Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Fintech / Payment Services Start-up

Private Advertiser; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

The Private Advertiser is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead its fintech and payment services strategy, drive growth and ensure governance and regulatory compliance.

This role oversees licensing with Bank Negara Malaysia, business development, technology and operations, and ensures readiness to launch regulated payment services across the group's network. Strong leadership and regulatory engagement are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Law, Information Technology or related field.
• Significant senior management experience in fintech, digital payments, banking, financial services or related industry.
• Experience managing regulatory licensing projects and engagement with regulators (e.g., BNM).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end regulatory licensing project for the Company's proposed e-wallet/e-money and merchant acquiring business.
• Develop and execute the Company's business strategy, model, market positioning and growth plan.
• Oversee payment platforms, technology, cybersecurity, risk management and compliance frameworks.
• Manage budgeting, financial projections and performance reporting to the Board.
• Coordinate governance, regulatory readiness and stakeholder engagement for licensing approvals.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory licensing

Regulatory engagement

Financial management

Strategic planning

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Business Administration/Accounting/Economics/Law/IT

Job description

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for establishing, leading and growing the Company's fintech and payment services business, including developing and executing its business strategy, overseeing commercial and operational activities, managing financial performance, and establishing the corporate governance, risk management and regulatory compliance frameworks necessary for sustainable growth.

A key responsibility of the CEO is to lead and drive the Company's regulatory licensing project with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), including the preparation, submission and management of applications for the relevant electronic money (e-money/e-wallet) and merchant acquiring licences or approvals, as applicable to the Company's proposed business model.

The CEO shall coordinate the Board of Directors, shareholders, internal teams, external legal and regulatory advisers, technology providers, banking partners and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the licensing applications are comprehensive, commercially viable and supported by the necessary governance, operational, financial, technological and compliance arrangements.

Following the submission of the applications, the CEO shall lead the Company's engagement with BNM, coordinate responses to regulatory queries and additional information requests, oversee remediation of identified gaps, and drive the Company's readiness to commence regulated operations, subject to obtaining the necessary approvals.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Regulatory Licensing and BNM Engagement

Lead and manage the end-to-end regulatory licensing project for the Company's proposed e-wallet/e-money and merchant acquiring business, including planning, preparation, submission, assessment and post-approval implementation.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive licensing project plan, including milestones, deliverables, timelines, responsibilities, dependencies and risk assessments.

Coordinate the preparation, review and submission of licensing applications, business plans, financial projections, corporate documents, organisational structures, policies, procedures and supporting materials required by BNM.

Work closely with external legal counsel, regulatory consultants, compliance personnel, finance, technology, operations and other relevant teams to ensure the completeness, consistency and accuracy of application materials.

Establish and maintain a centralised document management and tracking process for licensing requirements, outstanding deliverables, regulatory queries and submission deadlines.

Serve as the principal executive coordinator for communications and engagement with BNM in relation to the licensing project, together with the relevant directors, officers and appointed advisers.

Coordinate responses to BNM's enquiries, requests for clarification, additional information requests and feedback throughout the regulatory assessment process.

Identify gaps between the Company's existing business model, operational arrangements and control environment and the applicable regulatory requirements, and drive the implementation of appropriate remediation measures.

Oversee the development and implementation of the policies, procedures and control frameworks required for the proposed regulated activities, including governance, risk management, AML/CFT, customer due diligence, sanctions screening, fraud prevention, consumer protection, complaints handling, safeguarding or protection of customer funds where applicable, technology risk management and business continuity.

Ensure that the Company's proposed products, customer journeys, payment flows, merchant arrangements, settlement processes, outsourcing arrangements and technology infrastructure are appropriately designed to support the proposed licensed activities.

Coordinate the assessment of the Company's capital, financial resources, organisational structure, key personnel, systems and operational capabilities against applicable regulatory requirements.

Ensure that material regulatory issues, project delays, resource constraints and risks to the licensing timetable are promptly escalated to the Board.

Lead post-submission regulatory engagement and oversee the implementation of any additional requirements or remedial actions identified by BNM.

Develop a regulatory readiness and implementation plan to ensure the Company is operationally prepared to launch its payment services once the required regulatory approvals and other applicable conditions have been satisfied.

Ensure that the Company does not commence regulated activities before obtaining the necessary approvals and satisfying applicable regulatory conditions.

B. Business Strategy and Commercial Development

Develop and execute the Company's business strategy, business model, market positioning and long-term growth plan.

Establish the commercial strategy for the Company's e-wallet, merchant acquiring and related payment services, consistent with the activities permitted under the applicable regulatory framework.

Identify and develop relationships with banks, payment networks, payment service providers, merchants, technology vendors and strategic business partners.

Lead commercial negotiations to optimise payment processing costs, transaction pricing, settlement arrangements and overall business profitability.

Develop go-to-market strategies, customer acquisition plans, merchant onboarding processes and revenue-generation initiatives.

Evaluate market opportunities, competitive developments and potential strategic partnerships to support sustainable business growth.

C. Product Development and Technology

Oversee the development and implementation of the Company's payment platforms, e-wallet functionality, merchant acquiring capabilities and supporting technology infrastructure.

Work with product and engineering teams to establish product roadmaps, integration plans, delivery milestones and technical requirements.

Ensure that the Company's systems are scalable, secure, reliable and aligned with applicable regulatory and operational requirements.

Oversee integrations with banks, payment networks, payment service providers and third-party technology partners.

Ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for cybersecurity, access controls, transaction monitoring, data protection, incident response and business continuity.

D. Financial Management and Business Performance

Develop and manage the Company's annual budget, financial projections, cash flow forecasts and capital requirements.

Establish financial and commercial KPIs and monitor performance against the approved business plan.

Drive revenue growth, profitability, operational efficiency and cost optimisation.

Assess the financial viability of the proposed payment business, including transaction volumes, processing fees, settlement costs, operating expenses and capital requirements.

Ensure appropriate financial controls, budgeting processes and management reporting arrangements are established.

Report financial performance, funding requirements and material financial risks to the Board.

E. Operations, Risk Management and Compliance

Establish the operational infrastructure required to support the Company's proposed payment services.

Oversee payment processing, reconciliation, settlement, refunds, disputes, chargebacks, merchant onboarding and related operational processes.

Establish appropriate internal controls and risk management frameworks to address regulatory, operational, financial, fraud, cybersecurity, third-party and reputational risks.

Ensure the development and implementation of appropriate compliance policies, monitoring arrangements, escalation procedures and management reporting.

Oversee the establishment of the Company's compliance, risk and operational functions, ensuring appropriate resources and independent oversight where required.

Monitor changes in applicable laws, regulations and regulatory expectations and ensure that the Company's business and control frameworks are updated accordingly.

F. Corporate Governance and Stakeholder Management

Implement sound corporate governance practices and operate within the authority delegated by the Board.

Prepare and present business plans, budgets, licensing updates, risk assessments and performance reports to the Board.

Maintain effective relationships with shareholders, directors, regulators, advisers, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

Ensure that material contracts, transactions, commitments and strategic decisions receive the appropriate approvals.

Establish appropriate management reporting, accountability, escalation and delegation-of-authority frameworks.

G. Leadership and Organisational Development

Build and lead the management team and recruit personnel with the necessary commercial, technological, financial, operational, risk and compliance expertise.

Establish clear responsibilities, performance targets and accountability across the organisation.

Ensure that the Company has the resources and capabilities required to execute its licensing project and subsequent business operations.

Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, regulatory compliance, risk awareness and continuous improvement.

3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The CEO's performance shall be assessed against objectives approved by the Board, including:

Licensing project execution: Timely completion of licensing documentation, internal approvals and submission milestones.

BNM regulatory engagement: Effective coordination of regulatory communications, responses to queries and completion of outstanding requirements.

Regulatory readiness: Implementation of the necessary governance, compliance, risk management, technology and operational frameworks.

Business plan execution: Delivery of agreed business milestones, product development and commercial launch preparations.

Commercial performance: Achievement of approved revenue, transaction volume, profitability and cost-efficiency targets, as applicable to the relevant stage of business development.

Financial management: Effective budget control, financial forecasting, capital planning and resource allocation.

Operational readiness: Completion of critical systems integrations, payment workflows, reconciliation processes and operational controls.

Risk management and governance: Timely identification, escalation and remediation of material risks and control deficiencies.

Organisational development: Recruitment and development of key personnel and establishment of an effective management structure.

Licensing KPIs should distinguish between milestones within the CEO's control, such as application preparation and submission, and regulatory decisions that are ultimately determined by BNM.

4. Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Law, Information Technology or a related discipline.

Significant senior management experience in fintech, digital payments, banking, financial services or a related industry.

Demonstrated experience in business development, strategic planning, financial management and organisational leadership.

Experience managing regulatory licensing projects, financial services compliance or engagement with BNM or other financial regulators is strongly preferred.

Familiarity with e-money, e-wallets, merchant acquiring, payment processing, settlement arrangements and payment infrastructure.

Ability to coordinate external advisers and cross-functional teams to deliver complex regulatory and commercial projects.

Strong commercial judgement, stakeholder management, negotiation, communication and decision-making skills.

5. Authority and Accountability

The CEO shall be accountable to the Board for the overall management and performance of the Company, including execution of its business strategy, regulatory licensing project, financial sustainability, operational readiness, risk management and corporate governance.

The CEO shall have authority to coordinate and direct the Company's licensing project and related business activities within the approved budget, business plan, delegated authority and applicable governance framework.

The CEO shall promptly escalation material regulatory issues, changes to the licensing strategy, material financial commitments and other matters requiring Board approval.

The CEO's responsibilities shall be exercised in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the Company's Constitution, Board resolutions and any conditions imposed by the relevant regulatory authorities.

6. General

The CEO shall perform such other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be assigned by the Board from time to time, consistent with the CEO's executive role and the Company's business objectives.