Job Title:                   Vice President, Country Business Development - FSSA 

Industry:                    Financial Services

Location:                     Cote D’Ivoire

Salary:                       Competitive Salary Package + Benefits

Overview

The Vice President, Country Business Development – FSSA is responsible for overall business leadership and general management across designated Francophone Sub-Saharan African markets. This role carries accountability for customer relationships, regulatory engagement, employee leadership and commercial performance within the geography.

Reporting into regional leadership, the role holder will define and execute country-level strategic direction, ensuring alignment with divisional and regional priorities. The position contributes directly to revenue growth, market expansion and long-term sustainability across the assigned markets.

Customers and partners in the region increasingly expect measurable commercial impact and strategic value. This role is responsible for ensuring strong alignment between market needs and the organisation’s broader growth objectives.

Major Accountabilities

• Full accountability for commercial objectives and P&L performance across the FSSA geography.
• Define and execute country-level strategy in alignment with divisional and regional leadership.
• Drive business development initiatives across existing and prospective clients, ensuring strategic soundness, financial discipline and long-term sustainability.
• Structure and oversee commercial agreements, ensuring strong execution and customer success.
• Build and maintain high-level relationships across financial institutions, fintechs, regulators, retailers and ecosystem partners.
• Lead country-based teams, fostering a high-performance, results-driven culture.
• Provide leadership oversight for country offices in Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), ensuring operational alignment and execution of strategic initiatives.

Financial & Commercial Responsibility

• Direct responsibility for regional P&L across all business lines.
• Identify and execute revenue growth opportunities.
• Ensure strong financial governance, compliance and audit standards across country operations.

Stakeholder & Market Leadership

• Act as senior market representative across customers, regulators, industry bodies and external stakeholders.
• Own and direct market strategy for key accounts operating within the geography.
• Provide market-level leadership across marketing, product development, customer delivery, channel strategy and brand positioning.
• Monitor economic, competitive and payments landscape trends to anticipate market shifts and define forward-looking strategies.

Regulatory & Public Affairs

• Serve as primary liaison with regulatory authorities and industry associations in alignment with corporate public affairs strategy.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with central banks and key regulatory stakeholders across FSSA.
• Proactively monitor regulatory developments and anticipate policy impact.
• Ensure local operations comply with governance, legal and reporting requirements.

Country Operations & Leadership

• Lead workplace environment and employee engagement across country offices.
• Ensure effective local communications aligned with corporate messaging.
• Mentor and develop teams, reinforcing understanding of business models, profitability drivers and strategic priorities.
• Provide matrix leadership support across functions operating within the geography.
• Ensure appropriate deployment of company policies, internal controls and operational processes.

Candidate Profile

• Fluent in both French and English (written and spoken).
• University degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong experience in general management and/or business development within payments, retail banking, fintech or adjacent financial services sectors.
• Experience engaging with banks and financial institutions at senior level.
• Knowledge of payment systems and financial infrastructure environments preferred.
• International or cross-border experience beyond home market.
• Proven ability to operate in high-growth, emerging market environments.