You’re considering a career in Payment Systems. What are the most important skills to learn?

2 Security skills

Another crucial skill for a career in payment systems is security. You’ll need to understand and apply the principles and best practices of cybersecurity, such as encryption, authentication, authorization, and compliance, to protect the data and transactions of your customers and clients. You’ll also need to be aware of the common threats and vulnerabilities that affect payment systems, such as fraud, identity theft, phishing, malware, and denial-of-service attacks, and how to prevent and mitigate them. Furthermore, you’ll need to keep up with the latest standards and regulations in the payment industry, such as PCI-DSS, PSD2, GDPR, and AML.

3 Business skills

A third important skill for a career in payment systems is business. You’ll need to have a solid understanding of the payment ecosystem and the roles and relationships of the various stakeholders, such as merchants, consumers, banks, payment providers, regulators, and intermediaries. You’ll also need to have a good grasp of the payment models and methods that are available and popular in different markets and segments, such as card-based, mobile, online, peer-to-peer, or cross-border payments. Additionally, you’ll need to have some analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and address the needs and challenges of your customers and clients and to deliver effective and innovative payment solutions.

4 Communication skills

A fourth essential skill for a career in payment systems is communication. You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly and confidently with different audiences and stakeholders, such as developers, managers, customers, clients, partners, and regulators. You’ll also need to be able to write and present technical and business documents and reports, such as code documentation, user manuals, project proposals, test cases, and audit findings. Furthermore, you’ll need to have some interpersonal and teamwork skills to collaborate and coordinate with your colleagues and peers in different functions and locations.

5 Learning skills

A fifth key skill for a career in payment systems is learning. You’ll need to be curious and eager to learn new things and update your knowledge and skills regularly. You’ll also need to be adaptable and flexible to cope with the changes and trends in the payment industry and the technology landscape. Moreover, you’ll need to be open and receptive to feedback and criticism and to seek and share best practices and lessons learned with your peers and mentors.