Job Description

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 Lead the strategic direction, design, and execution of the Payments and Digital Fraud Strategy for Business Banking. This role ensures that the bank's digital and payment ecosystems remain secure, resilient, efficient and trusted, protecting business customers from evolving fraud threats while supporting innovative payment solutions, digital transformation, and growth across digital channels and products in the business banking segment.

Key accountabilities
Strategic Leadership

• Define and implement payments and fraud strategy aligned with business banking objectives.

• Lead transformation initiatives in digital payments, including mobile wallets, real-time payments, and API Integration solutions by partnering with Product, Technology and Risk leaders,.

• Develop fraud risk appetite and control frameworks for digital and traditional payment channels.

• Drive a fraud risk culture across Business Banking -- promoting awareness, accountability, and collaboration.

Payments & Digital Fraud Risk Management

• Oversee domestic and international payment platforms (e.g., SWIFT, EFT, RTGS, instant/real-time payments, card issuing & acquiring) and digital channels (e.g., internet banking, mobile, API).).

• Drive innovation in payment technologies and customer experience.

• Conduct ongoing fraud risk assessments, threat modelling, and scenario analysis to inform risk mitigation strategies.

• Ensure effective controls across authentication, transaction monitoring, customer onboarding, and access management.

• Lead response strategies for emerging fraud typologies -- e.g., Authorized Push Payment (APP) scams, mule networks, account takeovers, phishing, social engineering, and synthetic identity fraud.

Fraud Strategy & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain fraud prevention frameworks covering card, digital and transactional fraud.

• Monitor fraud performance metrics and report to executive committees.

• Ensure fraud losses remain within risk appetite.

Operational Excellence

• Manage fraud operations, analytics, and investigations teams.

• Implement quality assurance and control testing frameworks.

• Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery plans are in place for fraud and payments operations.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal teams (Risk, Compliance, IT, Product) and external partners (regulators, vendors).

• Influence fraud risk policies and standards across the bank.

• Represent the bank in industry forums and regulatory engagements.

Preferred Education

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Risk, IT, or related field (Master's preferred).

• CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) advantageous

Preferred Experience

• 10+ years in Fraud Risk Management, Payments Strategy, or Financial Crime in a banking or fintech environment.

• Demonstrated success in developing and executing fraud strategy across digital channels and payment systems.

• Experience leading cross-functional fraud transformation programs (e.g., new fraud platforms, digital authentication, AI-driven monitoring).

• Deep familiarity with business banking customer behaviours and fraud risks across SME and corporate segments.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strategic Leadership - Level 4

• Analytical & Problem-Solving - Level 4

• Technical & Digital Literacy - Level 4

• Communication & Influence - Level 4

• Leading people (Leadership level) - Level 4

• Reasoning - Level 4

• Change & Innovation - Level 4

Education
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

Skills Required