Merchant Acquisition Head for FinTech

Job Description: Head of Merchant Acquisition & Management

Role Overview

We are seeking a strategic, visionary, and dynamic leader to head our Merchant Acquisition & Management team. In this role, you will define and execute our merchant partnership strategy, driving sustainable revenue growth and expanding our market footprint. You will lead a high-performing team of Account Managers, cultivate critical industry relationships, and work cross-functionally to position our company as the preferred services aggregator in the financial technology space.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Development

• Drive Growth Strategy: Develop, establish, and execute the team’s overarching strategy to acquire and engage merchant partners, ensuring strict alignment with corporate goals and imperatives.
• Maximize Ecosystem Value: Identify and facilitate strategic synergies between merchant and portfolio partners to unlock new opportunities and maximize revenue growth.
• Long-Term Value Creation: Design and implement robust frameworks to capture value across three core pillars:
• Customers: Source new customer segments while optimizing value extraction from the current portfolio.
• Markets: Conduct market mapping to identify untapped customer bases and emerging regions.
• Relationships: Establish and leverage high-trust, high-integrity alliances to unlock exclusive business opportunities.
• Market Intelligence: Oversee internal and external market research, utilizing on-ground immersion, industry networking, and desk research to drive data-informed decision-making.

Partner Acquisition & Management

• Pipeline Management: Conceptualize and develop targeted partner "hitlists" through precise market sizing and opportunity validation.
• End-to-End Acquisition: Lead high-level partner scoping, strategic negotiations, and the formal acquisition of top-tier prospective partners.
• Pitch Strategy: Architect sophisticated commercial pitch strategies and coordinate seamlessly with internal business verticals to deliver compelling, comprehensive pitch materials.
• Alliance Maintenance: Manage day-to-day partner relations and actively re-negotiate with existing partners to secure mutually beneficial alliances, establishing the company as their preferred services aggregator.

Team Leadership & Process Optimization

• Operational Management: Direct and mentor Account Managers on day-to-day operations, standardizing best practices for merchant acquisition and retention.
• Performance Tracking: Lead rigorous business and operational reviews. Continually assess resources and capabilities against targets, executing swift tactical adjustments to meet business goals.
• Process Engineering: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to optimize sales and aftersales processes, championing a fast, nimble, and customer-centric operation balanced with robust corporate governance.
• Talent Development: Define, design, and implement tailored training programs for Account Managers in close coordination with HR and People Engagement teams.
• Succession Planning: Shape the future of the Merchant Acquisition organization by hiring top talent, building robust succession plans, and ensuring continuous, seamless organizational execution.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in sales and business development, with a proven track record of leadership within the Financial Technology (Fintech), payments, or digital services sectors.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or a related field (Master''''s degree or MBA is a plus).
• Strategic Thinking: Exceptional ability to translate high-level corporate goals into actionable, data-driven sales and partnership strategies.
• Negotiation Skills: Proven success in negotiating high-stakes commercial agreements and managing complex corporate alliances.
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience managing, inspiring, and scaling high-performing sales or account management teams.
• Communication: Elite interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills, with the ability to confidently pitch to C-level executives