Head: Card Schemes Partnerships

Absa Group; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Absa Group invites applications for a managerial role overseeing the card scheme operating model. This position involves strategic relationship management, compliance oversight, and financial strategy to optimize revenue and maintain strong industry partnerships. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's Degree in IT and demonstrate extensive experience in the payments sector.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology or related field is required.
• Experience in payment schemes and operational management preferred.
• Strong relationship management skills with senior stakeholders necessary.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with payment schemes like Visa and MasterCard.
• Oversee compliance and performance reporting.
• Direct financial management related to scheme membership costs.
• Lead the Payment Partnership team to optimize performance.

Skills

Relationship Management

Financial Analysis

Strategic Planning

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and a strong position as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future, and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

This role involves managing the card scheme operating model for Absa, overseeing contractual, commercial, change, compliance, and new capability requirements for existing and new payment schemes.

The role also includes influencing, guiding, and directing the card payment schemes and industry forums on strategic and operational decisions, managing governance and control standards across the payment value chain, and establishing an overall health position of Absa Payment partnerships.

Additionally, the job entails developing and maintaining the payment partnership framework, guiding principles, and overarching plan to extract value from strategic partnerships across multiple payment rails.

Job Description

Accountability: Relationship Management and Industry Representation

• Maintain strong relationships with senior levels within PSO’s (Visa, MasterCard & BSA), managing negotiations to avoid non-compliance penalties and address issues.
• Represent Absa in key industry forums (e.g., PASA) to influence strategic issues and policy formulation.
• Manage the health of Absa’s relationships with PSOs and influence policies on key strategic issues.
• Engage in performance assessments, reporting, and briefings to Senior Executives on external boards and committees.
• Participate in industry forums to maintain the integrity of payment transactions and facilitate sessions across various internal teams to ensure transaction integrity.

Accountability: Reporting, Analytics, and Insights

• Maintain exception reporting processes to track payment and settlement performance.
• Identify mandatory compliance programs and monitor adherence.
• Conduct detailed business analysis and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Maintain business rule repositories and recommend industry best practices.
• Contribute to risk management strategies across the card payment value chain.

Accountability: Financial Management

• Identify and close gaps related to revenue and leakages.
• Manage costs associated with scheme membership, seeking process improvements.
• Balance business, IT, and finance to optimize revenue from transactions.
• Contribute to business planning and strategy optimization.

Accountability: People Management

• Manage the Payment Partnership team, ensuring optimal resourcing and performance management.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology or related field.

Absa Bank Limited is committed to equal opportunity employment and diversity. We reserve the right not to fill the position.