Merchant Acquiring Strategy Lead

Term- 6 months

Location- Doha, Qatar

Division- Cards/ Payments

Reports to- Head of Merchant Acquiring and Head of payments

Relevant experience- Minimum 10 years in merchant acquiring, payments, or financial services industry, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

Mandatory requirements- Experience from Qatar or GCC region; Proficiency in English; knowledge of Arabic is a plus; Notice period: Immediate to 30 days

Purpose of Job- 

The Merchant Acquiring Strategy Lead will be responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the merchant acquiring division. The role involves reviewing current growth strategies, increasing profitability, optimizing the operating model, and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

Tasks-

Core Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for the Merchant Acquiring division, covering offline POS acquiring, PayFac models, and cross-border acquiring.
2. Identify market trends, customer needs, and competitive opportunities to drive growth in the merchant acquiring space.
3. Lead and manage the in-store POS acquiring business, ensuring a seamless and secure payment experience for merchants and their customers.
4. Oversee the PayFac acquiring business, working closely with partners to streamline onboarding, ensure compliance, and enhance risk management.
5. Develop and implement strategies for cross-border acquiring, enabling merchants to accept international payments seamlessly.
6. Ensure all acquiring services are compliant with local and international regulatory standards, as well as card scheme guidelines.
7. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with card schemes (e.g., Visa, MasterCard) and other key partners.
8. Build and lead a high-performing team, providing guidance, support, and development opportunities.
9. Increase acquiring presence and penetration in the Aggregator/PSP segment by expanding the footprint in this rapidly growing market
10. Evaluate the current incentive structure for business development and relationship teams to optimize performance and growth
11. Increase usage and profitability with large key merchants in dual merchant setups by leveraging technology, tools, and customer insights
12. Identify effective merchant training programs to drive POS usage and compliance with payment scheme guidelines
13. Identify gaps and suggest improvements in the e-commerce space to lead the market by exploring new payment methods, integrations, and emerging technologies 

KPIs

1. Increase in merchant acquisition and retention rates
2. Growth in transaction volumes and revenue
3. Reduction in fraud and chargeback rates

Knowledge and Experience

1. Minimum 10 years in merchant acquiring, payments, or financial services industry, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
2. Experience in developing and implementing a Merchant Acquiring strategy for a large bank in the GCC
3. Relevant certifications in payments or financial services (e.g., CPP, CTP)
4. Strong understanding of merchant acquiring, payment processing, and related technologies
5. Experience in developing and executing business strategies and plans
6. Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance in the payments industry
7. Proven track record of managing and leading high-performing teams
8. Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills

**Mandatory Skills

1. Local experience in Qatar or GCC region
2. Proficiency in English; knowledge of Arabic is a plus
3. Domain expertise in merchant acquiring and payment processing
4. Strong technical skills in payment technologies and CRM systems
5. Notice period: Immediate to 30 days