Our client — a licensed UK Electronic Money Institution (EMI) and part of a global FinTech group — is looking for a seasoned Senior Visa/Mastercard Relationship Business Manager to lead strategic initiatives with global card networks. With over 18 years of expertise in acquiring, cross-border payments, and infrastructure development, the company is scaling its international reach and direct scheme access — and they need the right leader to make it count.

This is a high-impact role for someone with deep knowledge of scheme operations, product innovation, and partnership development. If you're ready to own strategic relationships and drive real change in payments — let’s talk.

🔍 Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary point of contact for all Visa and Mastercard initiatives tied to acquiring services.
• Lead projects across tokenization, recurring billing, cross-border capabilities, SCA exemptions, and payout functionality.
• Interpret and operationalize scheme mandates and updates into business-wide initiatives.
• Oversee scheme participation processes, including program registration, BIN management, and Tier 2 MCC approvals.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Compliance, Legal, Risk, and Tech to ensure smooth execution and delivery.
• Unlock growth opportunities via joint initiatives with the schemes — especially in verticals like travel, digital wallets, and fintech.
• Represent the company in scheme-level planning, working groups, and strategic reviews.
• Monitor scheme KPIs, performance metrics, fee structures, and partnership health.

🎓 Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in EMI, acquiring, PSP, or card scheme relationship management roles.
• In-depth knowledge of scheme operations, compliance frameworks, fraud/dispute processes, and settlement cycles.
• Proven track record launching scheme-based products (e.g. Visa Direct, MDES, SCA logic, ABU).
• Experience managing executive-level stakeholders and direct scheme relationships.
• Fluency in English is required; basic proficiency in Russian is needed for internal collaboration.
• Prior experience with FCA-regulated entities is a strong plus.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to work autonomously in a remote-first environment.

✨ The Employer Offers:

• A leadership role owning Visa/Mastercard strategy for a UK-licensed EMI backed by a global fintech infrastructure.
• Direct access to scheme connectivity and a scalable, multi-jurisdictional payments platform.
• Influence over the product roadmap and future-facing scheme innovation.
• Competitive compensation (from 3.500 EUR / month) and bonus potential.
• Flexible remote or hybrid working model (Cyprus / Riga / remote).
• A fast-moving international environment with growth opportunities across regions.

🚀 Ready to lead global scheme partnerships at the next level?