Description Fime is a globally recognised international player providing deep expertise across digital payments, mobility services, and digital identity. We work with leading organisations worldwide to solve complex challenges, identify emerging opportunities, and future-proof their strategies. Our team of 900 experts operates in over 20 locations around the globe, delivering solutions that support millions of transactions every day, across global markets. What sets us apart is our values: we are curious, creative, and highly collaborative, with a strong commitment to integrity - we do the right thing for our clients, our people, and our shareholders. At Fime, the work is varied and intellectually stimulating. No two days are the same, and you will be surrounded by smart, engaged colleagues who value learning and continuous improvement. MISSION Fime has been expanding Consult Hyperion, its consulting business and you will play a key role in this journey as a Principal in Payments, helping shape client strategies, growing existing accounts, and delivering high‑impact consulting engagements worldwide. You will combine broad payments expertise with strong business development capabilities. You will advise clients across the payments value chain – and, where relevant, digital identity and transport technologies – lead consulting teams, support sales and presales activities, and design innovative, practical solutions to complex business challenges. ACTIVITIES Shape client strategy. Conduct in‑depth analysis of clients’ business operations, regulatory context, technology landscape, and strategic objectives across issuing, acquiring, schemes, acceptance, and emerging payment methods. Deliver expert consulting. Provide technical and strategic consulting services in payments, with the ability to connect into digital identity and transport/fare collection where relevant. Design end‑to‑end solutions. Develop comprehensive, tailored solution options (technical architectures, operating models, roadmaps, and business cases) to address identified challenges and opportunities. Lead project delivery. Lead multi‑disciplinary consulting teams, oversee project scope and quality, and ensure on‑time, on‑budget delivery with clear, actionable outcomes for clients. Act as a trusted advisor. Build and maintain strong, long‑term relationships with key stakeholders, becoming a go‑to partner for ongoing advice and follow‑on work. Guide and mentor teams. Provide day‑to‑day guidance, coaching, and formal feedback to consultants and senior consultants, helping grow the next generation of payments experts. Own account development. Work closely with sales and account teams to identify opportunities within existing clients, shape value propositions, and support sales and presales activities (proposal writing, solution framing, RFP responses, client workshops, and presentations). Manage risk and decisions. Provide expert leadership during projects, including risk identification, trade‑off analysis, and decision‑making support for senior client sponsors. Communicate with impact. Translate complex technical and regulatory topics into clear, concise language tailored to business and technical audiences, including C‑level stakeholders. Contribute to thought leadership. Keep abreast of industry trends, standards, and innovations, and represent Consult Hyperion through blog posts, white papers, conference presentations, and expert panels. JOB EXPERIENCE Minimum of 10 years of experience in payments, covering multiple domains across the value chain (e.g. card issuing and acquiring, merchant acceptance, payment schemes, real‑time payments, wallet and mobile payments, APMs). Proven track record in technical or business consulting, or in certification and testing, delivering projects for financial institutions, fintechs, or payment processors. Experience working within regulated industries and/or the public sector (e.g. banking, transport authorities, government agencies). Demonstrated ability to lead project teams and oversee delivery of complex, multi‑stakeholder engagements. Hands‑on experience in sales and presales activities, particularly in developing existing client accounts. KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS University degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Deep, broad knowledge of payment technologies and standards (e.g. EMV, tokenisation, ISO 8583/20022, 3‑D Secure, contactless, real‑time payments, wallets, open banking / APIs); exposure to digital identity and transport/fare collection is an advantage. Strong analytical skills with a structured problem‑solving approach, able to connect technical details to commercial and regulatory implications. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create clear documentation, influence decision‑making, and present confidently to senior stakeholders. Proven ability to build trust, manage stakeholders with differing priorities, and maintain long‑term client relationships. People leadership capabilities, including coaching, mentoring, and developing consultants. Contract : Permanent, full time Starting at the latest : ASAP Location : Guildford, UK