Home

On behalf of our client, an established international group operating within the Forex/FinTech industry, we are seeking to recruit an experienced Head of Payments to join their growing team in Nicosia.

Position Overview

The successful candidate will be responsible for building, developing and leading the Group's Payments function, taking ownership of its payment infrastructure, provider network, operational performance and ongoing development across multiple jurisdictions.

The role requires strong hands-on experience with PSPs, banks, EMIs, merchant acquirers, payment gateways and alternative payment providers, together with a solid understanding of the payment requirements of an international Forex/FinTech business.

The Head of Payments will work closely with Finance, Compliance, Risk, Operations, Product and Technology teams to ensure the Group maintains a reliable, diversified, commercially efficient and scalable payments ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, develop and lead the Group's Payments function, establishing the appropriate processes, provider network and operating framework.
• Develop and execute the Group's banking and payments strategy across its operating jurisdictions and business lines.
• Establish, develop and manage relationships with banks, EMIs, PSPs, merchant/card acquirers, payment gateways and alternative payment providers.
• Identify and evaluate new banking and payment partners based on the Group's operational and geographical requirements.
• Lead provider due diligence, onboarding and commercial negotiations.
• Own and oversee end-to-end payment operations, including deposits, withdrawals, payment routing, settlements, chargebacks and reconciliation support.
• Monitor and improve payment approval and conversion ratios and investigate reasons for payment declines.
• Monitor processing costs, settlement times, provider uptime, fraud indicators and provider concentration.
• Optimize payment processing and transfer costs and improve overall payment efficiency.
• Maintain appropriate diversification across payment and banking providers to reduce operational and concentration risk.
• Act as the senior escalation point for payment incidents, provider issues and other time-sensitive payment matters.
• Coordinate secure and scalable payment gateway and API integrations with Product and Technology teams.
• Work closely with Compliance, Risk and Finance to ensure payment operations support AML/KYC, sanctions, fraud prevention, safeguarding and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain provider documentation, contracts, procedures, risk assessments and continuity arrangements.
• Support regulatory applications, audits and supervisory reviews where payment or banking matters are involved.
• Provide management with relevant reporting and analysis on payment performance, costs, risks and provider effectiveness.
• Candidate Profile / Required Qualifications & Skills
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience within payments, payment operations, banking, treasury or a closely related function.
• Strong experience within the Forex/CFD, brokerage, FinTech or online financial services industry is highly preferred.
• Proven hands-on experience working with PSPs, EMIs, banks, merchant/card acquirers and payment gateways.
• Demonstrable experience in provider sourcing, onboarding, relationship management and commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of online payment flows, including deposits, withdrawals, routing, settlements, reconciliations and chargebacks.
• Experience monitoring and improving payment approval rates, conversion ratios, processing costs and provider performance.
• Good understanding of multi-currency and international payment operations.
• Experience with payment gateway/API integrations will be considered a strong advantage.
• Understanding of AML/KYC, fraud prevention, safeguarding and regulatory considerations affecting payment operations.
• Previous experience building, developing or leading a Payments function or team will be considered a strong advantage.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to take ownership, work independently and manage multiple providers and projects simultaneously.
• Excellent command of English.
• Based in Cyprus or willing to relocate to Cyprus.
• Education
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Banking or another relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

• Monthly gross salary: €3,500 – €4,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• 13th salary.
• Annual performance bonus based on individual and company performance.
• 21 working days annual leave.
• Professional training and development opportunities.
• Opportunity to build and lead the Payments function within an established international Forex/FinTech group.