Payments Portfolio Director

Michael Page (UK); City Of London; On-site; GBP 130,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international bank in London is seeking a Payments Portfolio Director to manage and oversee payment programmes, ensuring strategic alignment and stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in payments and transaction banking, along with a proven track record in strategic programme delivery. This position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work on high-level strategic projects in the payments sector.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive standard benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong experience in payments, cash management, or transaction banking.
• Proven track record in payments product management and strategic delivery.
• Deep understanding of payment systems including SWIFT, CHAPS, SEPA.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee all Payment programmes and projects.
• Ensure strategic alignment with business line heads.
• Oversee the programme/project lifecycle from initiation to benefits realization.

Skills

Payments experience

Stakeholder management

Leadership skills

Understanding of payment systems

Regulatory compliance

Education

Degree level education

Job description

Overview

Opportunity to shape and deliver major payments transformation. Experience leading enterprise wide payments transformation needed.

About Our Client

A large international bank based in London.

Job Description

Payments Portfolio Director Description and Qualifications

• Responsible for managing and overseeing all Payment programmes and projects, you will work closely with senior executives across Corporate & Investment Banking, Operations and Technology. Partnering with Risk, Finance and, Compliance to drive portfolio level decisions.
• The Payments portfolio composed of a variety of complex projects medium-long term in length, that impact multiple departments and/or offices and are medium to high in risk, scope and complexity that aim to achieve growth, greater compliance and decrease the potential for reputational risk.
• Accountable for the strategic oversight, coordination, and prioritisation of multiple programmes and projects across a defined business area. Act as the strategic interface between transformation and business lines to ensure that initiatives are aligned to the banks mid- to long-term objectives.
• Responsible for strategic Alignment with business line heads to understanding the business strategy and objectives. Translate strategic goals into a clear, actionable business transformation roadmap. Prioritise initiatives based on strategic value, business impact, regulatory commitments, and resource availability.
• Oversee the programme/project lifecycle, from initiation through to benefits realisation. Ensure the right balance between run-the-bank (RTB), change-the-bank (CTB), and transformation initiatives.
• Establish and maintain robust portfolio governance structures and decision-making forums. Ensure Programme/Project Managers provide transparent reporting to Management/Steerco on performance, risks, and benefits realisation.
• Drive accountability and continuous improvement through regular portfolio reviews.
• Stakeholder management is critical to the role. Primary liaison between transformation and business units. Engage executive sponsors to ensure strategic intent remains aligned throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Ensuring that all deliverables achieve compliance for the organisation, meet the objectives of the project, are in line with best market practise and can withstand formal regulatory scrutiny.

The Successful Applicant

Payments Portfolio Director Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• strong experience in payments, cash management, or transaction banking preferably within a large corporate or institutional bank in a senior portfolio management or strategy role
• Proven track record in payments product management portfolio leadership or strategic programme delivery.
• Deep understanding of payment systems, including SWIFT, CHAPS, SEPA, FPS and, emerging real-time payment schemes
• Strong grasp of ISO 20022, API connectivity, payment hubs, and digital payment ecosystems
• Experience with regulatory change, marker infrastructure modernisation and client solutioning
• Excellent leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills across business and technology teams.
• Professional certifications e.g. ACI, SWIFT Institute preferred.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from £130,000 to £156,000 per annum.
• Comprehensive standard benefits package.
• Opportunity to work in a leading organisation in the financial services industry.
• Exposure to high-level strategic projects in the payments sector.
• Professional development and career progression opportunities.

If you are an experienced Payments Portfolio Director looking for an exciting opportunity in London, we encourage you to apply today.