JOB DESCRIPTION: CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER (COO)

Industry: FinTech
Location: Cape Town
Type: Full-time
Position Overview: The Chief Operations Officer at Lesaka – Enterprise Division will be a pivotal leader responsible for overseeing the company’s operational excellence and ensuring the seamless execution of our mission. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the FinTech landscape, particularly within the payment technologies, value-added services. The COO will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, implement streamlined processes, and drive innovation to deliver unparalleled value to our customers and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational & Commercial Leadership: Provide strategic direction and guidance to all operational teams, fostering a culture of efficiency, collaboration, and accountability to ensure the smooth running of the business, including processes for product development, partnership management, and sales optimisation.
• Process Optimization: Evaluate, enhance, and implement streamlined processes across the organization, from customer onboarding to disbursement, to maximise efficiency and minimise operational friction. This is by far the most important aspect of this role.
• Risk Management: Develop and enforce robust risk management protocols and compliance frameworks to ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate potential risks in lending and financial operations.
• Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the executive team to set long-term goals and translate them into actionable operational plans, aligning with the company’s overall mission and vision.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with the technology, marketing, and finance teams to drive synergy, ensuring the alignment of operational strategies with technical capabilities and market positioning.
• Innovation and Technology: Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies, leveraging innovation to enhance operational capabilities, customer experiences, and market competitiveness.
• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize data analytics to make informed decisions, monitor operational performance, and identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Team Leadership: Attract, develop, and retain top talent by fostering a culture of growth, mentorship, and empowerment within the operations department.
• Customer-Centric Focus: Champion a customer-first mindset throughout the organization, ensuring that operational processes are designed to provide exceptional service and value to clients.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain open communication and collaboration with external partners, regulators, clients, and stakeholders, building and nurturing strong relationships.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• BSc/MSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or similar. Alternatively BEng/MEng or similar.
• Proven track record of 5+ years in operational leadership roles within the FinTech, lending, financial services, or banking sectors preferred.
• Deep understanding of transaction processing systems, data ingestion and interpolation as well as customer support and interaction standard operating procedures.
• Strong experience in scaling operations within a rapidly growing company, preferably in the FinTech or startup ecosystem.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and lead cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and process improvement through data-driven insights.
• Visionary mindset with the ability to anticipate industry trends and adapt operations accordingly.Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
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  Join Leska - Enterprise and be a driving force in revolutionising the way Enterprises access financial opportunities. If you are an experienced leader with a passion for innovation and a desire to make a lasting impact, we invite you to apply and help shape our future.

• Operational & Commercial Leadership: Provide strategic direction and guidance to all operational teams, fostering a culture of efficiency, collaboration, and accountability to ensure the smooth running of the business, including processes for product development, partnership management, and sales optimisation.
• Process Optimization: Evaluate, enhance, and implement streamlined processes across the organization, from customer onboarding to disbursement, to maximise efficiency and minimise operational friction. This is by far the most important aspect of this role.
• Risk Management: Develop and enforce robust risk management protocols and compliance frameworks to ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate potential risks in lending and financial operations.
• Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the executive team to set long-term goals and translate them into actionable operational plans, aligning with the company’s overall mission and vision.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with the technology, marketing, and finance teams to drive synergy, ensuring the alignment of operational strategies with technical capabilities and market positioning.
• Innovation and Technology: Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies, leveraging innovation to enhance operational capabilities, customer experiences, and market competitiveness.
• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize data analytics to make informed decisions, monitor operational performance, and identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Team Leadership: Attract, develop, and retain top talent by fostering a culture of growth, mentorship, and empowerment within the operations department.
• Customer-Centric Focus: Champion a customer-first mindset throughout the organization, ensuring that operational processes are designed to provide exceptional service and value to clients.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain open communication and collaboration with external partners, regulators, clients, and stakeholders, building and nurturing strong relationships