Business Operations & Improvement Development Programme - Payments (London)

Good things this way

If you're ambitious, curious and enjoy solving problems, our Payments Development Programme provides a structured route into a rewarding career in banking.

Help millions of customers move and manage their money safely and securely, while building expertise in one of the most important and fast-evolving areas of financial services.

Whether you're a graduate ready to make an impact, or a career changer looking for a new challenge, you'll gain hands-on experience, develop future-ready skills, and contribute to projects that deliver banking that's fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society.

You'll follow a tailored learning pathway designed to build the skills you'll need for the future of financial services. Through digital learning, interactive workshops, insights from leaders and industry experts, and hands-on experience in your role, you'll have plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice. You'll also learn alongside colleagues from across Nationwide, helping you build your network and understand more about how our business works.

We'll support your development through structured learning, personalised development and hands-on experience, helping you grow with confidence.

Where you’ll be working

You'll join our Payments teams, supporting the services and systems that help millions of customers move, receive and manage money safely and efficiently every day. You'll work alongside experienced colleagues, helping deliver customer outcomes while developing expertise in a critical area of financial services.

As the payments industry continues to evolve through technology, regulation and changing customer expectations, you'll gain experience in an area that's constantly adapting and innovating.

Location 

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, based at our Swindon, London or Glasgow offices.

External only: If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can. 
 

What you’ll be doing on the Payments Development Programme 

Our Payments Development Programme has intakes in September 2027

During the programme, you'll join high-performing teams that support Nationwide's payments operations, customer services and strategic priorities.

You'll start with an induction, where you'll learn more about Nationwide, connect with colleagues and build the foundations for your role. You'll then join your team and follow a personalised learning pathway that brings together hands-on experience, role-specific training, digital learning and interactive workshops. You'll also hear from leaders and industry experts, giving you fresh perspectives and practical ideas you can apply in your day-to-day work.

The programme begins with a six-week onboarding experience before you complete three rotational placements across different areas of Payments, helping you build broad experience while developing specialist expertise. 

You'll become part of both your placement team and the wider Payments community, benefiting from networking, mentoring, development events and regular engagement with leaders across the function.

You'll gain exposure to a broad range of activities that help millions of customers move and manage their money safely and securely. Working across different teams within Payments, you'll build an understanding of how a major financial institution delivers reliable payment services while balancing customer needs, regulation and operational efficiency.

No two placements are the same. You could be analysing data, supporting change initiatives, reviewing processes, participating in risk and control activities, engaging with stakeholders or contributing to projects that improve customer and business outcomes.

Through rotational placements, you'll develop skills in stakeholder management, communication, problem solving, data analysis, process improvement and payments operations. You'll also have opportunities to complete funded development programmes such as Payments 101 with the Payments Association and specialist learning, including pathways in Data & Insights for Business Decisions or AI for Business Value.

You'll have opportunities to work with senior leaders, build your network across the Payments community and gain exposure to both operational and strategic environments, helping accelerate your development and broaden your understanding of financial services.

Build the experience, skills and confidence to progress towards roles within Payments at the end of your programme.

Who we’re looking for on the Payments Development Programme

We're looking for driven, curious people with high standards and a genuine interest in financial services. You'll share our determination to push for better and put customers first, not just in what you deliver, but in every decision you make. You might be a recent graduate starting your career, returning to work after a break or ready to bring your professional experience to a new direction. Whatever your route, our Payments Development Programme will help you build the skills and experience for a rewarding career in banking.

To succeed on our Payments Development Programme, you'll need to show:

• An interest in payments, financial services and customer outcomes.

• Curiosity about how technology, regulation and innovation shape payments.

• The ambition to keep growing, take on new challenges and build towards your next career step

• A logical, methodical approach, with the ability to understand both the detail and the bigger picture 

• The confidence to build relationships and work with colleagues across the business 

• Drive, high performance and a commitment to learning from feedback and setbacks 

• A determination to push for better and put customers first in the decisions you make

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes.

The extras you’ll get

High performing and purpose-driven colleagues deserve a rewarding career and competitive benefits to match. We offer you:

• Structured learning, personalised development and hands-on experience to help you build future-ready skills and progress your career in banking
• 25 days holiday each year, which increases over time to 30. Plus, you can ‘buy’ up to 10 extra days 
• The opportunity to earn an annual bonus based on your performance
• Private medical insurance to help you access additional healthcare when you need it
• Wellhub access to a range of free and paid fitness and wellbeing options, plus free on-site gyms at selected locations
• A highly competitive pension to help you start building your financial future 
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Up to 14 paid hours each year to volunteer for a cause that matters to you
• Life assurance to provide additional peace of mind for you and the people who matter to you

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next 

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button, where you’ll be asked to answer a few quick questions for us.  

We’ll send you our online assessments to complete and there will also be a short video interview to find out more about you. If you are successful, you could be selected to attend one of our assessment centres which run from January 2027

Visa sponsorship information 

As a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the applicable Immigration Rules and guidance (which are subject to change). The Skilled Worker route has specific requirements relating to skill level of the role and minimum salary expectations. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited or may not be possible for some programmes. 

VISA Sponsorship cannot be offered on this programme. 

All successful applicants with need to demonstrate their right to work in the UK on commencement of employment and for the duration of the programme applied for without requiring sponsorship. 

If you have any further questions, please contact us at [email protected]