Operations Manager (Card Payments)

About the Role

We are looking for an Operations Manager to take ownership of core acquiring and payment operations related to card payments. This role is a foundational step in building a dedicated Operations function within the company.

Requirements

• 2–3+ years of experience in Payment Operations or Back Office within a regulated financial institution

• Mandatory hands-on experience with card payments (Visa / Mastercard)

• Experience working with payment infrastructure (core banking systems, payment gateways, acquiring platforms)

• Strong Excel and data analysis skills

• Solid understanding of KYC and CDD processes

• Functional knowledge of FCA regulations and card scheme rules (Visa / Mastercard)

• High attention to detail and strong operational discipline

Responsibilities

• Onboarding & Underwriting: Manage the merchant onboarding queue, complete initial reviews within SLAs, collect KYC/AML documentation, and escalate cases to Risk or Compliance where required

• Payment Operations: Oversee daily settlement cycles and ensure timely payouts to merchants for card transactions

• Reconciliation: Perform daily reconciliation of card transactions, investigate and resolve breaks and exceptions, and validate data integrity by comparing system volumes with bank balances

• Dispute Management: Manage chargeback and dispute processes for card payments, notify merchants, and submit defence documentation to card schemes within required timelines

• Process Optimisation: Identify friction points in onboarding and operational workflows, collaborate with Tech and Product teams on automation initiatives, and maintain up-to-date Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Scheme Reporting: Prepare and submit operational and compliance reports to Visa and Mastercard