Manager-Settlements Card Operations (Mashreq Bank Pakistan)

This role is responsible for leading and overseeing the entire spectrum of card operations within Mashreq Digital Bank’s Alternate Delivery Channels (ADC). The incumbent manages card issuance, activation, replacement, renewal, blocking, and closure processes, along with all reconciliation, settlement, and payment processing activities. The position ensures financial accuracy, straight-through processing, regulatory compliance with the SBP PSD Framework, and maintains strong controls and operational resilience in a digital-only banking environment. This role supports Mashreq’s innovative digital, customer-centric, and risk-controlled operating model.

Key Responsibilities

ADC Reconciliation & Settlement Governance:
Manage card production, inventory control, personalization, and delivery processes in collaboration with vendors and courier partners. Own the end-to-end daily, intraday, and month-end reconciliations for ATM and POS transactions under local and international schemes such as 1LINK and Mastercard, including IBFT, RAAST, bill payments, Direct Biller payments, and ATM/CDM digital transactions. Ensure timely interbank, scheme, and vendor settlements with zero financial leakage. Monitor suspense accounts, general ledger mismatches, and aging reconciling items. Approve and track resolution of high-value, high-risk, and aged exceptions.

Payment Processing Operations:
Oversee the complete digital payment processing cycle, including cut-offs, settlement windows, and fallback procedures. Ensure uninterrupted processing across RAAST, 1LINK, card schemes, and Direct Billers/fintech integrations. Establish governance for payment queues, reruns, and exception handling. Maintain readiness for business continuity, disaster recovery drills, and incident recovery.

Risk, Compliance & Regulatory Alignment:
Ensure strict compliance with the SBP PSD Framework, SBP Digital Banking Regulations, AML/CFT, sanctions screening controls, Mashreq Group policies, and delegation of authority. Own unit-level risk and control self-assessments (RCSA), key risk indicators (KRIs), incident reporting, and loss event management. Lead the closure of observations from SBP, internal, external, and group audits. Strengthen preventive and detective controls within a high straight-through processing (STP) digital environment.

MIS, Finance & Governance:
Review and approve ADC reconciliation management information system (MIS) reports, settlement reports, general ledger certifications, and control dashboards. Coordinate with Finance teams on month-end and year-end closures, income and expense booking, and regulatory and management reporting. Provide accurate and timely reporting to senior management and Mashreq Group stakeholders.

People & Performance Management:
Lead multiple teams responsible for reconciliation, settlements, and payment operations. Set performance KPIs aligned with Mashreq’s performance framework. Drive talent development, cross-skilling, and succession planning initiatives. Foster a culture of ownership, accuracy, accountability, and control discipline.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management:
Serve as the senior operations single point of contact (SPOC) for Digital Banking & IT, Risk, Compliance, Operational Risk Management, Audit, Finance, Treasury, and Customer Experience teams. Manage third-party relationships with 1LINK, RAAST, card schemes, switches, payment service providers (PSPs), and fintech partners. Handle senior-level escalations related to settlement delays or reconciliation discrepancies.

Process Excellence & Automation:
Champion automation, STP improvements, and reconciliation tool optimization in line with Mashreq’s digital strategy. Reduce manual interventions and operational risk through workflow digitization. Lead operating model inputs for new product launches, user acceptance testing (UAT), and system upgrades. Embed control-by-design principles in all new digital capabilities.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Banking, or Business.
8 to 12+ years of experience in banking operations.
Strong hands-on expertise in ADC reconciliation, digital payments, and settlements.
In-depth knowledge of digital payments and clearing systems.
Mastery of financial controls and reconciliation processes.
Proven leadership in risk management and audit functions.
Strategic thinker with disciplined execution capabilities.

No specific preferred qualifications or benefits were mentioned for this role.