Senior Manager – Merchant Services and Acquiring, Account Executive at Visa

The Merchant Sales and Solutions Senior Manager has the responsibility of driving growth and development of meaningful and profitable merchant relations in African markets, specifically being accountable and owning on key markets from a Merchant Servicing and Acquiring perspective. In addition, this role is responsible for working with the Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring and the Group Country Manager/Country Managers on industry & regulatory initiatives and interchange management for the region.

The Director -  Merchant Sales and Solutions executes on the implementation of agreed merchant acceptance strategies that grow the penetration of electronic payments in this geography to drive the increase of Merchant Sales Volume (MSV) via implementing the new payment solution and building strong working relationships with client banks, key merchants and third party partners. The role is also responsible for understanding and communicating local market needs in order that the CEMEA Hub, Digital Team and Global Merchant Sales and Solutions organizations are able to effectively and efficiently define market specific strategies required to manage strategic and complex Acceptance issues.

JOB SCOPE

Key Results Areas

• Develop and execute the merchant acceptance, merchant relations and partner strategy for the region to increase Visa MSV, market share, data processing revenues and create acquirer, merchant and consumer preference for Visa.
• Partner with the Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring and the Group Country Manager/Country Managers to execute on Nano Merchant Acceptance Strategy which will transform the landscape over a 3-year horizon.
• Drive acceptance of Visa payment solutions in the African market, with a focus across various business segments, key among them top tier and marquee merchants
• Take the lead in negotiating large Strategic Partnerships with key clients and or partners to ensure that Strategic Imperatives are met.
• Develop strong market relationships with key merchants meant to protect and grow Visa business and brand standing with these merchants
• Conduct quarterly business reviews with key merchants with the aim of ensuring Visa relationship adds value to clients
• Develop and execute the merchant acceptance, merchant relations and partner strategy for Africa, increase Visa MSV, market share, data processing revenues and create acquirer, merchant and consumer preference for Visa.
• Play a hands-on role in the deployment and go to market of a new mobile based technology solution.
• Development of new initiatives/solutions, implement marketing/usage initiatives targeting traditional and new merchant segments, both in physical world and virtual world, with a focus on mobile based acceptance solutions. 
• Successfully translate broad strategies into specific objectives and action plans, aligning efforts of the Acceptance and Interchange organizations with other key Visa stakeholders in particular the Country and Digital Teams.
• Establish and foster relationships with Clients and internal stakeholders at all levels of staff and senior management.
• Understand client needs, solution deployment requirements in different environments and develop models of engagement that are easily replicable across organizations with similar characteristics for faster onboarding.
• Support local Client Sales and Digital Teams with their sales and enablement efforts. Maintain current knowledge of technologies, products, services, methods and applications and implement new approaches and practices as required.
• Maintain and build rapport with Digital and functional teams across Visa Inc. to exchange, learn and leverage best practices.
• Local market and regulatory knowledge and functional experience in acceptance, merchant acquiring, interchange management, consulting,financial transaction processing knowledge and client sales, preferably Visa,supporting highly complex clients and/or services within a highly matrixed environment
• Established networks at decision making levels with a strong business-to-business sales track record.

Technical

• Working knowledge of payments network and processing services
• Working knowledge of mobile technology
• Demonstrated, detailed knowledge of the full breadth of acceptance and other products and services offered by Visa
• Working knowledge of project management tools and application
• Microsoft office tools e.g. PowerPoint, Excel, Word etc
• Working knowledge of Visa systems (preferred)

Business

• Strong Sales and relationship management skills.
• Broad and multiple industry exposure.
• General finance and accounting knowledge and understanding.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• Project management experience.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience shaping and delivering defined strategies.
• Proven track record of driving growth and taking new products from conception to commercial launch.

Executive presence.

• Global mind-set, desire and demonstrated ability to work cross-culturally.
• Exposure to emerging payment solutions (mobile wallets, mobile money ecosystems, agent banking, mobile money transfers

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications

• 8 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or at least 5 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 2 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications

• 9 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or 7 or more relevant years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 3 or more years of experience with a PhD

Years of Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of success in progressive leadership positions in the Payments industry

Education (required):

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Masters degree in a business field is an added advantage