Lead : Commercial Payment Acceptance at Absa Bank Limited

Lead : Commercial Payment Acceptance at Absa Bank Limited

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

The Lead – Commercial is responsible for driving revenue growth, market share, and solution adoption across the bank’s merchant payments and commercial propositions. The role owns the growth strategy for acquiring, deepening, and retaining merchant clients, with a strong emphasis on complex, multi‑product payment solution selling.
This role operates at the intersection of commercial banking, payments, technology, and go‑to‑market execution, and requires deep experience in consultative, solution‑based selling within a regulated banking environment.

Job Description

• Define and execute the merchant growth strategy aligned to the Commercial Bank’s NIR and payments ambitions.

• Segment the merchant portfolio (mid‑market and enterprise) and tailor growth strategies by industry, scale, and complexity.

• Identify and prioritise growth opportunities across card acquiring, digital and alternative payments, POS solutions, e‑commerce, gateways, APIs, and value‑added services.

• Own merchant growth targets including revenue, active merchant base, transaction volumes, and share of wallet.

• Lead and enable consultative, solutions‑led selling of complex and integrated merchant payment stacks.

• Partner with sales and relationship teams to structure and sell:

  • Omnichannel payment solutions

  • Integrated POS and ERP‑connected solutions

  • E‑commerce, Market Place and Eco-Systems

  • Bespoke, API‑driven and platform‑based merchant solutions

• Engage directly with strategic and high‑value merchants to design end‑to‑end technical, commercial, and operating models.

• Drive a shift from product‑centric selling to client led growth

• Design and execute merchant go‑to‑market strategies across Commercial relationship banking, specialist payments sales teams, and strategic channels.

• Embed payments and merchant services as a core pillar of the commercial banking value proposition.

• Define pricing strategies, commercial constructs, bundling, and incentive models for complex deals.

• Develop sales enablement assets including:

  • Industry‑specific value propositions

  • Use‑case driven solution frameworks

  • Sales playbooks for complex and long‑cycle deals

• Act as the merchant commercial voice into Payments, Product, and Technology teams.

• Shape product roadmap priorities based on merchant growth opportunities and competitive dynamics.

• Ensure merchant solutions are scalable, market‑relevant, operationally sound, and compliant with regulatory and risk standards.

• Drive successful launch, adoption, and monetization of new payment capabilities.

• Drive strategies to increase merchant lifetime value, retention, and product penetration.

• Identify opportunities to expand share of wallet by cross‑selling and deepening payment and banking relationships.

• Improve merchant experience across onboarding, servicing, and solution performance to reduce churn and strengthen loyalty.

• Own key performance indicators including:

  • Merchant revenue and contribution margin

  • Transaction volumes and value mix

  • Solution adoption and product penetration

  • Pipeline conversion for complex deals

• Track and manage long sales cycles and large‑scale solution pipelines.

• Ensure all growth initiatives comply with banking regulation, risk appetite, and governance frameworks.

• Lead and develop a high‑performing merchant growth, solution sales, or enablement team.

• Collaborate closely with senior stakeholders across Commercial Banking, Payments, Product, Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Operations.

• Represent merchant growth initiatives in executive, investment, and governance forums.

Required Experience & Skills

10–15+ years in payments, transaction banking, or commercial banking

• Proven experience selling complex, technology‑enabled payment solutions

• Deep exposure to merchant acquiring, digital payments, or payment ecosystems

• Strong experience operating within a regulated banking environment

• Demonstrated track record of scaling revenue through structured growth initiatives

Education

Bachelors Degree and Professional Qualifications: 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