SVP, Risk, Core Payments

Mastercard Inc.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard is seeking a SVP, Core Payments Risk Management to lead risk governance, oversight and strategic risk initiatives for the Core Payments business. The role requires executive leadership and robust collaboration with regulators, customers, and governance bodies.

You will drive risk identification, prioritization and mitigation across operational, technology and credit domains, while ensuring alignment with risk appetite and enterprise standards.

Qualifications

• Senior-level leadership experience within a complex organization.
• Proven ability to manage, develop and retain high-performing risk teams.
• Excellent communication and ability to influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Strong understanding of enterprise risk management frameworks and three lines of defense.

Responsibilities

• Lead risk management and operating cadence across Core Payments risk domains.
• Oversee governance forums, escalation pathways, and executive reporting.
• Serve as Chief Risk Officer for Real Time Payments International and coordinate with regulators.
• Develop robust risk governance and reporting for senior leadership and risk committees.
• Embed disciplined risk-taking and a culture of integrity across the business.

Skills

Leadership

Executive presence

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Governance

Regulatory experience

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

SVP, Risk, Core Payments SVP, Core Payments Risk Management

Who is Mastercard?

Mastercard (MA) is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and innovation, we help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential.

Overview

At Mastercard, risk management is fundamental to achieving our strategic objectives and maintaining the trust of customers, regulators, shareholders and employees. Mastercard is committed to the highest standards of integrity, governance and risk management.

The SVP, Core Payments Risk Management, is a senior leadership role within the MA Risk organization, reporting to the EVP, Risk Strategy and Transformation. The role is responsible for providing independent second‑line-of-defense (2LoD) oversight of Mastercard’s Core Payments business’ risk profile, governance framework, risk culture and control environment. They will also have responsibility to act as Chief Risk Officer for Real Time Payments International entities.

Role

Strategic Enabler to the Business

• Enable growth by designing practical guardrails that allow the business to scale with appropriate risk discipline, regulatory credibility and alignment to Mastercard standards.
• Supports scaled and controlled growth in Core Payments strategy, supporting new prioritized product launches and initiatives.
• Provide executive‑ready risk insights to leadership, supporting prioritization, investment decisions and timely escalation of material risks.

Risk Management & Execution

• Lead risk management and operating cadence including governance forums, escalation pathways, issue management and executive reporting.
• Oversee execution across all risk domains (e.g., operational resilience, technology/cyber, third‑party, conduct and other enterprise risks) ensuring consistent application of frameworks, standards and controls across all jurisdictions and business lines.
• Ensure clear Three Lines of Defense accountability and independent challenge.
• Identify latent and emerging risks, aligning with the 1st Line, and translate them into actionable governance, controls and executive decision‑making.
• Prioritize areas of focus given risk materiality.

Risk Management Program

• Design, operate and continuously enhance risk management practices across Core Payments progressing alignment between risk strategy, appetite and business growth, leveraging Enterprise Risk Management and other relevant standards and practices.
• Establish and maintain robust risk governance, including clear escalation pathways, risk committees, and decision‑making structures.
• Oversee end‑to‑end risk processes, including risk identification, assessment, monitoring and issue management, ensuring risks are effectively mitigated and controlled.
• Develop and coordinate risk reporting for senior leadership.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to embed disciplined risk‑taking, ensuring risks across operational, credit and technology domains are actively managed in line with risk appetite.

Integration & Culture

• Strengthen and scale a vigilant risk and compliance culture, including training, awareness and consistent operating practices.
• Support leadership depth, resilient governance and durable operating practices.

Chief Risk Officer for Real Time Payments International

• Serve as the primary independent 2LoD risk lead for Real Time Payments International (RTPI) with customers, regulators and supervisory authorities.
• Maintain strong and constructive relationships with relevant regulatory bodies.
• Support regulatory examinations, reviews, inspections and remediation programs.
• Ensure risk management practices comply with applicable regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations.
• Provide risk‑related assurance to regulators, customers and other stakeholders as required.
• Attend regulatory meetings and provide independent risk perspectives and assurance.
• Maintain direct and unrestricted access to the entities’ Risk Committees, including authority to independently escalat material risk concerns where necessary.
• Is a member of the RTPI Leadership Team.

All About You:

Leadership & Executive Presence

• Leadership experience operating at a senior executive level within a complex organization.
• Proven people and team management and leadership capabilities and ability to lead and prioritize activity across multiple teams.
• Executive presence with ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment in a matrixed environment
• Demonstrated ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders while maintaining strong business partnerships.
• Proven experience presenting to executive leadership teams and Risk Committees.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and business judgment.
• Ability to operate effectively within complex governance and regulatory environments.

Risk Management Expertise

• Deep expertise in enterprise risk management frameworks, governance and risk oversight.
• Significant experience in risk management leadership roles within financial services, payments, banking, fintech or other highly regulated industries.
• Strong understanding of risk appetite frameworks, risk assessment methodologies and control assurance practices.
• Experience in stress testing, scenario analysis, risk quantification and emerging risk management.
• Strong understanding of commercial, operational, technology, cyber and strategic risk management.

Governance & Regulatory Experience

• Strong command of Three Lines of Defense operating models and risk culture implementation.
• Experience operating within regulated and non-regulated entity environments and formal governance structures.
• Demonstrated ability to engage credibly and effectively with external stakeholders including regulators, auditors and customers.
• Experience working with regulators and supervisory authorities.

Personal Attributes

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and critical thinking capabilities.
• Ability to provide constructive challenge while fostering collaboration and trust.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail combined with the ability to maintain a strategic perspective.
• Open, collaborative and inclusive leadership style while maintaining independence and objectivity.
• Highly motivated, resilient and results‑oriented.
• Embodies and demonstrates Mastercard's values and commitment to ethical conduct.

Corporate Security Responsibility

Abide by applicable security policies and practices
Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed
Report any suspected information security violation or breach
Complete all mandatory security trainings in accordance with required guidelines

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must: Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices; Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed; Report any suspected information security violation or breach; and Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Everyone wants easier ways to pay; we invent them. Checkout lines are slow; we speed them along. Merchants want more sales; we give them data and insights. People need financial access; we connect them. Corporate purchasing is complicated; we make it simple. Commuters are busy; we speed them on their way. Governments need greater efficiencies; we help create them. Small businesses are virtual; we give them access to a world of buyers. Retailers want to fight fraud; we provide the tools.