Senior Payment Expert - Sub Saharan Africa at SWIFT

About The Team

The Payments Expert MEAISC team is part of t he global Payments & Payments Market Infrastructures (PMI) team within the Go-to-market group . We execute SWIFT’s payment strategy, uses in-depth expertise to accelerate our market share, and drives usage and adoption of products and services. We develop and share a thought leadership on market trends and evolution, to contribute to the development of relevant products and services for our clients, and to design and support the Go-to-Market strategy. We engage intensively with our customers on the future of payments . This group works closely with Business Development, Services and other expert groups (for example, capital markets, corporate customers, financial crime and compliance and standards teams) towards an aligned set of objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute the regional plans for payments and transaction banking across Sub Saharan Africa including SWIFTgpi and our holistic transaction banking proposition including ancillary products such as financial crime and compliance, reference data, business intelligence services, and 20022 standards adoption .
• Act as the product owner regionally for the SWIFTgpi product, driving adoption of current products and services, engaging with our customers on the product roadmap and future payment strategy engagement.
• Ensure the local community is equipped and ready for making the move to ISO20022 standards for cross-border payments and correspondent banking. Financial institutions will need to understand the impacts for them, the implementation roadmap but they will also need to get the broader picture, including the interaction with local market infrastructures as well as the benefits of adopting the ISO20022 standards.
• Ensure alignment of our go-to-market and business development activities with our evolving global payments strategy. Understand market and customer insights deeply and ensure fit between strategy and execution in the region.
• Contribute to thought leadership, media engagements and conference programs , payments and transaction banking industry engagement. Make full use of communication tools such as media, conferences, publications and thought leadership promoting payment innovation leadership.
• Ensure deep understanding of the competition, market trends, and the changing operating and regulatory environment across the region as it relates to cross-border payments innovation, transaction banking and payment & settlement systems.
• Initiate, own and lead projects, campaigns and initiatives that drive increased relevance, product usage and adoption, revenue growth and market share.
• Manage a small team of professionals to execute the deliverables.

What will make you successful?

• Experience – At least 7 years' experience in payments markets or transaction banking services, preferably gained in a marketing, strategy, business development or product management role
• Exceptional strategic B2B marketing process, formal problem solving and strategic skills and mindset. Insights are based on a sound understanding of the needs, problems and behaviours of key customer segments and articulated and executed as structured and scalable campaigns and/or projects.
• Financial technology experience gained in payments, network, platform, and/or transaction-based businesses. Expertise in payment and settlement systems (RTGS, ACH,… ) , APIs, digitisation, ecommerce is welcome.
• Project leadership experience gained in matrix and cross-functional environments with a track record of delivering complex commercial projects.
• Experience working in a diverse, multi-cultural environment and across geographies and teams.
• Comfort with high levels of ambiguity and the skills to prioritise within a rapidly changing environment.
• Executive presence - excellent internal and external interpersonal and networking skills including at senior management level.
• Communicates strategy and key messages with clarity, consistency and confidence: has impact.
• Fluent written and spoken English and French. Any additional European language is a benefit
• The flexibility to do short travels on a regular basis
• Prior experience in managing and developing individuals would be a plus

We are looking for an extremely motivated and self-driven individual with a real passion for the payments business.

What we offer

• We put you in control of career
• We give you a competitive package
• We help you perform at your best
• We help you make a difference
• We give you the freedom to be yourself