VP Payments

ABOUT US

Pliant is a European fintech specializing in B2B payment solutions. Our modular, API-first platform helps businesses streamline spending, improve cash flow, and integrate payments into their financial workflows. Designed for industries with complex payment needs—such as travel and fleet—Pliant enables greater efficiency, control, and profitability.

We serve two primary types of customers:

• Companies looking to optimize operational processes through intuitive apps and APIs, gaining control, automation, and financial flexibility through extended credit lines.
• Businesses such as financial software platforms, ERP providers, and banks that want to launch or enhance their credit card offerings using Pliant's embedded finance and white-label solutions.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Berlin, Pliant supports over 4,000 businesses and more than 20 partners globally. As a licensed e-money institution (EMI), we issue Visa-powered credit cards in 11 currencies across more than 30 countries, helping companies streamline and simplify payments.

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ABOUT THE ROLE

As VP Payments, you will lead and evolve Pliant's global Payments
department, consisting of three core teams:

• Payment Programs – Manages issuing programs, card network and bank partner relationships, and regulatory alignment to support market expansion and product scalability.
• Payment Operations – Ensures seamless payment processing, settlement, and reconciliation across markets, driving efficiency, reliability, and cost control.
• Fraud Operations – Protects customers and the business through real-time fraud prevention, detection, and incident management.

You'll report directly to the Co-Founder & CPO and be responsible for shaping the strategic direction, performance, and governance of Pliant's payments backbone. Your mission is to ensure scalability, reliability, and operational excellence while supporting the company's rapid international growth.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Define and execute the Payments strategy, aligning with Pliant's global growth, risk, and customer experience goals.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight to the Heads of Payment Operations, Fraud Operations, and Payment Programs.
• Drive cross-functional alignment with Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance, and Finance to enable scalable and compliant growth.
• Establish governance, KPIs, and reporting frameworks ensuring transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision making.
• Represent the Payments department in executive leadership and partner forums, managing key relationships with card networks (Visa and Mastercard), multiple banking partners and processors across our various international markets.
• Champion innovation and process transformation, leveraging AI-based tools and automation to enhance efficiency, decision quality, and scalability.
• Build and nurture a high-performing leadership team and culture, fostering ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• 10+ years of experience in payments, fintech, or financial services, including 5+ years in senior operations or program leadership.
• Proven ability to design and execute global payments or operations strategies in high-growth, regulated environments.
• Deep understanding of card issuing with networks, payment ecosystems, fraud prevention, and relevant regulatory frameworks (EMI, PSD2, AML/KYC).
• Strong analytical and data-driven mindset, with experience applying AI-based tools or automation to improve operational performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence at executive, board, and regulator levels.
• Experience leading and developing distributed, multi-disciplinary teams.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A high-impact executive role shaping the backbone of Pliant's global payments infrastructure
• Strategic ownership across multiple mission-critical domains
• A highly international, flat, and collaborative team environment
• Competitive compensation package
• Flexible work setup (remote, hybrid, or office-based)
• Attractive benefits including a monthly mobility allowance, Wellhub membership, and a company card for lunch and coffee

At Pliant, we believe diversity and inclusion are essential to building not only an innovative product but also an exceptional experience for both our customers and our team. This commitment begins with our hiring process—we welcome individuals of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions, national origins, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, ages, marital statuses, and abilities. If you require accommodations or accessibility support during the interview process, please let us know in your application so we can make sure your experience is seamless.