Head of Operations

About the job

The Head of Operations will lead and oversee the operational and financial functions of our EMI. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in payment operations, financial processes, regulatory compliance, and team management. This role is crucial for ensuring the smooth operation and scalability of our EMI activities, as well as for maintaining compliance with Maltese and EU regulations.

Requirements

As our Head of Operations, you will be responsible for:

• 1. Operations Management

  • Oversee the day-to-day operations of the EMI, including payment processing, reconciliation, and reporting.

  • Develop, implement, and maintain robust payment workflows and operational policies.

  • Monitor transaction processes for efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

• 2. Financial Operations (FinOps)

  • Manage safeguarding processes and ensure compliance with safeguarding regulations.

  • Oversee financial reconciliation of accounts, including client funds and operational accounts.

  • Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial risk mitigation strategies

• 3. Market Entry and Expansion:

  • Develop and execute market entry strategies to expand our market share and customer base in the country.

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including regulators, partners, and local businesses.

• 4. Regulatory Compliance

  • Collaborate with the compliance team to ensure adherence to Maltese and EU EMI regulations.

  • Lead audits and collaborate with external auditors and regulators.

• 5. Process Improvement

  • Identify inefficiencies in current operations and implement solutions to improve productivity.

  • Develop automation strategies for transaction processing, reporting, and reconciliation.

• 6. Team Leadership

  • Build, train, and manage a high-performing PayOps and FinOps team

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing local team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented environment

  • Recruit, hire, and onboard talented individuals to support business growth

• 7. Stakeholder Management

  • Work closely with banks, payment service providers (PSPs), and other partners to ensure smooth collaboration.

  • Serve as the main point of contact for operational and financial inquiries

You will be a good fit if you

• Are aligned with our values of Belief, Positivity, Accountability and Ownership, Speed and Execution.

• Have 7+ years of experience in Operations management within the FinTech industry, with a strong preference for payments, financial operations, or EMI-related roles.

• Possess a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks (e.g., MFCA as the priority) and compliance requirements within the FinTech sector.

• Have a strong understanding of local (Maltese) market dynamics and competitive landscape.

• Possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse data and identify areas for improvement.

• Have a strong understanding of payment systems (SEPA, SWIFT, card schemes, etc.), with expertise in financial reconciliation, safeguarding, and regulatory reporting.

• Have exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, and are proficient in using financial and operational software / tools.

• Have strong communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.

• Hold C1 level of English proficiency.