AVP - Card Operations Acquiring | UAEn

Job Title:

AVP – Card Operations (Acquiring) - UAEn

Department: Retail Banking Group

Location: UAE (with regional oversight: UAE, Egypt, Pakistan)

The AVP – Card Operations (Acquiring) will lead and manage end-to-end acquiring operations across multiple geographies, ensuring operational excellence, standardization, and compliance with regulatory and scheme requirements. The role will drive digitization, automation, and process optimization while overseeing critical functions, including merchant onboarding, transaction processing, settlement, reconciliation, and dispute/chargeback management. This position acts as a key bridge between Business and Technology, supporting system enhancements, new product launches, and regulatory initiatives across the digital payments ecosystem.

• Lead global acquiring operations across the UAE, Egypt, and Pakistan, ensuring consistency and efficiency
• Oversee end-to-end operations, including onboarding, processing, settlements, reconciliation, and disputes
• Establish and track KPIs, SLAs, and performance dashboards
• Build and manage high-performing teams with strong domain expertise

• Drive automation, digitization, and STP (Straight Through Processing) improvements
• Identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and reduce cost-to-serve
• Design and implement scalable processes, SOPs, and operational frameworks
• Support digital banking setup in Pakistan, including operational structures and controls

• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, including Central Bank guidelines and VAT compliance
• Maintain alignment with Visa and Mastercard rules and scheme regulations
• Oversee RCSA frameworks, operational risk reviews, and control assessments
• Manage internal, external, and regulatory audits, ensuring timely closure of findings

• Act as a key liaison between Business, IT, Finance, Risk, and external partners
• Collaborate with digital squads on system enhancements and new initiatives
• Engage with regulators, auditors, schemes, and vendors
• Support product development and implementation across markets

• Ensure accurate financial booking, reconciliation, and reporting
• Monitor exception handling and prevent revenue leakages
• Oversee fee structures and scheme charges optimization

• Ensure SLA adherence and high-quality service delivery
• Enhance customer experience through process improvements and complaint reduction
• Drive staff productivity through performance management, training, and engagement
• Implement workforce planning, cross-training, and operational scalability

• Lead end-to-end implementation of new products, systems, and operational initiatives
• Define requirements, manage UAT, and oversee successful deployment
• Ensure smooth operationalization of new processes and technologies

• Fast-paced, highly regulated, multi-country payments environment
• Requires balancing operational efficiency, compliance, and risk management
• High interaction with internal teams, regulators, card schemes, and external vendors

• Resolve complex cross-border operational and regulatory challenges
• Manage multi-currency settlements, disputes, and scheme dependencies
• Identify system gaps and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure strong control frameworks to mitigate operational and financial risks

• Approve operational processes, workflows, and control frameworks
• Sign off UAT and system implementations for acquiring and issuing
• Approve financial reversals, exception handling, and GL configurations
• Define operational requirements for new products and scheme integrations

• 15–18 years of banking experience with strong exposure to card acquiring and issuing operations
• Proven experience managing end-to-end card operations in a multi-market environment
• Experience in digital transformation and system implementation