Manager, Product, Card

Standard Bank Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Standard Bank Group is seeking a Product Manager for Card acquiring to define vision and roadmap, driving growth and profitability within Transaction Banking. You will oversee end-to-end lifecycle, from ideation to sunset, and collaborate with engineering, operations, IT, and external payment schemes to ensure compliance.

You will build strategic initiatives, analyze market opportunities, and translate requirements into detailed product specs and user stories, ultimately advancing client value

Qualifications

• Must have card acquiring and issuing experience.
• 5-7 years banking environment experience.
• Experience in product management within Transaction Banking.

Responsibilities

• Define vision, strategy, and roadmap for Card acquiring.
• Lead end-to-end product lifecycle from ideation to sunset.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and IT teams.
• Manage relationships with Visa, Mastercard, and other schemes.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and risk controls.
• Drive portfolio growth and profitability.

Skills

Card acquiring experience

Issuing experience

Banking industry experience

Product management

Transaction Banking

IT life cycle understanding

Client relationship management

Education

First Degree in Business Commerce

Tools

Architecture diagrams

API knowledge

SDLC methodologies

Job description

• Business Segment: Corporate & Investment Banking

Company Description

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals, to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in Africa. Bringing true, meaningful value to our clients and the communities we serve and creating a real sense of purpose for you.

Job Description

To define and champion the vision, strategy, and comprehensive roadmap for the Card acquiring product portfolio, driving sustained client growth, revenue generation, and market share expansion. This role is accountable for the end-to-end creation, enhancement, and lifecycle management of Card acquiring products, ensuring they consistently meet evolving market needs, client demands, and all regulatory requirements.

Define a clear product vision, overarching strategy, and comprehensive roadmap for Card acquiring, to guide strategic development and market positioning within Transaction Banking.

Formulate strategic initiatives for the Card acquiring product portfolio, to achieve sustained client growth, revenue expansion, and increased market share.

Conduct in-depth market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and comprehensive client needs assessments, to identify emerging opportunities and inform product development priorities.

Translate market insights, customer feedback, and specific business requirements into detailed product specifications and actionable user stories, to steer product design and development efforts.

Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle for Card acquiring solutions, from initial ideation and robust development to successful launch and eventual sunset, to maximize product value and profitability.

Drive the design and development of innovative Card acquiring products and features, to meet evolving market demands and stringent regulatory standards.

Oversee the enhancement and optimization of existing Card acquiring products, to maintain competitive advantage and ensure continuous relevance in a dynamic market.

Collaborate extensively with engineering, operations, and IT teams, to facilitate the technical build, seamless integration, and efficient deployment of card solutions.

Embed Card acquiring products strategically within broader Transaction Banking and Coverage team propositions, to ensure a holistic and compelling banking offering for corporate clients.

Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, including Visa, Mastercard, and other Payment Schemes, to influence industry developments and ensure scheme compliance.

Foster robust partnerships with Fintech providers, Payment Service Providers (PSPs), and payment aggregators, to explore innovative solutions and expand product capabilities.

Manage relationships with internal IT and Operations support teams, to drive ongoing improvements in card processing efficiency, operational stability, and service delivery.

Establish robust risk frameworks and controls specific to Card acquiring products, to mitigate fraud, operational, and compliance risks effectively.

Monitor regulatory changes and compliance requirements impacting card acquiring, to ensure all products and processes adhere to legal, scheme, and industry standards.

Own the overall financial performance of the Card acquiring portfolio, including revenue, costs, and profitability metrics, to achieve budgeted financial targets and drive sustainable growth.

Drive initiatives for portfolio growth and optimisation within Card acquiring, to expand market presence and increase Net Interest Revenue (NIR).

Utilise advanced data analytics and market intelligence, to inform critical product decisions, identify key growth drivers, and accurately assess product performance.

Develop and implement comprehensive product marketing strategies and launch plans, to maximise product adoption, market awareness, and client engagement.

Evaluate product performance post-launch, meticulously gathering metrics on adoption, usage, client satisfaction, and financial impact, to identify areas for iterative improvements and strategic adjustments.

Represent Card acquiring as a subject matter expert in internal and external forums, to build credibility, influence strategic direction, and position Standard Bank as an industry leader.

Qualifications

Type of Qualification: First Degree
Field of Study: Business Commerce
Experience Required

• Must have card acquiring and issuing experience
• 5-7yrs Banking environment exprience

Product Management
Transaction Banking
1-2 years
Apply business management knowledge and expertise, in being accountable for department and team performance, within the parameters of relevant policies, processes and procedures, across various and multiple facets of driving operations inline with strategy.
3-4 years
Consume and comprehend general IT / technology applications and aspects, such as architecture diagrams, API and SRE, utilising data, analytics, research and development to oversee and drive system and software enhancements, stand their ground with technology and system experts, in order to ensure and drive IT Life Cylce management related to process engineering product offerings across the African continent and the Group.
3-4 years
In depth knowledge of the client solutions on offer by the bank, integrating with digitisation and continuous improvement methods and offering, being able to translate Business Strategies, scope, develop and implement operational plans and targets, driving deliverables to enhance client experience and offerings by the Bank.

Additional Information

• Articulating Information
• Documenting Facts
• Examining Information
• Exploring Possibilities
• Interpreting Data
• Making Decisions
• Managing Tasks
• Producing Output
• Providing Insights
• Taking Action
• Team Working
• Upholding Standards
• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
• Compliance
• Product and Services Knowledge
• Product Development
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies & Tools
• Strategic Alignment & Execution
• Strategic Planning and Reporting