Senior Manager: Product at Absa Bank Limited

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

The Credit Card Product Manager is responsible for the end to end ownership, performance, and evolution of credit card products. This includes defining the product strategy, managing the product lifecycle, driving commercial performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering compelling customer value propositions aligned to business objectives.
The role sits at the intersection of customer needs, commercial outcomes, regulatory requirements, and delivery execution, working closely with cross functional teams.

Job Description

Product Strategy & Vision

Define and maintain the credit card product strategy and roadmap, aligned to overall card portfolio, payments, and retail banking objectives.

Articulate a clear value proposition for different customer segments (e.g. mass, affluent, premium).

Track market trends, competitor offerings, and emerging payment innovations.

Product Lifecycle Management

Own the full product lifecycle: ideation → design → build → launch → optimise → retire.

Drive prioritisation of features, enhancements, and product changes based on customer, risk, and commercial impact.

Ensure product documentation, policies, and terms are current and accurate.

Commercial & Financial Performance

Own key product economics including:

Revenue (interest, interchange, fees)

Expense management

Portfolio profitability

Monitor and drive KPIs such as:

Activation

Spend

Revolving balances

Attrition

Acquisition and utilisation

Build and contribute to business cases for new features, partnerships, or propositions.

Customer Experience & Value Management

Champion customer experience across the credit card journey (application, onboarding, usage, servicing).

Partner with marketing, CX, and analytics teams to:

Improve engagement and usage

Manage benefits, rewards, and offers

Use insights and data to continuously refine the product.

Delivery & Stakeholder Management

Work closely with technology, delivery, operations, risk, legal, compliance, marketing, and partners.

Translate business outcomes into clear requirements and prioritised backlogs.

Participate actively in Agile delivery processes where applicable (e.g. squad ceremonies, PI planning).

Risk, Compliance & Governance

Ensure ongoing compliance with:

National Credit Act

Card scheme rules (Visa)

Consumer protection, AML, and related regulations

Partner with Risk and Compliance to:

Manage pricing, fees, and credit related changes

Review and approve product changes

Support audits, reviews, and governance forums.

Partnerships & Ecosystem

Manage relationships with:

Card schemes

Rewards and travel partners

Vendors and service providers

Evaluate and integrate partnerships that enhance customer value and commercial outcomes.

Key Skills & Competencies

Product & Commercial Skills

Strong product management fundamentals

Commercial acumen and financial literacy

Experience managing revenue generating products

Ability to balance customer value, profitability, and risk

Analytical & Strategic Thinking

Data driven decision making

Ability to translate insights into actionable product improvements

Comfortable working with performance dashboards and metrics

Stakeholder & Communication Skills

Strong influencing and collaboration skills

Ability to communicate clearly with senior stakeholders, delivery teams, and partners

Comfortable navigating complex organisational environments

Delivery & Execution

Experience working in Agile or hybrid delivery environments

Ability to manage multiple priorities and dependencies

Outcome focused, with strong ownership and accountability

Experience & Qualifications

Typical requirements:

5–10+ years experience in product management, cards, payments, or retail banking

Direct experience with:

Credit cards, unsecured lending, or consumer finance

Payments ecosystems and card schemes (preferred)

Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field (MBA advantageous but not mandatory)

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised