From Merchant Services to Regulatory Oversight: Vlado's Inspiring Career Journey at Paysafe

Changing roles within a company isn’t always easy - but it can be transformative. In this “Successful Story of Career Change” blog article, we sit down with Vladimir Vladimirov, Merchant Operations Manager, who began his journey at Paysafe nearly 14 years ago. What started as a role in Merchant Services evolved into a leadership position in regulatory compliance, alongside a significant relocation from Sofia to Dublin. Here is his story.

Can you tell us how your journey at Paysafe began and what initially attracted you to the company?

My journey at Paysafe began almost 14 years ago in November 2011. Coming from an online gambling company, I was already familiar with Moneybookers (which was then rebranded as Skrill and later became Paysafe),  what it was and how it worked, etc.  Also, I had friends already working there, so I was referred for a role within the Merchant Services team in Sofia, Bulgaria. And this is how it began. Throughout my whole career at Moneybookers, Skrill & now Paysafe, I have been part of the merchant operations universe at the company and have changed positions a few times, and finally even relocated.

How did the opportunity for a career change come about, and what motivated you to pursue it?

During my career, starting as a Merchant Service Agent, I have always tried to learn fast, be efficient and find better ways of doing things or to improve the services which we provide to our merchants.

The first new career opportunity for me came a few years after I started working at Paysafe. Within the Merchant Services teams, we had often discussed the need for a dedicated trainer, training materials, and a knowledge base for the department – something we were lacking, and which resulted in inefficient onboarding of new employees.

After applying for a different role within the department, I received the chance to become this trainer and to develop a Training & QA team for the future, which happened over the course of the next three years. I managed to build a team which helped the Merchant Operations department to improve the services offered to merchants.

In late 2018, with Brexit approaching and a requirement for an EU-issued eMoney license, a new opportunity for a change in my career appeared. It was announced that Paysafe would require a Merchant Operations Manager for our CBI-regulated entity. This opportunity, however, included relocating, which, on a personal level, was both attractive and challenging, as my family could not relocate to Ireland full-time any time soon.

I was strongly motivated to develop a career in fintech, and since I had the support of my family and the company I was already part of, it was an easy decision to go ahead and move to Dublin.

How did you experience the relocation, both personally and professionally?

Professionally, it changed the perspective for me of how fintech companies operate. My current role focuses on outsourced activities and services, oversight and governance of these services and activities, all in compliance with the CBI and EBA regulations. I no longer have direct contact with Paysafe’s clients (the merchants I supported for such a long time).

From a personal perspective, and as I mentioned above, I had the full support of my wife Plamena to pursue this change and to relocate. Over the years, we realized that the choice was right, and we both find Dublin a nice place to live, and we consider it as a place to stay in the long term.

Now that we have wonderful twins, it is quite challenging to balance between Bulgaria and Ireland. However, we manage to keep our family strong, and when we are all together in Sofia, we have a wonderful time!

What was the transition into your new role like? Any key challenges or surprises along the way?

It was not easy. I cannot even say how long it took to switch from a client-facing role to the current one, which is internally oriented.

There were no surprises, but challenges existed and still exist from time to time. I had to get up to speed with regulations, laws, and card scheme mandates to ensure compliance for Paysafe and the PPSL entity in Dublin.

This was something completely new to me compared to my previous operational job.

What key skills have you developed since stepping into this role, and how has it helped you grow professionally?

The biggest takeaway from the role is the regulatory compliance expertise – navigating through the regulatory landscape of the CBI has enhanced my ability to interpret regulations and apply compliance requirements within PPSL’s processes.

Another skill that improved, which I brought from my previous role, is process optimization and efficiency – I have improved my ability to review current processes and procedures and to suggest practical improvements to enhance efficiency while keeping PPSL fully compliant with regulations.

What would you say to colleagues at Paysafe who are considering a career change – whether it’s a new role or relocation?

Whether it’s changing roles or relocating, go for it. Go for one of them. Go for both. There will always be pros and cons, but this is you, your life, your career.

If you have found something that sounds good to you, meets your expectations, and you think it will make you happy – go for it. There are opportunities for such career changes in Paysafe, you just need to be there at the right moment! Good luck to everyone!

Final Thoughts

Vlado’s story is a testament to the power of internal growth, adaptability, and having the right support system. His journey reminds us that career change,while challenging, can open doors to rewarding experiences and professional development.

Stay tuned for more stories like this as we continue to spotlight the people behind Paysafe’s success.