Job Description

The Product Portfolio Manager for Transact Core is responsible for the strategic leadership, commercial performance, and lifecycle management of a large, complex portfolio within the organisation’s transaction-processing ecosystem. This role ensures that Transact Core products  deliver sustainable value, competitive differentiation, and operational excellence.

Are you someone who can:

1. Portfolio Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and own the end-to-end portfolio strategy for Transact Core, including market positioning, growth opportunities, product evolution, and sunset planning.
• Build multi-year roadmaps aligned with organisational priorities, regulatory requirements, and technology modernisation strategies.
• Drive portfolio governance, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, risk frameworks, and financial objectives.

2. Product Lifecycle & Execution

• Oversee the full product lifecycle—from concept to delivery to optimisation—across all Transact Core products.
• Prioritise the product backlog at portfolio level, balancing customer needs, technical requirements, and commercial impact.
• Work closely with Product Owners and Agile teams to ensure successful execution of roadmap objectives.

3. Commercial & Financial Ownership

• Own the P&L for the Transact Core portfolio, ensuring revenue growth, cost control, and profitability.
• Develop business cases for new investments, platform enhancements, or market expansion.
• Identify commercial opportunities such as new transaction capabilities, improved pricing models, and product bundling.

4. Stakeholder Management

• Engage internal and external stakeholders, including banks, merchants, fintech partners, issuers, and regulatory bodies, depending on the organisation’s ecosystem.
• Provide clear and consistent communication on portfolio performance, risks, and strategic direction.
• Influence senior leadership using data-driven insights and strategic recommendations.

5. Risk, Compliance & Operational Excellence

• Ensure products comply with regulatory, security, and data governance requirements relevant to payments and transactional systems.
• Monitor operational performance (availability, throughput, resilience) for mission-critical transaction services.
• Drive initiatives for platform stability, scalability, and technical modernisation.

6. Market & Competitive Intelligence

• Analyse market trends, emerging technologies (e.g., ISO 20022, real-time payments, AI-enabled fraud detection), and competitive offerings.
• Identify customer needs and translate insights into product and portfolio opportunities.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, IT, Engineering, Finance, or related field (CA(SA) an advantage).
• 5+ years in product management, portfolio management, payments, or core transactional systems.
• Experience managing large, complex product ecosystems within banking, fintech, or payments.
• Proven track record in leading multi-year roadmaps and driving commercial outcomes.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline.
• Excellent stakeholder and leadership skills; able to influence at executive level.
• Strong analytical, financial, and decision-making capabilities.
• Adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable operating in high-complexity environments.

You will have access to:

• Opportunities to network and collaborate
• A challenging working environment
• Opportunities to innovate

We can be a match if you are:

• Adaptable and curious
• Analyse complex data sets
• Thrive in a collaborative environment

Job Details

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.

05/02/26

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.