I Got a New Job, and I Am Excited Link to heading

Mid-April has brought an unexpected and exciting development: I’ve been offered a role at Australian Payments Plus, working on their consumer-facing product, Beem. This is probably the biggest company (financially) that most Australians have never heard of; and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity.

Australian Payments Plus: The Hidden Giant Link to heading

Most people don’t realise that Australian Payments Plus owns and operates all the critical financial infrastructure that makes banking work in Australia. When you transfer money between different banks, use an ATM, or make a card payment, you’re likely using AP+ infrastructure. They’re the backbone of the Australian financial system, processing billions of transactions worth trillions of dollars annually.

It’s the kind of company that operates in the shadows of finance; absolutely critical to how money moves around the country, but invisible to consumers. Until now, with Beem.

Enter Beem: Making Money Simple Link to heading

Beem is AP+’s venture into the consumer space, and it’s fascinating. Rather than trying to be another neobank, Beem focuses on solving the friction points in how Australians actually use money day-to-day:

Peer-to-Peer Payments Link to heading

No more “what’s your BSB and account number?” conversations. Just send money to @your_mate instantly. It’s what we should have had years ago.

Group Expenses Made Easy Link to heading

Anyone who’s tried to split restaurant bills or organise group gifts knows the pain. Beem automatically calculates who owes what and sends payment reminders. The social dynamics of group expenses finally have a technological solution.

Integrated Rewards and Cashback Link to heading

Rather than juggling multiple loyalty cards and apps, Beem lets you pick rewards programs and maximises your cashback while shopping. It’s like having a financial assistant that ensures you never leave money on the table.

What sets Beem apart is the social element; you can send money with GIFs, stickers, and gift cards. It transforms financial transactions from sterile banking operations into more human interactions.

The Unique Position Link to heading

What excites me most about this opportunity is Beem’s unique positioning. Unlike typical fintech startups that burn through venture capital searching for product-market fit, Beem has something incredibly rare:

Financial security without the pressure to find immediate profitability.

AP+ can afford to invest in building the right product and growing the user base sustainably. There’s no desperation to monetise users aggressively or pivot based on funding rounds. With over 3 million Australian users already, Beem can focus on solving real problems rather than chasing metrics to appease investors.

It’s essentially a scale-up with the financial backing of one of Australia’s most important financial institutions. That’s an almost unique combination in the fintech space.

The Technical Opportunity Link to heading

From a technical perspective, this represents exactly what I was looking for after the acquisition transition period. The chance to work on a consumer product that millions of Australians use, backed by the rock-solid infrastructure and expertise of AP+.

The problems are interesting: real-time payments, social features, rewards integration, and the challenge of making complex financial operations feel simple and delightful. Plus, there’s the scale aspect; when you’re processing payments for millions of users, performance and reliability aren’t optional.

Why This Feels Right Link to heading

After months of thoughtfully evaluating opportunities, this one immediately stood out:

Mission Alignment: Making money simpler and more social aligns with how I think technology should improve daily life.

Technical Challenge: Building consumer fintech at scale, with all the security, performance, and user experience challenges that entails.

Learning Opportunity: Working within Australia’s financial infrastructure gives insights into systems that most developers never see.

Team Quality: The interview process revealed a team that clearly cares about building the right thing, not just building fast.

Sustainable Growth: The backing of AP+ means focusing on long-term value rather than short-term survival.

The Irony of Good Timing Link to heading

The irony isn’t lost on me that just as I was settling into fully remote work during the acquisition wind-down, I’m joining a company. But this transition feels different; it’s a choice made from a position of stability rather than necessity.

Having those months to really consider what I wanted from my next role meant I could be selective. This opportunity ticks all the boxes I identified during that reflection period.

Looking Forward Link to heading

Starting at AP+ feels like joining Australian fintech at an inflection point. The infrastructure is mature, the regulatory environment is supportive, and consumer expectations are finally aligned with what’s technically possible.

Beem isn’t trying to replace traditional banking; it’s trying to make the interactions we already have with money more pleasant and efficient. That feels like a more sustainable and valuable approach than the “disrupt everything” mentality common in fintech.

I’m excited to contribute to a product that’s already improving how millions of Australians handle money, backed by a company with the resources and patience to do it right.

Sometimes the best opportunities come from companies you’ve never heard of, doing things that matter more than you initially realise. Australian Payments Plus and Beem feel like exactly that kind of opportunity.

Have you ever discovered a company that was much more significant than you initially realised? What draws you to opportunities that combine stability with innovation?