Head of Commercialisation – SME & Commercial Segments (Payment Acceptance)
Absa Group
Date: 1 day ago
City: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Contract type: Full time
Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
Job Summary
Are you a visionary leader with a passion for commercial strategy, client impact, and innovation in payments? We are looking for a Head of Commercialisation to lead and shape the future of Payment Acceptance across the SME and Commercial segments nationally.
This is a rare opportunity to join the leadership team of a forward-thinking Payments business within one of South Africa’s leading financial institutions. If you're driven by commercial excellence, inspired by innovation, and passionate about enabling growth for entrepreneurs and mid-sized enterprises, this role is designed for you.
Job Description
As the Head of Commercialisation – SME & Commercial Segments, you will be entrusted with leading the national growth strategy for merchant acquiring, driving commercial outcomes across all regions, and enabling frontline teams to deliver value-added, future-fit payment solutions.
You’ll work across executive leadership, regional teams, product houses, marketing, and digital to ensure seamless execution of national campaigns, banker enablement, and market innovation. This role is pivotal in transforming how the SME and Commercial banking segments experience and adopt payment acceptance solutions.
Key Responsibilities
We’re looking for a well-rounded, commercially astute leader who is as comfortable in the boardroom as they are in the field.
Minimum Requirements:
At the heart of everything we do is a belief that small businesses are big business – and payment acceptance is the engine that powers modern commerce. In this role, you will shape how thousands of businesses grow, transact, and thrive.
You will:
Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.
Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
Job Summary
Are you a visionary leader with a passion for commercial strategy, client impact, and innovation in payments? We are looking for a Head of Commercialisation to lead and shape the future of Payment Acceptance across the SME and Commercial segments nationally.
This is a rare opportunity to join the leadership team of a forward-thinking Payments business within one of South Africa’s leading financial institutions. If you're driven by commercial excellence, inspired by innovation, and passionate about enabling growth for entrepreneurs and mid-sized enterprises, this role is designed for you.
Job Description
As the Head of Commercialisation – SME & Commercial Segments, you will be entrusted with leading the national growth strategy for merchant acquiring, driving commercial outcomes across all regions, and enabling frontline teams to deliver value-added, future-fit payment solutions.
You’ll work across executive leadership, regional teams, product houses, marketing, and digital to ensure seamless execution of national campaigns, banker enablement, and market innovation. This role is pivotal in transforming how the SME and Commercial banking segments experience and adopt payment acceptance solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Define and lead the national commercialisation strategy for payment acceptance across the SME and Commercial client base. Translate vision into regional execution plans and scalable revenue opportunities.
- Performance & P&L Accountability: Own the national sales and commercial performance metrics, including P&L responsibility. Drive growth in product uptake, margin expansion, and client retention.
- Enablement & People Leadership: Lead and inspire a team of Regional Commercial Managers, ensuring high performance, capability uplift, and readiness of frontline teams to sell and support payment solutions.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate across product, segment, marketing, compliance, and frontline executives to align strategic priorities and execution.
- Innovation & Product Uptake: Champion the adoption of digital, mobile, and integrated POS solutions. Leverage market feedback to inform bundling, pricing strategies, and future product enhancements.
- Client & Market Engagement: Represent the bank at national industry events, client forums, and thought leadership platforms. Build and nurture relationships with strategic clients and ecosystem partners.
We’re looking for a well-rounded, commercially astute leader who is as comfortable in the boardroom as they are in the field.
Minimum Requirements:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field (MBA/Postgraduate degree advantageous).
- 10+ years of experience in financial services, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within payments or merchant acquiring.
- Proven success in driving national sales transformation, revenue growth, and banker enablement.
- Deep understanding of SME and Commercial client needs, payment technologies, and competitive dynamics.
- Demonstrated experience managing national or multi-regional teams in a matrixed environment.
- High emotional intelligence, executive presence, and ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
- Delivery of national revenue and profit targets.
- Scalable campaigns that increase product penetration across SME and Commercial portfolios.
- High levels of banker capability, engagement, and conversion.
- National adoption of innovative payment solutions.
- Strong governance, compliance, and ethical sales practice adherence.
At the heart of everything we do is a belief that small businesses are big business – and payment acceptance is the engine that powers modern commerce. In this role, you will shape how thousands of businesses grow, transact, and thrive.
You will:
- Join a dynamic leadership team at the forefront of banking innovation.
- Work in an environment where performance, creativity, and impact are valued.
Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.
Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised
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