• Set the vision and long-term strategy for Upwork’s global payments and financial infrastructure, aligning with company-wide objectives and board-level outcomes • Lead a multi-functional organization responsible for payment rails, payout orchestration, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and customer experience • Identify and scale global payment partnerships across acquiring, disbursing, and embedded finance—ensuring resilience, speed, and customer delight • Drive the adoption of AI-powered payment solutions and automation to reduce costs, enhance decision-making, and improve customer outcomes • Serve as executive sponsor for critical financial partnerships, vendor relationships, and compliance frameworks across jurisdictions • Navigate a complex regulatory landscape and ensure Upwork remains ahead of evolving global fintech requirements and risk standards • Deliver measurable outcomes tied to margin optimization, transaction costs and losses, and the optimal balance between payment success rates and net transaction loss, while ensuring experience quality • Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing leadership team within the Payments function, reinforcing a culture of excellence, innovation, and cross-functional alignment