Next Gen Fintech Lead at Safaricom
Job Description
Job Summary
The Next Gen Fintech Lead owns the end-to-end strategy, commercial performance, and product portfolio for M-PESA’s next-generation financial solutions — including digital savings, investments, wealth management, and emerging fintech propositions. The role drives growth, adoption, and profitability by translating market opportunities into scalable, platform-led products that advance customer financial empowerment.
Operating at the intersection of innovation, regulation, and commercial delivery, the Next Gen Fintech Lead partners with Technology, Risk, Data, and Marketing to bring differentiated fintech experiences to market at pace — building the capabilities and culture that ensure M-PESA leads the next era of African fintech. Reporting to the Chief Financial Services Officer, the role champions customer-centricity, agile execution, and operational excellence, leveraging advanced analytics and digital platforms to maximise adoption, engagement, and customer lifetime value.
Reporting to the Chief Financial Services Officer, the role provides strategic leadership in scaling and optimizing next generation fintech portfolios while innovating to meet evolving customer needs and market dynamics. The role champions customer centricity, agile execution, and operational excellence, leveraging advanced analytics, personalization, and digital platforms to maximize adoption, engagement, and customer lifetime value.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Define the strategy and long-term vision for next generation fintech solutions in line with Financial Services objectives
- Own end to end portfolio performance across digital savings, investments, and emerging fintech propositions
- Drive continuous product innovation and digital enablement through platform led and agile delivery models
- Champion customer centric experiences through personalization, analytics, and seamless digital journeys
- Leverage data and insights to optimize adoption, engagement, pricing, and customer lifetime value
- Ensure robust risk management, regulatory compliance, and governance across all fintech solutions
- Enable effective cross functional and ecosystem collaboration to deliver integrated outcomes
- Lead people and capability development to build high performing, future ready teams
Educational Qualifications, Experience, & Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Technology, or a closely related discipline from a recognized institution.
- Postgraduate qualification such as an MBA or Master’s degree in Finance, Strategy, Innovation, or Digital Transformation is strongly preferred.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in financial services, fintech, digital banking or investment products, with exposure to large scale portfolios.
- Demonstrated senior leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and leading managers within complex, fast paced environments.
- Proven track record of designing, launching, and scaling digital and platform led financial solutions, ideally within ecosystem or partnership driven models.
- Solid understanding of fintech innovation, emerging technologies, and digital platforms, with the ability to translate innovation into commercial value.
- Sound knowledge of regulatory, compliance, risk, and governance frameworks applicable to fintech solutions within regulated environments
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience driving growth, profitability,pricing optimization, and customer lifetime value.
- Advanced analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to leverage data, insights, and customer analytics to inform decision making and execution
