Managing Director / Country Head UK

Are you ready to change the market?

PAIR Finance is rethinking debt collection: we develop the most advanced AI technology in receivables management and have lastingly changed the collections industry. Today, with 250+ employees, 600+ clients and offices in ten European cities, we lead Europe in the use of AI in receivables management, achieving higher recovery rates without straining our clients' customer relationships. The UK is next, and we are looking for the person who will run it.

This is a build role, not a caretaker role. You own the market end to end: P&L, sales, collections operations and the team you hire. There is no local playbook to inherit, you write it, backed by an international group that has entered new markets before.

Your Responsibilities:

• Full revenue and result responsibility (P&L) for PAIR Finance UK: you drive sales and new client acquisition, own pipeline and forecast, and take the central commercial decisions for the UK market.
• Developing and delivering the go-to-market and sales strategy for the UK, including the prioritisation of our focus industries (e-commerce, media & entertainment, banking & insurance, mobility, utilities) and, in alignment with the group, the use of targeted collection strategies.
• Winning the first UK clients and building the pipeline from zero, then systematically growing those partnerships; you carry ambitious new business and growth targets.
• Identifying market trends as well as new business potential and feeding these into the further development of our technology and our service with a UK focus.
• Positioning PAIR Finance in the UK market to support your sales targets: press releases, your own talks at conferences, trade fairs and webinars, plus the local marketing approach and client events.
• Hiring, leading and developing a motivated local team from the ground up.
• Setting up UK operations from scratch: local entity, establish smart collections processes and adapt the AI technology to UK market practice in close coordination with the PAIR Finance Group.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance in the UK, including the FCA authorisation of the local entity, in close alignment with our central Legal & Compliance function.

What we're looking for:

• Several years of experience in an FCA-regulated debt collection, debt administration or debt purchasing business.
• Ideally experience being approved by the FCA as an SMF1, SMF3 or comparable Senior Manager function as well as hands-on experience working with the FCA, such as gaining an authorisation and worked in close dialogue with the FCA.
• Commercial track record: P&L responsibility and proven build-up of creditor relationships, plus experience with RFPs, long sales cycles and contract negotiations with enterprise clients.
• A resilient, commercially usable network among decisionmakers at UK enterprises in our key industries (e-commerce, media & entertainment, banking & insurance, mobility, utilities).
• Strong customer focus and a pronounced hands-on sales mentality: you approach prospective clients yourself.
• Clear, credible communication, in the boardroom, on stage and with your own team.
• Genuine interest in technology and, especially, AI tools, as well as fluent English.

Our offer for you:

• PAIR Finance is one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in Europe. We operate in a fast-paced, dynamic market environment and, with a strong international team, are currently active in 14 countries across Europe
• You report to our Chief Growth Officer and Chief Revenue Officer and work closely with the group's C-level and management team
• The role is based in London
• Regular trips to Berlin, roughly every two to three months, planned ahead and agreed with you
• A thriving, financially stable company with an international team of 30+ nationalities
• A structured onboarding and experienced colleagues across Europe who support you from day one
• Flat hierarchy, transparent and appreciative feedback culture, monthly all-hands meetings and an annual feedback cycle
• 28 days of annual leave plus UK bank holidays
• Personal learning & development budget
• Fun company summer and Christmas parties

Our Interview Process:

Who is your contact person?

Your contact person for this position is Judith Gröchenig. If you have any questions, please contact us directly by email (jobs@pairfinance.com). For more information about PAIR Finance, please take a look at our website and our careers page. We look forward to hearing from you!