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Director, Account Payment Network (APN) Management

City of London Permanent View Job Description
We are seeking an experienced APN Network Director with expertise in Business Services to lead and oversee operations within the Banking & Financial Services department. This role is based in London and focuses on achieving strategic goals and ensuring operational excellence.
  • Lead a global payments network with real strategic influence. London
  • Shape innovation while guiding a high‑performing international team

About Our Client

The hiring company is a large organisation operating within the Business Services industry, offering comprehensive solutions to clients in Banking & Financial Services. They are known for their strong industry presence and commitment to fostering professional growth.

Job Description

A leading global payments organisation is seeking an experienced Director of Account Payment Network (APN) Management to lead the strategy, governance, and operational performance of its worldwide pay out partner network. This is a senior leadership role with significant visibility, impact, and responsibility, shaping the future of cross border money movement across bank, wallet, and card corridors.



About the Role

As the Director of APN Network Management, you will oversee the design, evolution, and optimisation of a global pay out network spanning banks, financial institutions, mobile wallets, and card providers. You will establish and lead the strategic direction, governance frameworks, partner performance management, and long term network development that enable secure, compliant, scalable, and innovative payment capabilities.

This role is ideal for a seasoned payments leader who thrives in complex, international environments and can influence across product, engineering, risk, operations, and external partners.



What You'll Lead

Strategic Ownership & Governance

  • Define and execute the strategy for a global APN network aligned to business and regulatory priorities.
  • Establish and refine governance frameworks, SLAs, KPIs and OKRs to ensure operational excellence and accountability.
  • Shape long term network evolution, including business cases, capability development, and geographic expansion.



Partnership & Network Development

  • Build strong, strategic relationships with banks, networks, and pay out partners.
  • Evaluate and secure new partnerships that strengthen resilience, scalability, currency coverage, and product innovation.
  • Stay ahead of global payments trends and regulatory changes to keep the network competitive.



Cross functional Leadership & Risk Management

  • Partner with risk, compliance, legal, engineering, and operations teams to maintain audit ready governance and mitigate network risks.
  • Lead incident management and escalation processes with diligence and cross functional alignment.
  • Ensure operational processes and technical capabilities meet best practice standards.



People Leadership

  • Lead and develop a high performing global team, fostering professional growth, inclusion, and strategic alignment across regions.



The Successful Applicant

About You

You bring a strong blend of partnership management, product governance, payments industry expertise, and leadership capability.

Experience & Skills

  • 7-10+ years managing partnerships within financial services, ideally payments.
  • 5+ years leading teams in matrixed, global environments.
  • Strong understanding of the payments ecosystem, including banks, networks, wallets, and cross border flows.
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate commercial agreements and manage complex partner relationships.
  • Proven project leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate across functions and deliver change.
  • Excellent communication, analytical thinking, and problem solving skills.



Education

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent). Advanced degrees welcome.

What's on Offer

Why Join

  • Lead a critical global function with strategic influence across a major payments organisation.
  • Drive innovation in a fast‑evolving, high‑growth area of the business.
  • Represent the company at industry forums and help shape the future of international payments.
  • Work with world‑class teams across product, technology, compliance, and financial partner ecosystems.
Contact
Tara Bagley
Quote job ref
JN-022026-6955781
Phone number
+44 207 645 1434

Job summary

Job function
Banking & Financial Services
Subsector
Corporate / Wholesale Banker
Sector
Financial Services
Location
City of London
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Tara Bagley
Consultant phone
+44 207 645 1434
Job reference
JN-022026-6955781