Business Development Manager – Card Acceptance
Location: United Kingdom (Remote/Field-Based)
Contract: 12-Month Contract
Day Rate: £450 per day (Gross) – Inside IR35
Start Date: Immediate
Number of Positions: 6
About the Opportunity:
A leading global payments organisation—recently acquired by a major financial institution—is launching its first-ever Direct Sales Team in the UK to accelerate card acceptance growth for a major Third-Party Card Scheme.
This initiative is a direct response to the slow uptake of acceptance through traditional acquiring channels, and now seeks experienced merchant-facing sales professionals to help drive adoption across key verticals:
Airlines
Hotels & Hospitality
Transport & Travel
Entertainment
Restaurants & Dining
This is a high-impact, strategic opportunity to join a fast-moving, change-driven environment focused on tangible commercial outcomes and growth.
The Role:
As Senior Principal Business Development, you will be responsible for identifying, targeting, and onboarding hold-out UK merchants who currently do not accept the Third-Party Card Scheme. Using a direct-to-merchant sales approach, you’ll drive acceptance adoption, collaborating closely with internal compliance, pricing, risk, and commercial stakeholders.
This is a hands-on role requiring strong commercial acumen, sales execution, and deep industry knowledge of merchant acquiring and card acceptance dynamics.
Key Responsibilities:
Direct Sales & Deal Closing (35%)
-Identify, engage, and win new merchant acceptance deals within target verticals.
-Build and manage a robust pipeline across the UK market.
-Lead negotiations and close agreements directly with merchants.
-Respond to RFPs and create tailored proposals for target businesses.
Strategic Deal Structuring (25%)
-Create compelling business cases for internal approval (Pricing, Risk, AML).
-Influence internal stakeholders to support and prioritise opportunities.
Sales Innovation & Collaboration (20%)
-Work closely with internal teams to refine the sales proposition.
-Gather and apply feedback from merchants to shape solutions.
Account Relationship Growth (10%)
-Develop trusted relationships with key merchants and partners.
-Support post-sale engagement to maximise transaction volume and value.
Industry Representation (10%)
-Attend relevant exhibitions, networking events, and industry forums to represent the brand and support growth.
What We’re Looking For:
Proven experience in direct merchant sales—particularly card acceptance, payments, acquiring, or fintech.
Strong track record of winning over non-accepting merchants or those loyal to other schemes.
Industry knowledge of card scheme dynamics (e.g. Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Third-Party Schemes).
Familiarity with how UK acquirers (Barclaycard, Worldpay, etc.) support card scheme acceptance.
Excellent commercial negotiation skills and ability to influence at C-level.
Self-starter with a hunter mindset and ability to work independently in a fast-paced project.
Sales experience in one or more target verticals is highly desirable.
Why This Role Stands Out:
Be part of a first-of-its-kind direct sales team in the UK.
Influence the future of card acceptance in strategically important sectors.
High-visibility role with clear commercial KPIs and stakeholder engagement.
Attractive daily rate of £450 (inside IR35) over a 12-month contract.
Potential for contract extension or longer-term opportunity based on performance.
Apply Now:
If you’re a true hunter with deep experience in card acceptance, merchant sales, and breaking into hard-to-win accounts—this is your opportunity to drive major industry change and deliver tangible results.