ABOUT THE COMPANY

Our client is a financial services group with operations in seven countries on the African continent. Via its subsidiaries, the Group provides financial services to half million micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses, fulfilling its mission of broadening access to finance among those underserved by traditional banks. Their global range of products includes micro-loans, savings solutions, transaction and daily banking services as well as innovative banking products like mobile payments, digital nano loans and pay-go solar products.

CONTEXT

The Group operates with a central Technology team, located in both France and Senegal, to deliver implementation, development, and support services to all African subsidiaries. 
Over the next three years, the Technology department is facing a significant expansion. The current team, comprising 90 dedicated professionals, poised to nearly double in size, reaching approximately 180 team members. A rebalancing of IT skills is taking place to strengthen our proximity to the business, improve time to market and the effectiveness of the solutions proposed to support business development.
In this context, the CIO now works within an operations department that brings together innovation, IT and business operations.
In addition, he/she will be responsible for setting up a strong IT team or hub for subsidiaries in the group.

MISSION

The mission of the Group CIO is to assume a pivotal role in providing comprehensive technology leadership for the Group, encompassing oversight of critical areas essential for the organization's growth and success. This mission includes:

1. Overall Architecture Roadmap and Implementation: Leading the development and execution of the overarching architectural roadmap, ensuring its successful implementation to align with Group's strategic
objectives.
2. IT Systems Support: Spearheading the provision of robust IT systems support for Group's African subsidiaries. This encompasses a wide range of critical systems, including customer information systems, support functions information systems, and all other IT systems vital to the group, including Cloud Infrastructure. This responsibility spans the entire IT lifecycle, from development and testing to ongoing support and IT operations, alongside effective infrastructure management.
3. IT Security: Strategizing and executing a comprehensive IT security roadmap to fortify the organization's defenses, safeguarding digital assets, and preserving the integrity of customer data.
4. Supervision of Technology Operations: Directing and supervising technology operations, to maintain seamless functionality and support the organization's operational efficiency
5. Supervision of the IT transformation program, in particular the migration of the core banking system and the implementation of an orchestration middle
layer. The Group CIO's overarching mission is to ensure that they, along with their dedicated team, operate with efficiency and cost-effectiveness across these pivot areas. This mission is pivotal to facilitating the continued success and growth of the Group as it navigates the dynamic landscape of financial service

Primary Objectives:

● Strategic Business Partnership: Serve as a vital business partner and establish Technology as a key enabler for the Group, aligning technology initiatives with the organization's overarching business goals.
● Technology Enhancement: Drive ongoing enhancements in technology to bolster Group's business development and facilitate process transformation, ultimately supporting growth. This encompasses the modernization of legacy systems and the incorporation of new capabilities, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), anti-fraud measures, and the introduction of new communication channels.
● Process and Organizational Excellence: Elevate Technology processes and organizational structures to the highest standards, instilling efficiency a predictability in the way Technology is managed and operated across the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Team Organization and Oversight: Organize and diligently monitor Technology teams to ensure efficient and effective operations
2. Business Partnership: Act as a strategic business partner to various departments, primarily Finance and Operations, but also HR and Risk, to address challenges, spearhead new projects, and establish a unified approach.
3. Scalable Technology Infrastructure: Provide the Group with a flexible and scalable technology infrastructure capable of supporting a multi-channel operational model (branch, mobile, agents, etc.), designed for continuous evolution and innovation to introduce new features and capabilities.
4. Harmonization and Cost Reduction: Accelerate efforts to harmonize technology systems and processes, significantly reducing maintenance costs and leveraging economies of scale.
5. Technology Standards Adherence: Ensure the adoption of technology standards, particularly ITIL, IT Security, and Agile methodologies, including the development of appropriate policies, procedures, and associated controls.
6. IT Security: Maintain uncompromising IT security standards to safeguard the organization's digital assets.
7. Efficient IT Procurement and Partner Management: Oversee procurement and IT partner/provider management processes to ensure efficiency and value maximization.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

● Master's Degree in Science, Preferably Computer Science: Possess a Master's degree in a relevant field, preferably in Computer Science showcasing a strong educational foundation in technology.
● Extensive Technology Experience: Demonstrate substantial experience in the technology field, particularly in IT and Digital domains, with a minimum of 13 years of professional experience in the IT sector.
● Proven Project Leadership: Exhibit a track record of successfully leading major projects and transformation initiatives, underscoring your ability to drive change and innovation.
● Seasoned IT Manager: Display proficiency in IT management, showcasing robust leadership and management skills, including the management of large and diverse multicultural teams. Experience with Agile methodologies is considered a valuable asset.
● Previous Similar Roles: Have previously held similar positions or acted as an IT leader within a specific domain for a minimum of 5 years, highlighting your depth of expertise and leadership in technology.
● Banking or Financial Services Background (Preferred): While not mandatory, possessing relevant experience in the banking or financial services sector with a focus on retail and SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) segments.
● African Experience: Prior experience working in Africa is mandatory, indicating familiarity with the unique dynamics of the African market.
● Bilingual Proficiency: Exhibit fluency in both French and English, enable effective communication and collaboration in a multicultural environment.