Chief Technology & Operations Officer (CTOO) at MAL Consultancy

JOB SUMMARY

Our client, a real-time payment services company established in 2015 under the National Payment System (NPS) Act to address the challenge of interbank money transfers in the country, is seeking to onboard a Chief Technology & Operations Officer (CTOO). The Chief Technology and Operations Officer will be responsible for leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of the technology strategy and its alignment with company objectives. S/he will play a critical role in driving innovation, managing technological infrastructure, and ensuring the company remains competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. S/he will be responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of all infrastructure, site reliability security, and service operations activities in liaison with other functional areas of the business.

The CTOO will oversee the build and operations of products and services in accordance with customer and regulatory expectations, while overseeing associated operations including, but not limited to, financial settlement and reconciliation of the transactions on the payment platforms as well as the provision and operation of IT systems for people productivity systems such as email, office applications, ERP, and other internal and planned systems as applicable. S/he will oversee a team of highly skilled engineering and IT experts and will be a strong leader with the ability to motivate and inspire high levels of performance. S/he will have budgeting experience. The CTOO will be a coach and mentor with the potential to scale talent for succession. The CTOO will be a member of the executive team and will work closely with the CEO and other CXOs and business leaders, as well as with relevant Board Committees and other senior external partners and stakeholders.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Technology Vision & Strategy


Play an instrumental role in developing and executing a comprehensive technology strategy that aligns with the company's business objectives and growth plans
Stay updated on technological trends, assessing their relevance, and defining the company's technology vision
Communicate the technology vision internally and externally, explaining technological changes and recommending innovative solutions
Monitor evaluate and improve the technology vision and strategy regularly to keep it current and relevant
Develop and execute a plan towards agile framework implementation within the organization and monitor and evaluate continuous progress and success.


Technology Management


Take ownership of the technology transformation roadmap
Align technology investments with the business continuity strategy and plan, product development and business development activities
Develop and execute cost optimization strategy
Lead research and development (R&D) on adoption of emerging technologies
Ensure 99.99% uptime of platforms and applications
Work closely with the Information Security team to execute IT and cybersecurity strategies
Take leadership in the migration of banks and other business clients to the instant payment switch
Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery across the 2 data centers
Develop and execute a service improvement strategy with vendors.


Operations


Orchestrate technology systems to drive efficiency, resilience, and growth
Continuously track key metrics to identify potential issues, minimizing downtime, and ensuring the technology infrastructure runs smoothly
Manage cloud infrastructure, networks, and automation systems, ensuring every component supports strategic goals and can handle real-time demands
Align business vision with operational strategy
Develop and implement the service operations management strategy and plan
Develop and execute business intelligence and data strategy
Drive automation and service improvement strategies
Lead delivery of IT and technology operations through a robust work plan and internal support team to drive day to day business operations.


Innovation


Build technology team capability within the organization (interfacing with products team)
Together with the Product Development lead, oversee product development, ensuring that products are scalable, user-friendly, and market-ready, enabling seamless end-to-end development, from ideation to launch, and ensure technology enhances the product experience without over-engineering
Leverage cutting-edge technologies like AI, IoT, and block chain to meet customer demands and drive market differentiation
Create an open culture of experimentation and ideation within the technology and operations teams to allow for innovative discoveries relevant to the business and technology vision.


Stakeholder Management


Drive stakeholder engagement with CTOs/CIOs/COOs of connected participants (Banks, FinTech, PSP, MNOs)
Translate complex technical concepts into business outcomes for non-technical stakeholders
Presenting data-driven insights that highlight the tangible benefits of technical investments, building trust, and securing buy-in for strategic initiatives
Work collaboratively with the Engagement & Experience team to execute business development and customer success plans
Drive engagements with technology vendors on service delivery and cost optimization strategies
Collaborate with vendors, industry experts, research institutions, and startups to explore cutting-edge technologies and accelerate innovation.


Team Leadership


Build, lead and mentor high-performing technical and engineering teams
Implement an agile culture enterprise-wide
Develop and execute program management capability within the business and conduct awareness sessions across the organization to build programming capacity and knowledge
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, ensuring clear communication and alignment across departments
Drive relevant certification of technology teams.


Technology Risk Management Audit & Compliance


Identify and mitigating technology-related risks
Implement robust data protection measures, conduct regular vulnerability assessments, and develop comprehensive crisis management strategies together with the Information Security team
Lead in technology audits and drive continual improvement, implementing audit recommendations as presented.


Sustainable & Ethical Technology Development


Embed sustainability and ethical considerations into the technology stack
Strategically move the business towards energy-efficient data centers, adopt carbon-neutral cloud platforms, and ensure algorithms are free from bias and transparent in their functioning
Protect sensitive user data and maintain privacy as non-negotiable aspects of this responsibility.


Budgeting and Financial Management


Lead in developing a comprehensive budget strategy that is tailored to the specific technology and operations needs of the business
Drive financial prudence through strong financial acumen, including the creation and management of technology function budgets, controlling operational costs, and ensuring cost-effective completion of projects assigned as aligned to the strategic and functional work plans
Align budget strategy with the company's short-term and long-term goals
Manage the budget allocated for operations responsibly, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficient resource allocation
Track expenditures, identify opportunities for cost saving and prepare accurate financial reports.


Operational Excellence


Maintain knowledge in the department, keeping it up to date with the latest training practices, trends, and technologies
Model best practices in technology and operations activities
Update job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks, and participating in relevant professional associations
Maintain quality service by establishing and enforcing company policies, procedures, standards and values
Put in place proper quality control checks and balances within each project and operations activity assigned
Regularly report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for all technology-led projects and operations.


EDUCATION SKILS KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED


Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or any other related technical field from a recognized institution of higher learning
Relevant certifications in Technology Projects/Program Management, Agile, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Site reliability, etc.
MBA with a specialization in finance or technology management, or any other relevant discipline that bridges the gap between technical and business strategy, is an advantage
Minimum of 15 years' work experience in payments and FinTech technology environments
Proficiency in languages commonly used in FinTech, such as Python, Java, and SQL
Skills in data exploration, structuring complex financial systems, and understanding processes to benefit the business
A deep understanding of cybersecurity best practices, including knowledge of information system architecture, data protection, and combating cybercrime
Familiarity with blockchain technology and its applications in secure transactions, smart contracts, and decentralized platforms
Expertise in cloud platforms like AWS or Google Cloud for provisioning scalable infrastructure, implementing server less pipelines, and securing sensitive data
Understanding and integration of the financial sector and technology regulatory frameworks
Understanding of payment system models, instant payments, and industry trends
Senior technology leadership experience with experience leading and motivating cross-functional and interdisciplinary projects and business teams
Proven experience providing technology and operations oversight to deliver and support 24x7 real-time payment services
Experience in modern technology stack in a transaction processing environment.


This advertisement will close on Monday, 3rd November, 2025, at 5.00pm EAT.