Al Futtaim Jobs - Assistant GM, Cards & Payments | AF Digital Payment Services | Dubai (Dubai, AE)

Job Requisition ID: 77591 

No two days are the same at Al-Futtaim, no matter what role you have. Our work is driven by the desire to make a difference and to have a meaningful impact with the goal of enriching everyday lives. Take our engaging and supportive work environment and couple it with a company culture that recognises and rewards quality performance, and what do you get? The chance to push the limits every single day.

 

As a humble family business that started on the banks of the Dubai Creek in the 1930s, Al-Futtaim has expanded to a presence in 31 countries, a portfolio of over 200 companies, and 42,000 employees. You’ll find us in industries ranging from automotive and retail, to finance and real estate, and connecting people with international names like Lexus, Ikea, Robinsons, and Adidas. Our team is proudly multicultural and multinational because that kind of diverse representation gives us the global mindset to grow and impact the people, markets, and trends around us.

 

Come join us to live well, work better, and be the best.

 

About the Team

As electronic (non-cash) forms of payments are being rapidly adopted by customers across all walks of life, we as a business want to leverage payments as a potential source of differentiation in the future. We want to fully leverage the end-to-end payments lifecycle in a manner that drives greater customer centricity and at the same time drive incremental value (financial) for our business. Our goal as the payments team is to help our businesses (brands, etc.) help achieve continuous improvement across several KPIs:

• Increased access and spends from their customers (Existing and New Customers)
• Improved their customer journeys by making payments frictionless
• Enhance their engagement with customers by leveraging payment products and platforms
• Deeper understanding of the customers
• Increased loyalty from customers

 

The Group Cards &Payments team is responsible for building and driving the Payments Strategy across all our core geographies in MEA and SEA. In collaboration with both the brands and corporate functions, the team focusses on - 

• Design, build, launch and management of multiple ‘Issuing Program’ i.e. Co-Brand Credit Cards, Prepaid & Gift Card Program, Corporate Payment Solutions (B2B payments), Mobile Payment Wallets, etc
• Management of Payment Acceptance Eco-system across both in-store and digital channels (including the modernization of the infrastructure)
• Aggregation, management, utilisation and analysis of the payments data in a secure and compliant manner
• Managing the strategic payments partners/ service providers relevant to the Payment acceptance and data management products (i.e. – acquirer, schemes, issuers, PSPs, gateways, loyalty/ rewards platforms, etc)

 

About the Role

Reporting into Director – C&P for the Group, the remit of the role will focus on -

• Assist in defining and delivering the overall strategy, operational and financial plans for the Cards & Payments function of Al-Futtaim.
• Leadership role within the C&P team incl. influencing key decision makers in the business, providing thought leadership on payment related topics and being an ambassador for the unit both, across AFG, and externally
• Managing the Financial (P&L) and operational performance of multiple payment products and programs across multiple countries
• Manage the design, build, launch of new payment products/ programs in multiple geographies across MEA and APAC
• Responsible for driving Innovation across AFG’s payments landscape and eco-system (whether from an issuing or acquiring perspective)
• Managing delivery of complex initiatives (which require collaboration across multiple parties including other AFG units and 3rd party partners/ service providers)
• Build and strengthen relationships with Senior Management (GM, MD, VP and President level interaction) across AFG across different core-geographies
• Build and manage strategic partnerships and relationships with 3rd party partners and service providers
• Negotiate large and complex financial & legal contracts with 3rd parties across multiple jurisdictions 
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the wider C&P team incl. line management responsibilities where applicable
   

Financial Management

• P&L: Responsible for managing the overall P&L for respective Payment Products/ Programs 
• Budget: Responsible for developing and achieving the financial budgets for the respective Payment Products/ Programs
• Commercial Negotiations: Responsible for leading on commercial negotiations with 3rd party Payment Providers

Strategy and Operational Planning -

• Strategy: Work with the C&P leadership team and other stakeholders across the business and externally in defining the payments strategy for the Group
• Operational Plan: Develop and lead in the execution of the overall operational plan for the C&P unit; own the delivery of the operational plan associated with the product and program which the role is directly responsible for   
• Innovation: Responsible for identifying and operationalising the introduction of new/ innovative payment technologies and solutions across the payment eco-system

Multi-Jurisdiction / Geographic Responsibilities -

• Launch of New Products and Programs: Working with the local teams in specific countries, the role is responsible for developing and launching new pro
• Product & Program Management: Responsible for managing the performance of payment products and programs across multiple geographies incl. those which are not on the home base
• Contract Management: Responsible for building and executing contracts with PSPs across multiple jurisdiction

Multi-Product and Program Mgt accountability

• Product Management: Responsible for managing the design, development, launch and performance of payment products
• Programme Management: Responsible for managing multiple payment programs and initiatives from inception to completion

Senior Management/ Stakeholder Engagement

• Senior Management Engagement: Build and manage relationships with Senior Members of the Al-Futtaim
• Advisory and Consultation: Advice the business functions incl. Brands on payment solutions and services which would meet their customer and business needs
• Influencing: Required to influence key stakeholder and decision makers on the topic of payments

Strategic Partnerships

• Partner Management: Responsible for forging and driving strategic partnerships for the Group within the Payments domain
• Payment Service Provider Management: Manage the operational performance of the key PSPs across the business.

Leadership Team and People Management

• Team Leadership: Participate as a leader for the Payments team across AFG
• People Management: Responsible for the performance of any direct resources under their management
• Team Work: Responsible to participate as a team member of the Cards & Payments Unit across the span and remit of the unit

 

 

About the Requirements

Qualifications: Bachelor degree minimum, Master Preferred. Specialisation in either Business Administration, Economics and/or Product Management

Experience and Knowledge:

• 15+ years’ experience across consulting, financial services and/or payment services; experience of similar payments related role in a large multi-market merchant (highly beneficial)
• 10+ years’ leadership experience in building and launching new products and/or managing financial or payments products
• 7+ years of demonstrated experience in managing PLs and budgets
• 7+ years of work experience across APAC, GCC and/or MEA (preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in managing P&Ls
• Demonstrated track record in managing complex strategic partnerships (preferably in the Financial Services/ Payments Domain)
• Demonstrated leadership experience of working in multiple geographies and cultures
• Understanding of the regulatory environment for payment products in relevant geographies
• Leading and managing large teams of experts in a matrix model and with resources from external 3rd parties
• Strong change management capabilities in terms of delivery of complex programmes requiring participation from the 3rd parties
• Track record of negotiating and managing high-value commercial contracts with 3rd parties
• Arabic Speaker (preferred but not essential)

 

Skills and Competencies (behavioural and related to AF values):

• Track record in collaboration – both internally within the organisation and will external partnership
• Demonstrated track record of successful delivery in complex environments
• Track record in financial and performance management – incl. managing external parties
• Strong communication, presentation and reporting skills
• Highly numerate and skilled in analysis (market, portfolio etc)
• Strong influencing skills
• Strong change management skills
• Strong work ethic, going above what is required and continuously striving to improve ways of working

 

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