Lead Card Modernization & Growth

Absa Group; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Absa Group seeks a Card Transformation Lead to drive large-scale card, payments, and fintech transformation within a highly regulated financial services environment. The role requires strategic leadership to translate business objectives into an executable roadmap, aligning senior stakeholders across business and technology domains for sustainable growth.

You will oversee enterprise platform implementation, digital capability build-out and platform modernization, ensuring customer experience and

Qualifications

• Proven delivery of large-scale banking transformation programmes.
• Experience with card issuing, acquiring, payments and/or digital banking.
• Knowledge of governance, risk, regulatory and control requirements in financial services.
• Experience leading programmes with multiple internal and external stakeholders across business, technology, risk, governance and vendor teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage the programme vision, strategy and roadmap, translating them into clear delivery plans, objectives, budgets, timelines and measurable outcomes.
• Lead the design and execution of the Card Modernisation transformation programme.
• Ensure business value, customer experience, scalability, integration and commercial objectives are clearly defined, validated and achieved.
• Drive outcomes that support investment, improve customer experience and contribute to sustainable growth for the card division.
• Promote a transformation mindset and support operational transition into business-as-usual structures for card and digital capabilities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

SAFe Agile

Delivery leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

## Lead Card Modernization & GrowthApply: Hybrid: Johannesburg: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: October 16, 2026 (6 days left to apply): R-15991792### **Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together...one story at a time.**With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned 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.**Belonging at Absa***Absa is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds. In support of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) commitments and Employment Equity objectives, preference may be given to candidates from underrepresented designated groups, including persons with disabilities. We encourage applicants who may require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process to let us know so that appropriate support can be provided.***Job Summary**We are seeking an experienced Card Transformation Lead to drive large-scale card, payments, banking and fintech transformation. The successful candidate will lead business and technology change programmes, including enterprise platform implementation, digital capability build-out and platform modernisation within a highly regulated financial services environment. The role requires a strategic leader who can translate business objectives into an executable roadmap, align senior stakeholders, manage delivery risk and ensure transformation outcomes support customer experience, scalability, integration, commercial value and sustainable growth.**Job Description**Key responsibilities Strategic leadership Provide strategic thought leadership to shape and execute business-led transformation across the card and digital payments value chain.Ensure an understanding of card and digital payment processes and practices to drive strategic vision and alignment across the value chain • Define and manage the programme vision, strategy and roadmap, translating them into clear delivery plans, objectives, budgets, timelines and measurable outcomes. Programme delivery and business outcomesLead the design and execution of the Card Modernisation transformation programme.Ensure business value, customer experience, scalability, integration and commercial objectives are clearly defined, validated and achieved.Drive outcomes that support investment, improve customer experience and contribute to sustainable growth for the card division. Stakeholder, vendor and commercial managementBuild alignment and consensus across internal and external stakeholders.Support commercial negotiations and contracting activities where required.Hold vendors accountable for agreed delivery commitments, performance measures, timelines, budgets and contractual obligations. Change and transformation managementPromote a transformation mindset and support operational transition into business-as-usual structures for card and digital capabilities. Required experience and qualifications EssentialProven delivery of complex business and technology modernisation initiatives, including multi-million rand strategic programmes.Strong background in card issuing, acquiring, payments and/or digital banking.Experience leading programmes with multiple internal and external stakeholders across business, technology, risk, governance and vendor teams.Strong understanding of governance, risk, regulatory and control requirements within financial services.Knowledge of SAFe Agile methodology, agile delivery practices and product-led operating models. Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading large-scale banking, card, payments or fintech transformation programmes.Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant qualification.Experience in digital bank start-ups, fintech partnerships, core banking transformation, enterprise technology platforms or platform modernisation programmes.Experience operating in high-growth or scaling environments, including transitioning solutions from proof of value to enterprise-scale deployment.Scheme experience with Visa and/or Mastercard. Candidate profileStrategic, commercially minded and outcome-focused.Able to simplify complexity and communicate clearly across executive, business, technology and vendor stakeholders.Comfortable working in regulated environments with strong governance, risk and delivery discipline. Collaborative leader with the ability to influence, align and mobilise cross-functional teams. Why this role matters This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of card and digital banking through strategic transformation, technology-led innovation and measurable customer and commercial outcomes.**Education**Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)