We are seeking a hands-on Chief Operating Officer (COO) to work hand-in-glove with the CEO on the execution of the company's strategy and oversee day-to-day operations as the company scales through its phase of growth and innovation.

The COO will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across administrative and core business functions, enabling the consistent delivery of high-quality, compliant financial solutions that meet market and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate is a result driven operational leader with a strong background in the fintech sector, particularly in payment and switching solutions, and a proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder operations.

This role requires someone who thrives in fast-paced settings and can design, scale, and optimize systems that support sustainable growth, particularly within payment and switching solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execution & Delivery: Drive execution of the company's strategic priorities, ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and to quality standards.
• Operational Leadership: Support the CEO in overseeing day-to-day operations across settlements, compliance, technology operations, customer support, and internal processes to ensure reliability, security, and regulatory adherence.
• People & Performance Management: Recruit, develop, and manage high-performing operational teams; instill a culture of accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement. Designing a collaborative and focused environment where employees grow and develop rapidly is critical.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Act as the connective tissue between exec, product, engineering, finance, compliance, and commercial teams.
• Process & Systems Design: Build scalable operational frameworks, policies, and workflows that support rapid growth while managing risk.
• Risk & Compliance Support: Work closely with compliance and regulatory stakeholders to ensure operational readiness and audit preparedness.
• Culture & Excellence: Foster a culture of operational excellence, collaboration, and relentless focus on market needs.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 6 years' experience in fintech, payments, or financial services, with at least 3-4 years in an operational leadership role.
• Strong understanding of payments operations, switching, settlements, and regulatory environments in Nigeria or Africa.
• Proven track record of scaling operations in high-growth environments.
• Excellent execution, prioritization, and people-management skills.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading cross-functional teams, enabling a collaborative and high-energy culture.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field. MBA or equivalent is an advantage.