Job Summary
Our client is searching for a Banking Operations Manager to join their team in Pretoria (Hybrid)
Main Purpose of Role
- Responsible for leading and managing the banking operational functions, ensuring seamless delivery of collections, payment processing, and client servicing.
- The role is accountable for stabilising and optimising operations post client -acquisition, ensuring SLA adherence, managing risk, and embedding consistent processes across platforms.
- The Banking Operations Manager will drive operational excellence, scalability, and client experience in a high-volume, regulated fintech environment.
Qualification and Work Experience Required
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Operations Management, or related
- 7+ years’ experience in fintech, financial services, or collections
- Minimum 5+ years in a management role overseeing high-volume transactional
- Proven experience in:
- Debit order processing and collections
- Bank integrations (All Major SA Banks/Bankserv/PayInc environments)
- Experience with CRM systems (preferably Zoho) and workflow management tools.
Personality Attributes
- Strong leadership and team integration capability
- Deep understanding of collections and payment operations
- Advanced problem-solving and incident management skills
- Strong client engagement and stakeholder management
- High attention to detail and control orientation
- Ability to operate in a high-pressure, SLA-driven environment
- Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset
- Strong risk and compliance awareness
- PASA certification(s) in Payments advantageous
Role Responsibilities
Leadership & Integration Management
- Lead and manage the teams’ operations, ensuring standardised processes and consistent service delivery.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance standards
- Implement succession planning and build a strong leadership
- Foster a unified culture focused on accountability, performance, and client-
Customer Escalation & Client Experience
- Function as the senior escalation point for high-value clients and key
- Manage complex escalations relating to debit order processing, unpaid files, and reconciliation
- Ensure all client interactions and escalations are logged, tracked, and resolved within
- Drive proactive client communication strategies, especially around incidents, changes, and service impacts.
- Analyse client feedback trends and implement service improvements.
Operational Oversight (Collections & Payments)
- Oversee end-to-end collections lifecycle, including:
- File intake and validation
- Debit order submission via all banking channels
- Unpaid file processing (including weekends/public holidays handling)
- Reconciliation and reporting
- Ensure operational readiness and accuracy across daily, weekly, and monthly
- Monitor transaction volumes, success rates, and exception
- Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks impacting throughput or SLA
- Ensure alignment between operational processes and banking partner
Production Stability & Incident Management
- Maintain real-time visibility of production health across systems and
- Lead incident management for operational and system-related issues, ensuring:
- Rapid response and containment
- Clear internal and client communication
- Root cause analysis and preventative actions
- Ensure no repeat incidents through structured problem
- Coordinate with IT and Product teams to prioritise fixes impacting
Change Management & System Enablement
- Oversee operational readiness for all system and process changes
- Partner with PMO, Product, and IT to ensure effective rollout of enhancements and new
- Ensure proper testing, training, and documentation prior to
- Drive adoption and optimisation of Zoho CRM for:
- Case management
- Client engagement
- Reporting and insights
- Ensure all change initiatives are delivered without disruption to production
Risk, Compliance and Control
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g. POPIA, debit order rules, bank compliance standards).
- Identify and manage operational risks, including:
- Missed file processing
- Data integrity issues
- SLA breaches
- Implement and monitor preventative controls across the collections and payments
- Ensure all risks are logged, tracked, and closed with appropriate mitigation
- Support audit processes and ensure findings are addressed
Performance Management & Reporting
- Define and track key operational metrics, including:
- SLA adherence
- Collection success rates
- Exception/error rates
- Escalation volumes and resolution times
- Provide regular reporting to Exco on operational performance, risks, and
- Use data insights to drive decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.