📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Director, Client Account Lead
🔹 Company: Visa
🔹 Location: London, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: IT Services and IT Consulting
🔹 Date Posted: April 24, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the relationship with one of Visa's largest card issuing banks in the UK
- Supporting the growth and development of a strategic partnership
- Acting as the first point of call for the client on all things Visa
- Collaborating with a diverse range of priorities, capabilities, customer segments, and use cases
- Overseeing a large portfolio and maintaining a deep, collaborative, and strategic relationship
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, strong interpersonal skills, and a deep understanding of consumer payments and financial services.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Cultivate a deep, trusted partnership with the client's consumer business units
✅ Work with stakeholders to identify new requirements and introduce Visa's products, services, and expertise
✅ Develop strategic annual plans to enhance the customer payment experience and support growth
✅ Leverage knowledge of consumer payments, the broader payments market, and financial services to proactively provide solutions
✅ Manage individual and team-based sales targets and prioritize conflicting and competing demand
✅ Manage a team of three direct reports and oversee a wider team, coaching and supporting more junior members
✅ Lead pricing and contract negotiations and ensure contractual obligations are met
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of client interaction, strategic planning, and team management.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Experience: Proven experience in managing clients to seek out new opportunities and grow profitability
Required Skills:
- Deep knowledge of consumer payments and financial services
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to liaise with senior stakeholders
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of consumer card payments and non-card payments
- Proven ability to develop and deliver client-specific strategic plans
- Proven influencing, selling, and negotiation skills
- Senior-level B2B sales experience, particularly in digital products or solutions
- Ability to lead, motivate, and develop direct and matrixed teams
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the payments industry or a related field
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the payments industry or a related field may have an advantage in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £120,000 - £160,000 per annum (based on industry standards for a senior director role in London)
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Opportunities for professional development and growth
- Global company with a diverse and inclusive work environment
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (with flexibility for remote work)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a senior director role in London. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Visa is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.
Company Size: Visa has over 27,000 employees worldwide, providing a large and diverse work environment.
Founded: Visa was founded in 1958 and has since grown into a global payments technology company.
Company Description:
- Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities each year.
- The company's mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive.
- Visa is driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
Company Specialties:
- Global payments technology
- Digital payments innovation
- Financial services
Company Website: https://corporate.visa.com/en/careers.html
ASSUMPTION: Visa's large size and global presence provide numerous opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Director
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the VP, Client Director for the Signature Client Account, who is part of the UK & Ireland Leadership Team.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site role, with the opportunity for remote work and flexible hours.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand the client relationship and portfolio
- Opportunities to work on strategic projects and initiatives
- Possibility to progress to a more senior role within Visa
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within Visa.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space
Office Location(s): London, United Kingdom
Geographic Context:
- London is a major global financial hub, providing ample opportunities for networking and professional development
- The city offers a diverse range of cultural, entertainment, and recreational activities
- London has a vibrant and dynamic job market, with numerous opportunities in the financial services and technology sectors
Work Schedule: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (with flexibility for remote work)
ASSUMPTION: London's status as a global financial hub and its diverse cultural scene make it an attractive location for this role.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening
- On-site or virtual interview with hiring manager and team members
- Final interview with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Client management skills
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Commercial acumen and sales ability
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in client management, strategic planning, and sales
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize skills and experiences that match the required qualifications
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and ability to work collaboratively
ATS Keywords: Client Management, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Engagement, Sales Management, Negotiation, Team Leadership, Commercial Acumen, Problem Solving, Financial Services, Consumer Payments, B2B Sales, Innovation, Collaboration, Coaching, Market Analysis, Relationship Building
ASSUMPTION: Visa's application process is competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their skills and experiences through a series of interviews.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in using various software tools and platforms to manage client relationships, track sales performance, and analyze data.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric
- Inclusive
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Integrity
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and focused on delivering value to clients
- Adaptable and open to change
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of managing client relationships and driving growth?
- Are you comfortable working in a collaborative and team-oriented environment?
- Do you have strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders?
ASSUMPTION: Visa values diversity, inclusion, and collaboration, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their fit with these values and work style.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a large portfolio and maintaining a deep, collaborative, and strategic relationship with a major client
- Balancing a range of strategic priorities and aspirational commercial targets
- Working with a diverse range of stakeholders and use cases
- Adapting to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
ASSUMPTION: This role presents significant challenges and opportunities for growth and development.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to other senior client account management positions, but with a focus on the payments industry and a large, strategic client relationship
- Compared to other senior director roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to work with a major client and drive growth in the payments sector
- Career progression may involve moving into a more senior role within Visa or transitioning into a different industry
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work with a major client and drive growth in the payments sector, with potential for career progression within Visa or into a different industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a strategic annual plan to enhance the customer payment experience and support growth for the client's consumer payments business
- Identifying new opportunities to proactively provide solutions to the client, leveraging Visa's products, services, and expertise
- Managing a team of three direct reports and overseeing a wider team to deliver on strategic priorities and commercial targets
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, collaborative, and team-oriented nature of the role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics, and how this role fits within the organization?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does Visa support the growth and development of its employees?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how have previous incumbents approached them?
- How does Visa measure success for this role, and what are the key performance indicators?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the application link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and ability to work collaboratively
- Research Visa and the payments industry to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager or recruiter after submitting your application, expressing your interest in the role and asking any questions you may have
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
