutting-edge payment products with industry leaders.
• Collaborate with key players in the UK financial ecosystem.
• Competitive salary and corporate benefits.