Head of Financial Services

It's exciting to be part of a company where individuals genuinely BELIEVE in their work! The Value Added Services (VAS) division is a swiftly expanding segment of the Pick n Pay Group, encompassing PnP Supermarkets, PnP Hypermarkets, PnP Clothing, PnP Franchise, PnP Africa, and all Omni-Channel interfaces. This division comprises five strategic units: Financial Services, Value Added Services, Mobile, VAS Marketing, and VAS Trade & Operations. At the core of PnP’s goal to create a modern retail ecosystem lies the Financial Services portfolio, which offers customers innovative, low-cost, and accessible financial products related to payments, money transfers, insurance, lending, and cross-border remittances. Joining the VAS team presents a distinctive opportunity to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting while benefiting from the extensive support, infrastructure, and cross-functional collaboration of a leading South African retailer.

The Head of Financial Services is responsible for the design, scaling, and commercialization of PnP’s Financial Services ecosystem. This leader manages essential strategic alliances and holds full ownership of the complete end-to-end product portfolio, which includes:

• Cash withdrawals and deposits
• Domestic & cross-border money transfers
• Payment and acceptance innovations
• Insurance products (funeral, life, pet, device, etc.)
• Lending and credit-enablement solutions

This position entails full P&L accountability, focusing on revenue enhancement, profitability, operational excellence, customer value creation, and regulatory adherence while facilitating collaboration across various sectors (banks, fintechs, insurers, MNOs, regulators, and tech partners).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Commerce, or a related area (MBA preferred) and/or demonstrated experience in Financial Services strategy, product development, and ecosystem management (ideally within retail, fintech, or banking contexts).
• Proven success in managing strategic partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs, or insurers.
• Strong history of achieving revenue and profitability targets with significant P&L responsibility.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and talent development abilities.
• Keen commercial insight, negotiation skills, and data-informed decision-making.
• Excellent communication and persuasion abilities, including experience in presenting to senior executives and external partners.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, compliance obligations, and emerging industry trends in payments, money movement, insurance, and lending.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Financial Services Strategy & Growth

   • Formulate and implement the Financial Services strategy in line with PnP’s customer, commercial, and digital transformation goals.
   • Identify and develop new revenue streams, customer value propositions, and innovative financial products.
   • Propel a retail-focused financial inclusion agenda to enhance PnP’s market position.

2. Product Ownership & Execution

   • Oversee the complete lifecycle of Financial Services products: design, pricing, business case creation, operational readiness, market launch, and ongoing optimization.
   • Guarantee seamless integration among product, store operations, IT, risk, finance, and marketing teams.
   • Utilize data insights to inform product decisions and customer segmentation strategies.

3. Partnerships & Ecosystem Management

   • Establish and strengthen partnerships with banks, fintechs, insurers, payment service providers, and regulatory and industry organizations.
   • Negotiate commercial contracts, service level agreements, joint business plans, and collaborative innovation pipelines.
   • Ensure partners consistently meet performance, compliance, and customer experience standards.

4. Revenue & PnL Management

   • Manage the Financial Services PnL, encompassing revenue, gross profit, operational expense allocations, targets, and forecasting.
   • Drive performance management activities, including weekly trading, monthly business assessments, and quarterly strategy reviews.
   • Continuously seek margin enhancement opportunities, cost efficiencies, risk reductions, and operational improvements.

5. Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Influence

   • Collaborate with internal teams (Commercial, Omni-Channel, IS&T, Marketing, Finance, Risk, Operations) for effective execution.
   • Represent Financial Services in senior forums, steering committees, and strategic decision-making meetings.
   • Promote a customer-centric approach across all Financial Services initiatives.

6. Reporting, Insights & Governance

   • Generate clear, data-driven performance reports, dashboards, and presentations for the board.
   • Ensure adherence to financial regulations, internal controls, data privacy standards, and risk requirements.
   • Monitor industry developments to guide future investment and innovation strategies.

7. Leadership & Talent Development

   • Lead and mentor a team of Product Managers, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and high performance.
   • Develop a strong succession pipeline by cultivating future leaders and attracting top-tier talent.
   • Encourage a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture within the VAS division.

Competencies:

• Strategic Agility: Anticipates market changes and adjusts strategies to retain a competitive advantage.
• Change Leadership: Drives transformation and cultivates a culture of innovation and ongoing improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Establishes trust and rapport with various internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, partners, and executive leadership.
• Commercial Foresight: Recognizes emerging opportunities and risks, translating insights into actionable business initiatives.
• Digital Fluency: Utilizes digital tools and analytics to support decision-making and enhance customer experience.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Thrives in high-pressure, fast-moving environments, confidently managing ambiguity.
• Ethical Judgment: Maintains the highest standards of integrity, compliance, and ethical behavior.
• Talent Magnetism: Attracts, inspires, and retains top talent, fostering a high-performance team culture.

Closing date: 10 February 2026

If you enjoy rapid growth and collaborating with enthusiastic, high-achieving individuals, you will find a rewarding career with us!

Discover who we are At Pick n Pay, we are more than just a retailer; we are a dedicated organization focused on delivering an outstanding shopping experience for our customers and a vibrant, enriching work environment for our employees. Established in 1967, Pick n Pay is among the largest retail chains in South Africa, catering to millions of customers across the African continent. Our reputation is built on our commitment to providing customers with exceptional quality and value.

Our Mission We serve with our hearts, creating a wonderful place to be, and with our minds, we develop an excellent shopping environment.

Our Values Our values are deeply ingrained in our culture and guide our actions:

• Passion for our Customers: We are dedicated to our customers and advocate for their rights. Their satisfaction is our success.
• Respect and Care: We value and respect one another. We embrace our team’s diversity and treat each other with kindness and understanding.
• Personal Growth and Opportunity: We encourage personal growth and promote opportunities. We empower our employees with learning and advancement chances.
• Leadership and Innovation: We cultivate leadership and vision, rewarding innovative thinking. We inspire our employees to lead in their roles and think creatively.
• Honesty and Integrity: We adhere to honesty and integrity, maintaining transparency and trustworthiness in all interactions.
• Community Support: We engage and support our communities, believing in making a positive impact.
• Individual Responsibility: We take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
• Accountability: We are all accountable, ensuring we fulfill our commitments to our customers, colleagues, and business.

Why Pick n Pay? At Pick n Pay, our strength is our people. We aim to be the employer of choice, attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry. We create a workplace that encourages growth, celebrates achievements, and values individual contributions. Your work here will be significant, acknowledged, and rewarded. Experience the joy of being part of Pick n Pay. Let’s shape the future of retail in Africa together.

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