Head of Card Program & Embedded Finance

About Uplift

Uplift is a dynamic agency specializing in global talent search covering EMEA LATAM USA and APAC. With successful placements in 58 countries we combine speed and cutting-edge technology to source top executive and mid-senior talent across various functions. Our innovative approach integrates global networks AI and advanced recruitment tools. Beyond recruitment we engage with our audience through our podcast newsletter and webinars ensuring we stay at the forefront of talent acquisition and global HR trends.

About Our Client

Our client is a globally active digital and technology-led organization working closely with major online platforms to support advertisers and agencies across diverse markets.

Head of Card Program & Embedded Finance

This role is based in Madrid Spain

About the Role

The role supports the development and rollout of a global embedded finance and card-issuing program across multiple markets. The focus is on designing and scaling virtual and physical card programs in partnership with issuing banks and sponsors with ownership of the end-to-end issuing setup and operational economics (including prefunding settlement risk and interchange).

This is a hands-on build-from-scratch role working closely with Treasury Finance Credit and Technology teams.

Key responsibilities

• Help Design and execute global card issuing strategy ( virtual & physical)
• Help define product structure: limits controls MCC restrictions FX logic regional rollout
• Help launch new markets and scale adoption across regions
• Monitor the card program P&L and unit economics

• Issuer & Network Management
• Manage BIN sponsors issuing banks issuer processors and card networks
• Lead day-to-day operations with issuing partners
• Negotiate commercial terms revenue share and settlement structures
• Continuously optimize reliability and program economics
  Treasury & Funding Operations
• Own prefunding liquidity management and settlement cycles
• Partner with Treasury on working capital optimization and FX exposure
• Forecast usage and manage multi-currency funding
• Design settlement and reconciliation flows across entities
  
  Risk Fraud & Compliance
• Define underwriting and credit frameworks for advertisers
• Own issuer-side fraud prevention transaction monitoring and chargebacks
• Ensure KYC/KYB AML and scheme compliance
• Partner with Legal/Compliance on audits and regulatory requirements
  
  Operations & Infrastructure
• Build reconciliation reporting and accounting processes
• Integrate issuing data into ERP/CRM (SAP Salesforce)
• Establish scalable backoffice processes (disputes refunds support)
• Define KPIs and service standards
  
  Data & Performance
• Track spend activation interchange margin fraud losses funding cost and unit economics
• Use data to continuously improve profitability and customer experience
• Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership
  
  What Were Looking For
  
  
• 812 years in card issuing embedded finance or corporate card programs
• Hands-on experience launching or operating issuing programs (not just PSP/acquiring)
• Direct exposure to BIN sponsorship or issuer partnerships
• Strong understanding of interchange economics settlement and funding flows
• Experience in multi-country / multi-currency environments
• Candidates from fintech issuers or issuing infrastructure companies
• Builder mentality comfortable creating from scratch
• Operator first strategist second
• Commercially minded and data-driven
• Hands-on and execution-focused
• Comfortable in fast-paced global environments

Why This Role is Unique

• Build a global fintech product inside a company operating in 100 markets
• Direct ownership of a new embedded finance platform
• High impact high autonomy
  Work closely with Treasury and leadership