Manager, DFS Projects

1. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Lead the end-to-end project lifecycle (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closing) for complex DFS initiatives.

• Scope business requirements and build comprehensive Project Charters, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), resource plans, and project budgets.

• Establish clear project governance structures, steering committees, and status reporting mechanisms across business, IT, compliance, and vendor teams.

• Direct cross-functional technical teams (software developers, systems integrators, QA, DevOps) on core DFS platforms, payment switches, and open API portals.

• Manage third-party integrations with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), fintech partners, central bank switches, card networks (Visa/Mastercard), and Core Banking Systems (CBS).

• Oversee User Acceptance Testing (UAT), stress testing, trial runs, and dress rehearsals for system cutovers and go-live releases.

• Act as the primary bridge between technical delivery teams and business stakeholders (Product, Marketing, Operations, Legal, Risk, and Customer Care).

• Manage relationships with technology vendors, system integrators, and consultant partners, ensuring delivery against contractual SLAs and deliverables.

• Coordinate with regulatory bodies and central bank representatives during compliance reviews and audit evaluations for new DFS product launches.

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for all digital financial channels, identifying potential operational, cyber, and fraud vulnerabilities.

• Ensure all DFS product designs and project workflows strictly comply with AML/CFT, KYC, data privacy (GDPR/Data Protection Acts), and cybersecurity frameworks.

• Implement robust rollback, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans (BCP) for all production deployments.

• Ensure seamless operational handover by creating standard operating procedures (SOPs), training support teams, and establishing Tier-2/Tier-3 support escalation channels.

• Track post-launch product metrics (transaction success rates, system latency, user adoption, transaction volumes) during the hyper care phase.

1. DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Coordinate developers, UX designers, and QAs to clear blockers and sync front-end app features with legacy core banking systems.

• Review feature signoffs with Legal, InfoSec, and Compliance to ensure adherence to KYC/AML rules and central bank regulations.

• Track latency and error rates across core banking APIs, third-party fintech integrations, and payment gateways to protect uptime.

• Analyse product dashboards for onboarding drop-offs, OTP failure rates, and transaction completion bottlenecks to prioritize fixes.

• Update executive sponsors and risk committees on project milestones, budget burn rates, scope changes, and dependency risks.

1. CHALLENGES: 

• Mainframe systems built decades ago lack modern APIs, creating technical debt and sync bottlenecks with fast-moving mobile apps.

• Agile 2-week sprint cycles collide with slow, rigid Legal, Risk, and InfoSec review processes, causing delivery bottlenecks.

• Business units demand fast fintech-style feature releases, while Security and Audit demand zero risk and maximum controls.

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Academic & Professional

1. Experience