Manager: Card and Payments Operations

Absa Group; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services group is seeking a Card and Payments Operations Manager to oversee card operations across Africa. The role focuses on optimizing processes for efficiency and compliance while ensuring exceptional customer service. Ideal candidates hold a degree in Finance and have significant managerial experience in card operations.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in card operations, payments, or banking operations.
• At least 3 years in a managerial oversight role.
• Experience managing card operations across multiple African markets.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight of end-to-end card operations across African markets.
• Manage and optimize the inbound contact center handling credit card service requests.
• Oversee card settlement processes and monitor fraud trends.

Skills

Analytical skills

Customer-centric approach

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance awareness

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field

Job description

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.

Job Summary

The Card and Payments Operations Manager is responsible for operational oversight, optimization, and governance of the bank’s card and payment operations across ABSA Africa Regions countries. This role ensures operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and superior customer service while managing an inbound contact center and email support function for credit card service requests. Additionally, the role plays a key part in optimizing card settlement processes, including FX netting and liquidity management, to minimize costs and maximize efficiency.

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.

Job Summary

The Card and Payments Operations Manager is responsible for operational oversight, optimization, and governance of the bank’s card and payment operations across ABSA Africa Regions countries. This role ensures operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and superior customer service while managing an inbound contact center and email support function for credit card service requests. Additionally, the role plays a key part in optimizing card settlement processes, including FX netting and liquidity management, to minimize costs and maximize efficiency.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Oversight & Optimization

• Provide oversight of end-to-end card operations (issuance, authorization, settlement, chargebacks) across African markets.
• Optimize processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer experience.
• Ensure compliance with Visa, Mastercard, and local payment scheme rules, as well as central bank regulations in each country.

2. Customer Service & Query Management

• Manage and optimize the inbound contact center and email support handling credit card service requests for 5 African countries.
• Monitor service level agreements (SLAs), call quality, and resolution times to ensure high customer satisfaction.
• Implement self-service and automation solutions to reduce manual query handling.

3. Settlement & FX Optimization

• Oversee card settlement processes, ensuring timely and accurate reconciliation.
• Work with Treasury and Finance teams to optimize FX netting positions, minimizing currency exposure and costs.
• Identify inefficiencies in cross-border settlement flows and recommend improvements.

4. Fraud, Disputes & Risk Management

• Monitor fraud trends and ensure fraud prevention measures are effective.
• Oversee dispute resolution and chargeback processes, ensuring compliance with card scheme rules.
• Conduct root-cause analysis on operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.

5. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Liaise with local country operations teams, IT, Product, Compliance, and Risk teams to align on best practices.
• Manage relationships with card issuance vendors, third-party processors, card schemes (MasterCard, VISA, Union Pay etc.), and fintech partners.
• Drive vendor performance reviews to ensure cost efficiency and service quality.

6. Process Improvement & Reporting

• Identify inefficiencies, implement automation and process improvements.
• Generate performance reports on card transactions, fraud, and dispute metrics.
• Ensure SLA adherence with processors and third-party vendors

Minimum Academic Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

Professional certifications** such as:

• Visa/Mastercard certifications (e.g., Visa Dispute Resolution, Mastercard Chargeback)
• Payments or Card Operations certifications (e.g., AAP/APRP from NEACH, ICPS)

Minimum Experience Requirements

• 6+ years in card operations, payments, or banking operations, with at least 3 years in a managerial oversight role.

Proven experience in:

• Managing card operations across multiple African markets.
• Overseeing customer service/contact centers for card-related queries.
• Optimizing settlement processes, FX netting, and liquidity management.
• Deep knowledge of Visa/Mastercard rules, dispute management, and fraud prevention.
• Experience working with card processors, fintechs, and treasury functions.

Key Competencies & Skills

• Strategic mindset – Ability to optimize processes and drive operational excellence.
• Strong analytical skills – Expertise in settlement reconciliation, FX optimization, and cost reduction.
• Customer-centric approach – Experience managing high-volume contact centers.
• Stakeholder management – Ability to influence cross-functional teams and vendors.
• Regulatory & compliance awareness – Knowledge of African banking regulations.
• Project management – Lean/Six Sigma or Agile experience is a plus.

Performance Metrics

• Operational Efficiency: Reduction in processing time, cost savings from FX optimization.
• Customer Service: Contact center resolution rates, customer satisfaction scores (CSAT).
• Risk & Compliance: Fraud reduction, chargeback resolution time, audit findings.
• Settlement Accuracy: Reconciliation errors, FX exposure reduction.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel across African markets as needed.
• Fluency in Portuguese is a strong advantage.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised

About the company

Absa Group Limited, and originally Amalgamated Banks of South Africa, is a South African-based financial services group, offering personal and business banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, as well a...

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