Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – FinTech & Mobile Payments Start-Up-Botswana
Position: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location: Gaborone, Botswana
Employer: Confidential (through Freedom 77 Recruitment)
Employment Type: Full-Time | Executive Level
Industry: Financial Technology (Digital Payments, Mobile Money, Financial Services)
Positions Available: 1
Job Description:
A high-growth FinTech start-up is seeking a visionary, founder-minded Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the venture from inception to scale. The CEO will define and execute strategy across digital payments and mobile money (P2P transfers, merchant payments, wallet-to-bank integrations, virtual cards), build and lead multidisciplinary teams, secure regulatory approvals, form strategic partnerships, and position the brand as a market leader in Botswana and the SADC region. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strategic foresight, operational excellence, and deep sector expertise in a fast-paced start-up environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute market-entry and growth strategies; translate investor vision into measurable milestones (financial, technical, operational).
- Operational Management: Build day-to-day operations; establish and track KPIs (P&L, user growth, transaction volumes, liquidity, agent network); oversee technology/platform delivery with product & engineering.
- Regulatory & Governance: Engage Bank of Botswana, NBFIRA, and FIU for licensing and compliance; implement robust AML/KYC and data protection frameworks; ensure strong governance and transparent board reporting.
- Business Development & Partnerships: Forge alliances with telecoms, banks, payment gateways, agents, and fintech partners; negotiate scalable partnership models; expand merchant networks and revenue channels.
- Financial & Investor Relations: Oversee fundraising, budgeting, and capital allocation; report performance and growth outlook to investors/board; maintain investor confidence through disciplined execution.
- Talent & Culture: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team (Operations, Finance, Technology, Compliance, Marketing); drive a culture of innovation, accountability, inclusion, and ethical leadership.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Computer Science, or related field.
- Minimum 10 years’ leadership experience in FinTech, Banking, Payments, or Telecommunications.
- Demonstrated success launching or scaling mobile money, payments, or banking platforms (preferably in emerging markets).
- Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks (AML/KYC, data privacy, payment system licensing).
- Proven financial acumen (capital raising, investor management, budget oversight).
- Deep understanding of digital payment infrastructure, APIs, and mobile wallet ecosystems.
Preferred Qualifications:
- MBA or Master’s degree.
- Experience operating within Botswana’s financial and telecoms environment.
- Track record of building and scaling start-ups to profitability.
- Exposure to SADC markets and cross-border payment ecosystems.
- Familiarity with modern product development and agile delivery practices.
Skills:
- Strategic vision and commercial acumen.
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management.
- Hands-on operator mindset for early-stage environments.
- Data-driven decision-making and KPI discipline.
- Team-building, coaching, and change leadership.
- Strong governance, risk management, and regulatory navigation.
Relevant Experience:
- 10+ years in senior leadership roles within FinTech/Payments/Banking/Telco.
- Proven experience taking platforms from concept to market scale in mobile money/digital payments.
- Engagement with regulators (e.g., Bank of Botswana, NBFIRA, FIU) and licensing processes.
- Fundraising, investor relations, and management of large budgets.
- Building multi-disciplinary teams and establishing operational frameworks from scratch.
Benefits: Highly competitive executive-level remuneration package.
Performance Incentives:
Attractive bonus structure and target-based incentives aligned with company milestones and growth objectives.
Keywords:
FinTech | CEO | Mobile Payments | Digital Wallet | Start-Up | Banking Technology | Financial Inclusion | Gaborone | Money Transfer | PSP | NBFIRA | Bank of Botswana | KYC | AML | Innovation | Equity | Financial Services Leadership | Botswana
How to Apply:
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Applications done via email will automatically be rejected.
We only accept applications done via our online Job Portal.
Simply Upload your Cover Letter and CV on our Job Portal.
No need to upload Certifications or References. (we will request them at a later stage before you attend the interview)
Contact Information:
- Website: www.freedom77.org
- Email: info@freedom77.org
- We only accept applications done via our online Job Portal.
Disclaimer:
Applying for this job does not guarantee placement nor does it guarantee placement of the specific job post applied for.
This job position has previously been requested in the job market.
Please log in/register via our website and apply for this job if interested.
We will keep you posted if you are successful to be invited for an initial interview.