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Director, Corporate Development & Strategic Transactions - Barclaycard Payments - BPL

London, United Kingdom; Northampton, United Kingdom

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Date live: 27/10/2026

Business Area: BPL - Leadership

Area of Expertise: Strategy

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000136979

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Barclays Strategy

Join the Strategy team to develop strategic plans in collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team. You'll set the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy to ensure sustainable growth and alignment with ESG standards, positioning Barclays for long-term success.

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About Barclaycard Payments

Barclays' payments acceptance business provides critical infrastructure to the UK economy, processing billions of pounds of payments annually for both small businesses and domestic and international corporate clients. Barclays and Brookfield Asset Management have entered into a long-term strategic partnership to grow and transform the payments acceptance business by broadening the range of services offered and enhancing the experience for both existing and prospective clients. Barclaycard Payments will combine deep payments experience, extensive client relationships and investment in technology transformation to create a standalone business positioned for long-term growth.

Overall Purpose of Role

The Director, Corporate Development & Strategic Transactions is the senior lead for inorganic growth at Barclaycard Payments, accountable for shaping and delivering the growth agenda through the origination and execution of bolt-on acquisitions, strategic partnerships, minority investments and other complex / structured arrangements. Acting as a trusted adviser to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Board, the role holder owns the end-to-end transaction lifecycle, from pipeline and investment thesis through structuring, diligence, negotiation and completion. They also establish the governance framework, protocols and manage the Barclays Group and Brookfield interlocks needed to transact while Barclaycard Payments is part of the Barclays Group.

Key Accountabilities

Strategy and Origination

  • Own the origination and pipeline build of bolt-on acquisition, strategic partnership and minority investment opportunities, aligned to the Barclaycard Payments strategy and Value Creation Plan
  • Act as senior adviser to ELT members on the "art of the possible", providing thought leadership on complex partnership and investment arrangements
  • Partner with the Strategic Alliances team to design and deliver investment structures that achieve strategic alliance objectives

Transaction Execution

  • Lead diligence and structuring for active cases, owning advisor budgets and engagement, and coordinating wider Barclaycard Payments stakeholders
  • Act as principal contact point for external counterparties, leading negotiations and working with Barclaycard Payments Legal and external counsel to draft and negotiate key transaction documentation
  • Oversee financial modelling, valuation and financial impact analysis to underpin investment cases
  • Own the preparation of high-quality materials to facilitate ELT and Board decision making

Governance and Group Interlock

  • Engage with and coordinate wider Barclays Group stakeholders to establish and maintain a framework and protocols for acquisitions whilst Barclaycard Payments is part of the Barclays Group
  • Coordinate with Barclays Corporate Development, Principal Investments and the Brookfield investment team across the spectrum of M&A opportunities, including the approach to fundraising within the agreed constructs of the Barclays and Brookfield partnership
  • Lead and support regulatory engagement projects as required, including regulatory considerations arising from transactions

Stakeholder Management and Leadership

  • Build trusted, senior relationships with the BPL ELT and Board, Barclays Group Corporate Development, Barclays Principal Investments, and the Brookfield investment team
  • Manage external advisors (including investment banks, legal counsel and financial and commercial due diligence providers) and external counterparties, ensuring value for money and quality of delivery
  • Align stakeholders across Finance, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Technology and Operations to enable timely, well-governed transaction decisions
  • Lead, coach and develop deal team members and virtual transaction teams, role modelling the Barclaycard Payments behaviours

Decision-making and Problem Solving

  • Exercise senior commercial judgement on deal prioritisation, valuation, structuring and negotiation trade-offs, making clear go / no-go recommendations to the ELT and Board
  • Resolve complex, ambiguous problems spanning commercial, financial, legal, regulatory and Group governance considerations
  • Design creative, structured solutions (for example minority stakes, joint ventures and partnership constructs) that balance strategic value, risk and capital considerations
  • Operate within delegated authorities and escalate appropriately through BPL and Barclays Group governance

Person Specification

Essential

  • Significant M&A, corporate development or principal investing experience gained in investment banking, private equity, corporate development or strategy consulting
  • Experience in payments, merchant acquiring, fintech or financial services
  • Experience of carve-out, separation or private equity sponsor and portfolio company environments
  • Relevant professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CFA or MBA)
  • Proven track record of leading complex transactions end-to-end, from origination through to completion
  • Strong financial acumen, including valuation, financial modelling and business case development
  • Expertise in structuring complex arrangements, including minority investments, joint ventures and strategic partnerships
  • Strong negotiation skills and confidence acting as lead counterparty contact
  • Excellent executive communication, with experience preparing and presenting Board-level materials
  • Experience operating in regulated, matrixed organisations with multiple senior stakeholders

Purpose of the role

To define strategic group objectives of and internal functions including, financial and business strategy, and mergers and acquisitions.


Accountabilities

  • Development and execution of acquisition, disposal and strategic partnership activities, and other strategic transactions on behalf of the Barclays Group, including the identification of potential acquisition targets, building an acquisition pipeline and identifying non-core businesses and/or assets that can sold to generate value through disposal analysis, as well as maintaining an active coverage model with key internal and external stakeholders.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the financial performance, market position and strategic fit of potential acquisition and partnership targets. Including (but not limited to) detailed valuation, returns, profitability and cost analysis.
  • Development of business cases for potential acquisitions, including financial projections, strategic rationale, and synergy assessments.
  • Collaboration across departments to develop deal structures that align to the banks objectives to negotiate deals with potential acquisition targets.
  • Management and communication of post-merger integration plans and processes, including culture, operations, and systems.
  • Identification of industry trends and developments related to M&A tools and techniques by attending conferences, conducting market research, and participating in training.
  • Maintain close dialogue to group strategy, understand the firms' ambitions and market commitments, understand equity analyst's expectations on the firms and how acquisition and disposal activity can provide appropriate levers and dials.

Director Expectations

  • To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
  • They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
  • Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
  • Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
  • Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
  • Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
  • Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
  • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
  • Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
  • Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
  • Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
  • Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
  • Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.


All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

This role may be subject to enhanced governance arrangements. If successful, you may be required to comply with additional regulatory and compliance obligations, such as disclosure of personal trading activities and external interest/affiliations.

Further information on these requirements will be provided at a later stage of the process.

This is Barclays London

Our global HQ is in Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s financial district. There are over 10,000 colleagues here – a hugely diverse workforce made up of the world’s best financial and tech talent. If you love the buzz of city life, this is the place to be.

Cycle or run to work? We’ve got everything you need – from cycle hire and parking areas to new showering and changing facilities.

CoSpace is our drop-in co-working space, where networks are built, problems are solved collectively and our community is strengthened.

Our Wellness Suite includes a well-equipped gym and exercise studios, and provides personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Our new trading floors enhance communication, integrate sustainability, and support health and wellbeing through innovative design and British-sourced furniture.

This is Barclays London

Our global HQ is in Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s financial district. There are over 10,000 colleagues here – a hugely diverse workforce made up of the world’s best financial and tech talent. If you love the buzz of city life, this is the place to be.

Supporting active commuters

Cycle or run to work? We’ve got everything you need – from cycle hire and parking areas to new showering and changing facilities.

Time to connect

CoSpace is our drop-in co-working space, where networks are built, problems are solved collectively and our community is strengthened.

Wellbeing in focus

Our Wellness Suite includes a well-equipped gym and exercise studios, and provides personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Advanced trading floors

Our new trading floors enhance communication, integrate sustainability, and support health and wellbeing through innovative design and British-sourced furniture.

Multicultural ERGs at Barclays

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our Inclusion and Opportunities page.

Learn more

Application Process

Your application

We’ll ask for information about you, your CV and cover letter.

1

Your assessment

Covering your behaviours and ability at work.

2

Your interview

Exploring your past experiences and skills.

3

Next step

We’ll request additional information so that you can complete our screening process

4
How to ApplyRead our FAQ's
Barclays

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. If you'd like to explore flexible working arrangements, please discuss this with the hiring manager. Your request will be reviewed in-line with the requirements of the role/business needs of the team.

Hybrid working

We have a structured approach to hybrid working, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days, as set by the business area. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager. Please note that working arrangements may be subject to change on reasonable notice to ensure we meet the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience.
And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

Find more information

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