Product Specialist: Savings Products (Centurion) at AVBOB South Africa

Description

• We are looking for an experienced, innovative and commercially driven Product Specialist to manage, grow and optimise our savings product portfolio through end to end ownership of product strategy, customer value propositions, digital adoption, regulatory compliance and sustainable commercial outcomes.
• The successful candidate will play a critical role in driving product innovation, overseeing lifecycle management, enhancing customer experience and embedding continuous improvement initiatives while collaborating across multiple teams and partners to deliver seamless, customer centric savings solutions.

YOUR RESPONSIBILTIES WILL INCLUDE

• Defining and executing the Savings product strategy aligned to business objectives
• Developing and maintaining the product roadmap in collaboration with strategic partners
• Identifying market opportunities, customer needs, and competitive positioning
• Driving financial inclusion through accessible and relevant savings solutions
• Leading the design and development of innovative savings products and enhancements
• Translating business requirements into product specifications and user stories
• Collaborating with Technology, UX, Operations, and external stakeholders to deliver digital product enhancements
• Overseeing product configuration within digital platforms and core systems
• Driving agile delivery and continuous product improvement initiatives
• Taking accountability for achieving sales targets, including account openings, funded accounts, and balances under management
• Developing and implementing acquisition, activation, and retention strategies across customer segments
• Identifying and unlocking sales opportunities across digital, branch/frontline, and call centre channels
• Partnering with Marketing to execute targeted campaigns and customer engagement initiatives
• Supporting frontline enablement through product training, sales scripts, FAQs, and customer engagement initiatives
• Analysing sales funnel performance and implementing strategies to improve conversion rates and productivity
• Designing and optimising end-to-end digital customer journeys, including onboarding, deposits, withdrawals, and account servicing
• Identifying customer pain points and implementing solutions to improve customer experience and conversion
• Monitoring product performance and customer behaviour using data-driven insights
• Driving initiatives to improve product uptake, engagement, profitability, and customer retention
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including FAIS, POPIA, and Treating Customers Fairly principles
• Collaborating with Risk, Compliance, and Legal teams on product design and governance requirements
• Building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships within the savings ecosystem
• Providing reporting, strategic insights, and updates to senior management and governance committees
• Monitoring industry trends, digital banking innovations, and competitor offerings to identify opportunities for growth and innovation
• Driving a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Sciences, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification will be advantageous
• Actuarial Science qualification will be advantageous
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in product management within financial services, preferably within Savings or Deposits
• Retail Savings and Investment experience within Banking, Insurance, Asset Management, Fintech ecosystems, or the broader financial services industry is essential
• Proven track record in product development, optimisation, and lifecycle management
• Strong understanding of savings products, retail banking, and digital financial services
• Experience working within agile and cross-functional environments
• Sound knowledge of FAIS, POPIA, and Treating Customers Fairly principles
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills across product, technology, and operations environments
• Strategic and commercial thinking
• Customer-centric mindset
• Innovation and creativity
• Strong execution and delivery capability
• Product management methodologies and tools
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making
• Customer journey mapping and optimisation
• Collaboration and influence across cross-functional team
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills