Senior Manager, Licence Applications

Checkout.com; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Checkout.com is seeking a Senior Manager, Licensing Applications to lead the global licensing strategy and drive regulatory expansions from London with a global remit. You will act as the central architect for EMI, PI, and local license initiatives, aligning product, compliance, and operations with regulators.

You will collaborate with External Affairs, Legal, Risk, Finance, and Product to translate complex rules into actionable roadmaps and scalable processes that accelerate time-to-market and

Qualifications

• 8+ years in regulatory compliance or strategic expansion in fintech/payments.
• Proven track record delivering complex licensing applications across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong project management in cross-functional environments.
• Ability to translate regulatory text into commercial/product requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead global licensing roadmap across EMI, PI, and local approvals.
• Own end-to-end licensing applications with cross‑functional teams.
• Bridge External Affairs with Legal, Compliance, Risk, Finance, and Product.
• Engage regulators and executives with clear, data-driven briefs.
• Analyze regulatory trends to inform market entry decisions.
• Develop scalable processes and playbooks for licensing.

Skills

Regulatory Compliance

Licensing Expertise

Project Management

Regulatory Fluency

Stakeholder Communication

Ambiguity Tolerance

Job description

The Role

Checkout.com is looking for a dynamic and strategic Senior Manager, Licensing Applications to join our Global Affairs team. Reporting directly to the Director of External Affairs, you will lead the end-to-end execution of our global licensing strategy, serving as the central architect for our regulatory expansions in new and existing markets. Based in London with a global remit, you will sit at the intersection of public policy, regulatory strategy, and corporate expansion. This high‑impact, cross‑functional role requires project management mastery, deep regulatory fluency, and the commercial gravitas to align internal product and compliance roadmaps with external regulatory requirements. You will be instrumental in securing the banking and EMI licenses that form the bedrock of Checkout.com’s global growth.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Global Licensing Roadmap: Lead the preparation, drafting, compilation, and submission of major regulatory license applications globally (e.g., EMI, PI, and local payment method or central bank approvals).
• End‑to‑End Application Ownership: Turn vague or complex regulatory frameworks into structured project plans, coordinating multi‑layered application materials and ensuring technical, financial, and operational sections meet rigorous local regulatory standards.
• Cross‑Functional Orchestration: Act as the ultimate bridge between External Affairs, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Finance, and Product, aligning internal technical roadmaps with external commitments made to regulators during the application process.
• Regulator & Stakeholder Engagement: Craft compelling narratives and formal briefs for central banks, financial regulators, and executive leadership, supporting local leadership teams during pre‑licensing interviews and regulatory audits.
• Strategic Expansion Intelligence: Monitor and analyze shifting global regulatory trends, working closely with the Head of External Affairs to assess the feasibility of new market entries and advise leadership on potential regulatory risks and opportunities.
• Governance and Process Architecture: Build out scalable internal frameworks and playbooks for licensing applications to optimise speed‑to‑market and operational efficiency across regional expansions.

What We're Looking For

• FinTech & Payments Expertise: 8+ years of experience in regulatory compliance, legal, government relations, or a strategic expansion role within the FinTech or payments ecosystem.
• Proven Licensing Track Record: Direct experience successfully writing, managing, and delivering complex financial services licensing applications across multiple global jurisdictions.
• Masterful Project Management: Highly organised operator comfortable navigating massive, multi‑departmental deliverables under tight, high‑pressure deadlines.
• Regulatory Fluency: Ability to deconstruct technical regulatory text and translate it into actionable commercial and product requirements.
• Exceptional Communication: Stellar drafting skills and ability to articulate complex financial mechanisms into clear, outcome‑led narratives for C‑suite executives and external regulators.
• Ambiguity and Drive: Builder's mindset; highly autonomous, comfortable navigating grey areas, and motivated by shaping a rapidly scaling global blueprint.