Senior Level Payment Operations Specialist Jobs

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Director, Controller - Core Payment

The Director, Controller - Core Payments reports to the VP, Controller – Core Payments and CNPF, and is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the financial statements as they pertain to the Core Payments business unit, with particular focus on the Blockchain and Digital Payments space, in partnership with global and regional finance teams, treasury, regional controllership, and the Global Business Shared Service Organization (GBSC). This position will help establish a best-in-class controllership function for a highly complex, strategically important, and rapidly expanding set of capabilities that supports digital assets and value movement across currencies, rails and regions. The Controller – Core Payments, must possess strong leadership skills to engage teams to optimize and transform the current structure while using their technical skillset to establish and, where necessary, enhance processes and internal controls. This role operates in an environment where US GAAP, SEC interpretations, and regulatory expectations are actively evolving and requires strong judgment, governance, and audit readiness. The successful candidate will bring deep accounting expertise and strategic thinking to this role.

Roles and responsibilities

• Partner with Core Payments business unit finance partners and advise on accounting-related matters for business transactions and accounting/regulatory standards, including (but not limited to) revenue recognition, expense recognition and other complex digital assets and related cross-business initiatives.

• Assess accounting implications of operating models, including custodial vs. non-custodial arrangements, agency vs. principal considerations, and interaction with revenue recognition under ASC 606.

• Liaise with Regional Controllers on global initiatives to ensure consistency and accuracy across all regions.

• Interface with external auditors regarding the application of generally accepted accounting principles to transactions and matters in the digital payments space.

• Manage compliance activities as needed (e.g., Mastercard policies, Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Internal Audit, Operational Risk Management (ORM)) and communicate potential exposures to leadership.

• Partner with internal financial reporting teams to ensure disclosures reflect both accounting requirements and evolving regulatory expectations.

• Assist with the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc management reporting, including variance analysis, technical position memos, and executive presentations; ensure appropriate documentation of accounting positions is in place; and advise senior management on complex transactions.

• Influence change through strong, collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including Business and Finance Executives, peers, Products and Services business partners, Regional Controllers, GBSC, and third-party vendors.

• Review processes periodically to ensure risks are operationally mitigated based on design and the evolution of business processes.

• Identify opportunities to implement automated solutions to streamline processes.

• Partner with the finance operations team to ensure front-end and back-end controls are implemented to mitigate key risks.

• Coordinate with the technical accounting team, ensuring consistent application of Mastercard policies and procedures and providing consulting/change management support as needed.

• Complete special requests from senior management for analysis, research, and detailed information, including other projects deemed necessary from time to time by the Corporate Controller; these requests may include researching, consulting, and reviewing technical memorandums on proposed and/or completed transactions.

All About You

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Accountant (CA) required.

• Direct experience with crypto assets and/or fiat-backed stablecoins, including fair value measurement, classification, and disclosure.

• Established credibility as a trusted advisor to business partners and senior leadership on complex technical matters.

• Strong communication and leadership skills, with an emphasis on financial and business acumen.

• Experience assessing the effectiveness of financial controls and providing oversight of control implementation; ensures compliance within a diverse organization.

• Experience partnering across workstreams on process improvement initiatives and developing procedures for implementation.

• Demonstrated success overseeing the management and resolution of high-risk issues to ensure completeness and efficiency.

• Confident and poised influencer who uses analytical and leadership skills to achieve goals.

• Experience building collaborative working relationships with stakeholders at the global/regional, local, or corporate level.

• Proven ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Proficient PC skills, especially Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); Hyperion and Oracle are a plus.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges

Purchase, New York: $163,000 - $269,000 USD