General Manager

empower partners singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Empower Partners Singapore is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead its Singapore business in payments and regulatory affairs, driving growth across cross-border payments, fintech partnerships and regional expansion.

The successful candidate will combine senior P&L leadership with deep MAS regulatory expertise, engaging MAS on licensing and compliance, and building a high-performing leadership team to scale across Asia.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in payments, fintech, or financial services.
• Proven senior P&L / General Management experience.
• Direct MAS experience and Singapore payments regulatory knowledge required.
• Hands-on MPI licensing experience under Singapore's Payment Services Act.
• Strong track record in cross-border payments, money transfer, and digital payments.
• Experience driving revenue growth, partnerships and business expansion.
• Solid AML/KYC, compliance and regulatory governance understanding.

Responsibilities

• Own the Singapore business strategy, P&L, commercial performance and overall operating results.
• Lead MAS regulatory engagement, governance and licensing matters.
• Manage MPI licensing process, submissions, MAS queries and ongoing obligations.
• Develop and execute Singapore and regional growth strategy across payments services.
• Drive enterprise customer acquisition, strategic partnerships and key account management.
• Oversee operations, risk management, compliance and technology in partnership with leaders.

Skills

Leadership

P&L management

Regulatory engagement

Cross-border payments

Strategic partnerships

Team building

Executive communication

Job description

Our client is an established global financial infrastructure platform and payment service provider and they are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead its Singapore business and drive its next phase of growth across cross-border payments, fintech partnerships and regional expansion.

The successful candidate will combine strong commercial leadership with deep payments and regulatory expertise, with proven experience engaging the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and managing the Major Payment Institution (MPI) licensing process. This is a senior leadership role requiring the ability to operate across strategy, P&L, regulatory engagement, operations, partnerships and business development.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Leadership & P&L: Own the Singapore business strategy, P&L, commercial performance and overall operating results.
• MAS & Regulatory Leadership: Act as a senior point of contact with MAS and lead regulatory engagement, governance and licensing-related matters.
• MPI Licensing: Lead or have significant hands-on experience with the MPI licensing process, including application preparation, regulatory submissions, responses to MAS queries, remediation and ongoing licence obligations.
• Growth Strategy: Develop and execute its Singapore and regional growth strategy across cross-border payments, merchant solutions and other relevant payment services.
• Commercial Development: Drive enterprise customer acquisition, strategic partnerships, channel development and key account relationships across Singapore and Asia.
• Operational Leadership: Oversee the effectiveness of business operations, risk management, compliance, AML/KYC, technology and customer operations in partnership with functional leaders.
• Regulatory & Risk Governance: Ensure the business operates within MAS requirements and maintains robust frameworks around compliance, risk, technology and operational resilience. MAS payment licensees are subject to regulatory requirements under the Payment Services Act and applicable MAS notices.
• Stakeholder Management: Build trusted relationships with MAS, banking partners, payment networks, strategic investors, technology partners and major clients.
• Team Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing Singapore leadership team and create the organisational capabilities required to support scale.
• Regional Expansion: Work with the broader group to identify and execute opportunities across Southeast Asia and other strategic markets.

Key Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in payments, fintech, banking, financial services or related industries.
• Proven experience in a senior P&L / General Management / Country Head / Managing Director capacity.
• Mandatory: Direct experience dealing with MAS and the Singapore payments regulatory environment.
• Mandatory: Previous hands-on experience with an MPI licence application or licensing process under Singapore's Payment Services Act.
• Strong understanding of cross-border payments, money transfer, e-money, merchant acquisition and/or digital payment services.
• Demonstrated track record of driving revenue growth, partnerships and business expansion.
• Strong understanding of AML/KYC, compliance, risk management and regulatory governance.
• Established network across banks, fintechs, payment providers, merchants and technology partners in Singapore and Asia.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to engage effectively with MAS, Board members, shareholders and C-suite stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial and commercially minded, with the ability to balance growth, regulatory discipline and operational execution.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• The ideal candidate would be someone who has successfully navigate and maintain Singapore regulatory and MPI requirements.
• Establish strong credibility and relationships with MAS and key financial-services stakeholders.
• Build a scalable operating and governance framework.
• Accelerate revenue and customer growth in Singapore.
• Develop strategic partnerships across banks, fintechs and payment ecosystems.
• Build the team and infrastructure required for regional expansion.
• Position as a credible and scalable player in the Asian cross-border payments market