Head of Payments

iTalent PLUS•Malta, MT

About The Position

Our client, an iGaming operator, is seeking an experienced Head of Payments to take overall ownership of its global payments function and strategy. This is a senior leadership position responsible for defining and executing the company's payments roadmap, overseeing payment operations across multiple international markets, managing key provider relationships, and ensuring the payments infrastructure supports the company's commercial and growth objectives. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with strong commercial and technical payments expertise, ensuring the business maintains a secure, scalable, resilient and cost-effective payments ecosystem. The role will work closely with senior leadership as well as Product, Technology, Finance, Compliance, Risk and Customer Support teams, while providing leadership and direction to the wider Payments function.

Requirements

Ideally 7–10+ years of experience within payments, including significant experience within online or digital businesses.
Proven experience in a senior payments leadership, strategy or ownership role.
Strong experience managing PSPs, acquirers, banks and alternative payment providers.
Extensive knowledge of card acquiring, payment processing, transaction flows, payment routing and settlement.
Proven experience negotiating complex commercial agreements with payment providers.
Demonstrable experience developing and executing payments strategies across multiple international markets.
Experience launching and managing local and alternative payment methods.
Strong understanding of payment orchestration and multi-provider payment infrastructures.
Experience with cryptocurrency payment rails, wallets and stablecoin settlement.
Experience leading and developing payments teams.
Strong strategic, analytical and commercial mindset.
Excellent understanding of payment KPIs including approval rates, conversion, transaction success, processing costs, disputes and chargebacks.
Strong commercial negotiation and vendor-management capabilities.
Ability to translate payment performance data into clear commercial decisions and priorities.
Excellent stakeholder-management skills with the ability to operate effectively at senior leadership level.
Strong understanding of payments-related risk, compliance and regulatory considerations.
Ability to balance long-term payments strategy with hands-on operational requirements.
Excellent leadership, communication and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience within iGaming, fintech, crypto or another high-risk merchant environment
Strong understanding of international iGaming payment ecosystems.
Experience with payment orchestration platforms such as PIQ or similar solutions.
Experience managing payments across regulated international markets.
Experience scaling a payments function within a rapidly growing international business.

Responsibilities

Own and define the company's global payments strategy, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives and international expansion plans.
Take overall responsibility for the performance, scalability and development of the company's payments infrastructure.
Develop the payments roadmap across existing and new markets, including Europe, LATAM, APAC and MENA.
Identify opportunities to introduce new payment methods, providers, technologies and infrastructure.
Ensure the payments function supports market expansion, customer acquisition, retention and overall player experience.
Establish clear objectives, KPIs and performance standards across the Payments function.
Provide strategic payments insight and recommendations to senior leadership.
Maintain overall accountability for end-to-end deposit and withdrawal performance across all markets.
Drive optimisation of payment acceptance, approval rates, conversion, routing, transaction success and processing costs.
Ensure high payment availability and appropriate redundancy across providers and markets.
Oversee payment routing and orchestration strategies to maximise performance and resilience.
Ensure effective settlement, reconciliation, treasury and foreign exchange processes in collaboration with Finance.
Monitor payment performance and identify opportunities to improve customer experience and commercial outcomes.
Establish appropriate processes for payment incidents, escalations and business continuity.
Own strategic relationships with PSPs, card acquirers, banks, alternative payment providers and payment technology partners.
Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, transaction fees, service levels and contractual terms.
Evaluate and select new providers based on commercial, operational, regulatory and technical requirements.
Maintain an effective provider portfolio to minimise concentration risk and maximise payment coverage.
Oversee provider onboarding, integrations and ongoing performance management.
Maintain strong knowledge of the international payments landscape and emerging payment technologies.
Lead payment expansion into new and existing markets.
Develop appropriate payment strategies based on local customer behaviour, regulation and payment preferences.
Expand local and alternative payment method coverage across key jurisdictions.
Work closely with Product and Technology teams to prioritise payment integrations based on commercial impact.
Ensure payment capabilities are scalable and appropriate for the company's international growth strategy.
Oversee the company's strategy relating to cryptocurrency payments, wallets and stablecoin settlement.
Evaluate emerging payment technologies and their potential commercial and operational value.
Ensure crypto payment infrastructure is appropriately integrated into the wider payments ecosystem.
Work alongside Compliance and Legal teams to ensure emerging payment solutions meet applicable regulatory requirements.
Ensure payment operations comply with applicable regulatory, licensing, AML and responsible payment requirements.
Work closely with Compliance, Legal and Risk teams when entering new jurisdictions or introducing new payment methods.
Oversee payment-related risk including provider dependency, transaction failures, disputes, chargebacks and fraud exposure.
Establish appropriate governance, controls and reporting across the Payments function.
Ensure payment partners meet the company's operational, regulatory and commercial standards.
Lead, mentor and develop the Payments team.
Define the appropriate structure, responsibilities and objectives of the Payments function as the business grows.
Provide leadership and direction to regional and operational payment specialists/managers.
Establish a high-performance culture focused on commercial impact, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Work closely with Product, Engineering, Finance, Compliance, Risk and Customer Support teams.
Present payment performance, risks, opportunities and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.