JOB DESCRIPTION/REQUIREMENTS

ORDA is looking for a Head of Payment Operations to lead our Payment Operations and Reconciliation team as we scale our platform across Africa. You will be responsible for overseeing all payment flows — card processing, mobile money, bank transfers, and merchant settlements — while managing exceptions, disputes, investigations, and resolutions.
This is a senior leadership role. You’ll set the strategy, define key operational metrics, and drive the execution of ORDA’s payment operations across our African markets. You’ll work closely with banks, fintech partners, and card schemes (Visa, Mastercard) to optimize success rates, uphold SLAs, and improve the merchant experience.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Proven experience scaling payment operations within a fintech, bank, or payments company — ideally in emerging markets or African ecosystems.
• Strong understanding of card processing flows (Visa, Mastercard), terminal settlements, and dispute resolution.
• Deep knowledge of mobile money operations and bank transfers, including reconciliation and exception handling.
• Familiarity with payment schemes and clearing systems such as SWIFT, SEPA, ACH, RTGS, NIBSS, and mobile money rails.
• Expertise in reconciliation processes — balancing back-office systems against bank, processor, and wallet statements.
• Strong knowledge of payment compliance, regulatory frameworks, and risk management practices.
• Ability to build processes and teams from scratch, with a hands-on approach to solving problems.
• Data-driven decision-maker with strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working in high-growth, fast-changing environments.

• Lead and develop the Payment Operations team, setting clear objectives, deliverables, and regular reviews to meet internal SLAs and quality standards.
• Own the end-to-end operational framework, including policies, internal controls, and KPIs to ensure world-class payment support.
• Oversee daily reconciliation of inbound and outbound payment flows across cards, mobile money, and bank transfers — including terminal settlements and merchant payouts.
• Manage relationships with partner banks, mobile money operators, card networks (Visa, Mastercard), and processors.
• Lead the operational execution of terminal card processing, chargebacks, settlements, disputes, and investigations.
• Develop strategies to improve payment success rates, reduce exceptions, and proactively manage risks and issues.
• Drive implementation of best-in-class back-office operations and continuous process improvement.
• Produce periodic liquidity and cash flow forecasts to ensure payment processing runs smoothly.
• Work closely with Compliance, Risk, and Audit teams to ensure alignment with all local regulations across our markets, including KYC, AML, and data protection.
• Evaluate and implement new tools, technologies, or partnerships to enhance payment operations.
• Support commercial teams with operational insight for new markets and product launches.Coach, mentor, and develop a resilient, high-performing payment operations team.