CoE Lead, Fintech Platforms at Safaricom Kenya

Role Purpose

• Reporting to the Chief Financial Services Officer, the CoE Lead, Fintech Platforms, will be responsible for shaping and driving the strategic and innovation direction of Safaricom’s Fintech solutions aligned to Group objectives. The role holder will foster strategic partnerships, develop and implement cutting-edge financial technology solutions whilst ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and standards. He/She will require a deep understanding of fintech ecosystems and excellent leadership skills. This role will lead a team of professionals in the development and delivery of fintech value propositions and will work closely with cross-functional leads and stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions that delight and meet customer expectations and drive business growth. As a key member of the Safaricom extended leadership team, the role will lead the business as a value-based organization leveraging the Fintech Solutions team’ unique skills and knowledge of the business

Key accountabilities and decision ownership:

Strategic and Tactical Execution

• Develop and implement the strategy on Fintech Solutions & Innovation and align it to the overall Financial Services Cluster mission. 
• Develop and execute fintech solutions strategic initiatives, monitoring progress and making necessary adjustments as required with changing contextual macro/microenvironment. Develop an effective go to market strategy and identify and implementing innovative solutions to improve channel efficiency.
• Evaluate market potential and formulate performance indicators and help define go to market strategy for Safaricom’s fintech solutions business.
• Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for the Fintech Solutions Tribe, aligned with the overall organizational objectives. 
• Conduct research and analysis to identify market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging opportunities.
• Provide guidance and support to the team in developing business cases, financial models, and action plans to support strategic initiatives

Business/Product Development and Innovation

• Develop new business opportunities while innovatively managing associated costs to make it a self-sustaining business. 
• Drive the ideation, design, development, testing and scaling of innovative products and services. 
• Enable the integration of Financial Services products on requisite systems and platforms. 
• Utilize customer insights and data analytics to identify opportunities for process improvement and enhanced client experiences.
• Make key decisions regarding the fintech product portfolio, including approval of product development projects and enhancements based on market needs and ROI analyses.
• Leverage AI to enhance the customer experience through customized offerings and real time, data driven insights that meet individual customer needs and expectations. 
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Create an environment of growth to promote development for ideas thereby directing/leading them to project initiation phase and guide over to the respective delivery team. Work with delivery teams there on to support through execution. 
• Continuously review and optimize the Tribe's processes and procedures to ensure efficiency, quality, and compliance.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Align the revenue indicators and reporting tools to the targets.
• In conjunction with relevant Business Partners, develop monitoring and evaluation templates for revenue performance management in the market.
• Employ approved business processes to formulate and oversee the implementation of effective influential marketing and business development initiatives to bring about desired responses in customer behaviour.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the Tribe’s performance and identify areas for improvement. 
• Drive data-driven decision-making by presenting insights and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders. 
• Ensure data privacy and security measures are implemented and followed in accordance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Stay up to date with the latest advancements in data analytics and technology to identify opportunities for innovation and process optimization in Financial Services. 
• Prepare regular reports and presentations to update senior management on the tribe's initiatives, outcomes, and challenges.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Lead a team of fintech solutions professionals, including developers, analysts, and subject matter experts, fostering a collaborative and high performing culture. 
• Set clear objectives, provide guidance, and support fintech solutiosn team members in achieving their goals.
• Role model inclusivity & builds trust for a psychologically safe environment for everyone to be their best. 
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the team. 
• Support functional leaders in creating and sustaining a cultural environment for the function shaped by the Safaricom leadership standards
• Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Management: 
• Develop partnerships leading to identification of new areas of Business and business opportunities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the Safaricom Group ecosystem. 
• Collaborate with other clusters, tribes, CoEs, teams, and departments to foster a holistic and integrated approach to Safaricom’s products, value propositions and engagements.
• Communicate effectively to convey the Financial Services cluster and the Fintech Solutions and novation Tribe’s vision, progress, and achievements.

Must have technical / professional qualifications:

• At least ten (10) years’ knowledge and experience in the relevant field with of which three (3) should have been in senior leadership role preferably in payments, digital channels, technology, or telecommunication Industry handling business/product/strategy development. 
• Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field along with technical qualifications, or equivalent qualification(s) from a recognized institution of higher learning. 
• MBA or relevant Master’s degree is an added advantage. 
• Member in good standing of a recognized professional body
• Strong understanding of digital platforms and fintech solutions systems, and operational processes
• Deep knowledge of the financial services industry regulations, compliance requirements, and security best practices. 
• Technical fluency- APIs( Both building and monetization/commercialization), Integrations and building market fit Platforms (SuperApp etc)
• Developer community engagement and growth. 
• Superior business understanding, with the ability to leverage technology to solve business and technical issues. 
• Possess high professional and ethical standards.
• Be a strategic thinker with an analytical mind.