Mastercard Card Programme Lead

Talent Candey; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Candey, on behalf of its Banking Client in Somerset West, seeks a Card Manager to own end-to-end Mastercard debit programme operations, from issuance to fraud management and compliance reporting.

The role requires hands-on Mastercard issuer experience, strong risk management, and a track record of automating compliance-heavy processes. You will work in a startup/set-up environment, shaping processes from scratch and coordinating with Paymentology and partner entities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' Mastercard issuer experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma in Payments, Financial Services, Commerce, Business Management, Finance, IS, Risk Management or related field.
• Hands-on experience with Mastercard Rules, Security Rules and Procedures, and operational compliance programmes (Fraud and Loss Database, ADC/Cyber Secure, Data Integrity, IMP, QMAP).
• Experience managing chargebacks, authorisation strategy and fraud detection tooling in a card-issuing context.
• Familiarity with Card Management Systems (e.g. Paymentology) and working with card manufacturing and personalisation partners.
• Track record of automation or process efficiency in compliance-heavy, manual environments.
• Experience with Mastercard Decision Intelligence or comparable real-time fraud scoring/decisioning tools.
• Comfortable in a startup/build environment, establishing processes from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Own Mastercard Scheme Compliance & Standards: maintain rules, security procedures, and related manuals.
• Maintain Mastercard Connect access, MCM registrations, and Security/Safety Net contacts across ICA numbers.
• Ensure timely compliance with Data Integrity Monitoring and Issuer Monitoring Programs.
• Track Mastercard announcements and implement required changes.
• Manage registration and validation of Service Providers with Mastercard, including attestations.
• Own end-to-end card lifecycle operations: embossing/encoding, PIN generation, activation, reissuance.
• Define and maintain issuer authorisation strategy in line with Mastercard requirements and risk appetite.
• Oversee CVC/CVV verification, EMV 3DS/Identity Check with CMS and ACS provider.
• Manage 2-series BIN readiness and certification; plan card stock and secure distribution.
• Own Fraud & Risk Management relationships with Mastercard tools; implement real-time decision scoring into authorisation.
• Monitor fraud KPIs and tune rules; manage customer notification strategy after alerts.
• Own ADC response process and Mastercard notification requirements.
• Own chargeback processes and reporting; improve procedures for scale.
• Identify automation opportunities and design workflows; partner with Tech/Data teams.
• Leverage Mastercard digital tooling when appropriate to replace manual effort.
• Establish scalable operational processes from day one.

Skills

Mastercard issuer experience

Fraud detection tooling

Chargebacks management

Authorisation strategy

Automation / process improvement

Card Management Systems

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma in Payments/Finance/IS

Tools

Paymentology CMS

Fraud & Loss Database

ADC/Cyber Secure

Job description

Talent Candey, on behalf of its Banking Client in Somerset West, seeks a Card Manager to own end-to-end Mastercard debit programme operations, from issuance to fraud management and compliance reporting.

The role requires hands-on Mastercard issuer experience, strong risk management, and a track record of automating compliance-heavy processes. You will work in a startup/set-up environment, shaping processes from scratch and coordinating with Paymentology and partner entities.