About the position
ENVIRONMENT:
A fast-growing FinTech company with a footprint on the African continent, seeks a strategically minded and experienced Product Owner – Credit, to lead the end-to-end design, development, and implementation of credit and risk software solutions across its microlending operations in South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya. This is a high-impact role at the crossroads of product innovation, credit strategy, risk management, compliance, and technology. You will play a pivotal part in shaping the delivery of responsible, scalable, and customer-centric financial products across diverse markets. The successful incumbent must have a Master’s/Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Finance/Computer Science or related field with 10 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years in Product Management or Product ownership roles within Financial Services or FinTech. They’re looking for a candidate with deep expertise in Financial Services, a comprehensive understanding of the credit lifecycle, and a track record of building scalable, compliant digital lending solutions.
DUTIES:
- Own the full product lifecycle for software and systems supporting credit and risk policy - from ideation through delivery, iteration, and scaling.
- Define and maintain a clear product vision, roadmap, and backlog aligned with the organisation’s Credit and Risk strategy, in close collaboration with the Credit and Risk team.
- Translate complex credit policies, underwriting models, and regulatory requirements into scalable product features and decision logic.
- Continuously evaluate product performance using analytics, credit KPIs, and customer feedback to drive enhancements and maintain compliance.
- Develop deep expertise in the lending platform’s core mechanics, including transaction processing, general ledger flows, repayment schedules, and configuration settings.
- Ensure all products comply with local regulatory frameworks, including but not limited to NCR (South Africa), BoZ (Zambia), BoU (Uganda), and CBK (Kenya), while promoting innovation and commercial growth.
- Champion a data-driven culture by embedding robust analytics, monitoring, and reporting capabilities into product architecture.
- Communicate product performance, risk impacts, and strategic insights into the company’s leadership across regional markets.
- Lead initiatives to build and enhance fraud detection and prevention systems, proactively addressing emerging risks in each operating environment.
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications –
- Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Product Management Certification (e.g., Pragmatic Institute, AIPMM, Product School, SAFe PM/PO) is a strong advantage.
Experience/Skills -
- Over 10 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years in Product Management or Product ownership roles within Financial Services or FinTech.
- Background in microlending, consumer credit, or digital financial inclusion.
- Deep knowledge of credit policies, lending platform architecture, credit scoring methodologies, and risk modelling.
- Demonstrated success in developing and managing digital lending products.
- Experience with decision engines, credit bureau integrations, fraud detection systems, and KYC / AML compliance frameworks.
- Passion for Africa and a strong desire to contribute to a mission-driven, high-growth organisation.
- Openness to travel across the African continent as required.
ATTRIBUTES:
- The ideal candidate is analytical, inquisitive, and execution-oriented—a systems thinker who excels at navigating complexity and driving results in a dynamic, high-growth environment.
While we would really like to respond to every application, should you not be contacted for this position within 10 working days please consider your application unsuccessful.
COMMENTS:
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Desired Skills:
