Product Owner

Unifi; Stellenbosch; Remote; ZAR 800 000 - 1 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company is seeking a Product Owner – Credit to lead the design and implementation of credit software solutions for microlending. Required qualifications include over 10 years of experience in product management within financial services. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of credit policies and risk management while driving innovation adherence to compliance standards.

Qualifications

• Over 10 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years in product management or product ownership roles.
• Deep knowledge of credit policies, lending platform architecture, and risk modelling.
• Experience with decision engines, credit bureau integrations, and KYC / AML compliance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Own the full product lifecycle for credit and risk software.
• Define product vision and backlog aligned with credit strategy.
• Evaluate product performance using analytics and customer feedback.
• Ensure compliance with local regulatory frameworks.
• Lead initiatives to enhance fraud detection systems.

Skills

Product management

Credit lifecycle understanding

Analytical skills

Risk management

Systems thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field

Job description

About Unifi

Unifi is redefining credit in Africa with simple, fast personal loans delivered through online, mobile, and branch channels.

We make life easy for thousands of clients across Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.

Unifi has conviction in the African continent and its people, and our products enable our clients to achieve even more.

As one of the fastest‑growing lenders in East Africa, we combine exceptional client service with the very best tech and data analytics.

About the role

Unifi Africa is seeking a strategically minded and experienced Product Owner – Credit to lead the end‑to‑end design, development, and implementation of credit and risk software solutions across our microlending operations in South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya. This is a high‑impact role at the crossroads of product innovation, credit strategy, risk management, compliance, and technology.

You will play a pivotal part in shaping how Unifi delivers responsible, scalable, and customer‑centric financial products across diverse markets.

We’re looking for a candidate with deep expertise in financial services, a comprehensive understanding of the credit lifecycle, and a track record of building scalable, compliant digital lending solutions.

The ideal candidate is analytical, inquisitive, and execution‑oriented—a systems thinker who excels at navigating complexity and driving results in a dynamic, high‑growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the full product lifecycle for software and systems supporting credit and risk policy—from ideation through delivery, iteration, and scaling.
• Define and maintain a clear product vision, roadmap, and backlog aligned with the organisation’s credit and risk strategy, in close collaboration with the Credit and Risk team.
• Translate complex credit policies, underwriting models, and regulatory requirements into scalable product features and decision logic.
• Continuously evaluate product performance using analytics, credit KPIs, and customer feedback to drive enhancements and maintain compliance.
• Develop deep expertise in the lending platform’s core mechanics, including transaction processing, general ledger flows, repayment schedules, and configuration settings.
• Ensure all products comply with local regulatory frameworks, including but not limited to NCR (South Africa), BoZ (Zambia), BoU (Uganda), and CBK (Kenya), while promoting innovation and commercial growth.
• Champion a data‑driven culture by embedding robust analytics, monitoring, and reporting capabilities into product architecture.
• Communicate product performance, risk impacts, and strategic insights to Unifi’s leadership across regional markets.
• Lead initiatives to build and enhance fraud detection and prevention systems, proactively addressing emerging risks in each operating environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Over 10 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years in product management or product ownership roles within financial services or fintech.
• Background in microlending, consumer credit, or digital financial inclusion.
• Deep knowledge of credit policies, lending platform architecture, credit scoring methodologies, and risk modelling.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing digital lending products.
• Experience with decision engines, credit bureau integrations, fraud detection systems, and KYC / AML compliance frameworks.
• Product management certification (e.g., Pragmatic Institute, AIPMM, Product School, SAFe PM / PO) is a strong advantage.
• Passion for Africa and a strong desire to contribute to a mission‑driven, high‑growth organisation.
• Openness to travel across the African continent as required.