The role of the Senior Manager, Card Business involves leading the formulation and execution of the Bank’s Cards strategy, ensuring portfolio growth, profitability, and adherence to compliance standards. This senior leadership position requires deep expertise in card products, payments technology, and P&L management, driving innovation across credit, debit, prepaid, and virtual cards.
Principle Accountabilities
Financial Perspective
- Develop and execute strategies to grow the cards portfolio while improving profitability and unit economics.
- Drive revenue growth through interchange optimization, interest income, and fees.
- Own and manage the Cards P&L including budgets, forecasts, and performance tracking.
- Manage the end-to-end cards portfolio performance including acquisition, activation, spend, income, delinquency rates, attrition and retention against targets and implement corrective actions where required.
- Achieve agreed targets on active cards, spend per active card, yield, IRF, and cost efficiency.
- Optimize pricing structures, cost management, and scheme incentives to enhance returns.
- Ensure adherence to regulatory, scheme, and internal policy requirements.
- Collaborate with risk and credit teams to manage portfolio quality and credit performance.
Strategic Perspective
- Formulate and execute the Bank’s Cards strategy aligned to the Retail and Business Banking agenda.
- Define and manage the cards product roadmap across credit, debit, prepaid, and virtual cards.
- Identify growth opportunities through segmentation, partnerships, co-branding, new card propositions, features, and embedded value-added services.
- Lead automation and digital transformation initiatives across card issuance, servicing, and dispute management.
- Manage card scheme relationships (Visa, Mastercard) including compliance, incentives, and strategic initiatives.
- Conduct market and competitor analysis to sustain competitiveness and innovation.
- Develop and maintain merchant partnerships, co-branded cards, and loyalty programs.
- Work closely with technology and operations teams to deliver product enhancements and system improvements
- Support audits, regulatory reviews, and scheme compliance activities.
Acquisition
- Drive card acquisition strategies across digital, branch, and partner channels.
- Support sales, branch, and digital teams to drive card acquisition, activation, and usage.
- Develop compelling customer value propositions across Retail, SME, and Corporate segments.
- Improve customer experience through faster turnaround times, seamless onboarding, and effective servicing.
- Partner with Marketing to drive card visibility, campaigns, and spend activation programs.
- Analyze customer behavior and insights to optimize offers and promotions.
- Drive merchant and ecosystem partnerships to increase acceptance and transaction volumes.
People Management
- Provide leadership, direction, and motivation to the Cards team to deliver strategic and financial objectives.
- Manage staff performance, coaching, and development to maintain a high-performance culture.
- Ensure appropriate resourcing, succession planning, and capability development.
- Champion continuous learning and adoption of best practices in cards and payments.
Key Competencies and Skills
Technical Competencies
- Deep understanding of card products, schemes, processing, and economics.
- Strong financial analysis and P&L management capability.
- Product development and lifecycle management expertise.
- Data driven decision making and performance management.
- Knowledge of CBK regulations and card scheme rules.
Behavioral Competencies
- Strategic yet execution focused mindset.
- High integrity and strong governance orientation.
- Influential leader with strong stakeholder management skills.
- Resilient, adaptable, and results driven.
- Excellent communication and decision-making ability.
Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
Academic Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree from a recognized accredited university.
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Strategic Management, or related field (preferred).
Experience
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in banking or financial services.
- At least 5 years in a senior cards, payments, or consumer products leadership role.
- Proven track record in building, managing, and scaling card portfolios.
- Strong understanding of card economics, risk, fraud, and regulatory requirements.
