Head of Credit Cards & Acquiring Operations - TJ / 1841216

Our client Agay Barho is looking for a Head of Credit Cards & Acquiring Operations in Lahore

Agay Barho is seeking an experienced and dynamic professional to lead the Credit Cards & Acquiring Operations segment as the Unit Head. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in credit risk management, stakeholder management, and credit portfolio management. This leadership role requires overseeing the entire credit card operations and acquiring processes, ensuring operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. The Unit Head will manage a team of 20 professionals, fostering collaboration and driving performance to meet organizational goals. This position demands strategic thinking and hands-on management to enhance credit card operations and optimize acquiring services.

The candidate must bring a minimum of ten years of banking operations experience, with at least five years in a senior leadership position focused on cards or payments. A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized university is mandatory. The role involves direct accountability for operational excellence, risk controls, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders to achieve business objectives. The leader will implement best practices in credit risk and portfolio management, ensuring seamless service delivery and contributing to the overall growth and stability of the company's credit cards and acquiring operations.

Responsibilities

Grade: Band-5/ Band-3

Location: Lahore

Job Responsibilities

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• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of card operations including daily settlement with schemes (Visa, Mastercard & China Union etc.), financial reconciliation, and the timely processing of customer service requests.
• Establish the strategic framework for high-volume public sector projects, designing specialized operational protocols and automated reconciliation architectures to guarantee 100% financial accuracy and total alignment with government mandates and SBP regulations.
• Direct the merchant payment cycle, ensuring accurate merchant reimbursements, fee applications, and transaction reconciliation across all channels (POS/E-commerce).
• Continuously optimize workflows to drive Straight Through Processing and reduce manual intervention in the reconciliation cycle.
• Lead the full recruitment lifecycle for the unit; ensure all budgeted slots are filled with qualified talent as per the approved Org Chart to prevent operational bottlenecks.
• Foster a high-performance culture through training, performance appraisals, and succession planning for critical roles in Credit Card Operations.
• Operate within a "zero-tolerance" threshold for major breaches, ensuring all SBP mandates, payment card schemes rules and local laws are strictly followed.
• Lead the remediation of any audit findings, ensuring long-term systemic fixes are implemented rather than temporary manual patches.
• Spearhead system enhancements and strategic initiatives to build a robust infrastructure capable of absorbing rapid portfolio growth without compromising processing speed or accuracy.
• Good knowledge and understanding of charge cards and prepaid cards lifecycles.
  
  

Eligibility Criteria

Qualification: Minimum Bachelor`s or equivalent degree from an HEC recognized local/ foreign university.

Experience: Minimum 10 years of banking Operations experience. Preference will be given to candidates having 5 years in a senior leadership role over Cards / Payments.