M&A Finance Integration Lead/Manager

Role Purpose The M&A Finance Integration Lead/Manager is responsible for planning, leading, and executing the financial integration of acquisitions, with a strong focus on banking, fintech, and merchant payments businesses across Africa. This is an opportunity to join a group that has grown significantly through acquisition and is looking to at least double its footprint within the next 5 years through a define M&A strategy and dedicated team. The role ensures that acquired entities are seamlessly integrated into the Group’s financial, regulatory, operational, and reporting frameworks, while preserving value, accelerating synergies, and managing integration risks. This position within the finance team sits at the intersection of M&A execution, finance transformation, and regulated financial services integration. Key Responsibilities 1. M&A Integration Strategy & Execution • Lead the finance integration workstream for mergers, acquisitions, and minority investments involving banks, fintechs, payment institutions, and merchant acquiring platforms. • Translate deal theses into clear post-merger integration (PMI) roadmaps, milestones, and financial targets. • Partner closely with M&A, Legal, Compliance, IT, and Operations teams throughout the transaction lifecycle. 2. Banking & Regulated Financial Services Integration • Manage integration of regulated banking entities, ensuring compliance with local central bank requirements, prudential regulations, and reporting standards across African markets. • Coordinate with the M&A team, IT, risk/compliance teams to ensure continuity of licenses, capital adequacy, and regulatory reporting. • Oversee alignment of financial control environments, governance models, and internal audit frameworks post-acquisition. 3. Fintech & Payments Integration • Lead financial integration of banks and fintech businesses, including: • Banks and Microfinances • Embedded finance • Digital payments & wallets • Card issuing & processing • Merchant acquiring • Align fintech financial models with bank-grade controls, including reconciliation, settlement, revenue recognition, and transaction monitoring. • Support integration of bank–fintech partnerships, joint ventures, and platform-based operating models. 4. Financial Controls, Reporting & Systems • Harmonize chart of accounts, accounting policies, and financial reporting across acquired entities. • Drive integration of finance systems (ERP, core banking interfaces, payment platforms) in collaboration with IT and vendors. • Ensure timely consolidation into Group financial statements (IFRS or equivalent). 5. Synergies, Value Creation & Performance Tracking • Identify, quantify, and track cost, revenue, and balance-sheet synergies. • Establish post-close financial KPIs, dashboards, and governance forums to monitor integration progress and value realization. • Support leadership in making data-driven decisions on operating model optimization and capital allocation. 6. Stakeholder & Change Management • Act as a trusted finance integration partner to executive leadership, business partners, and acquisition targets. • Lead cross-functional integration teams, often in complex, multi-country, matrix environments. • Support cultural integration and change management, particularly between banking and fintech operating cultures. Experience & Qualifications Required Experience • 8–15+ years of experience in M&A, finance integration, transaction services, or finance transformation. • Proven hands-on experience leading post-merger finance integration for: • Banks or regulated financial institutions • Fintechs operating with or within banking ecosystems • Direct involvement in acquisitions and integrations in Africa, with strong understanding of regional regulatory and market dynamics. • Experience working with merchant payments, acquiring, digital payments, or bank–fintech partnership models. Preferred Backgrounds • Banking M&A / Strategy / Integration teams • Big 4 Transaction Services / Deals / PMI with financial institutions focus • Fintech platforms integrated with banks or payment schemes • Project management within financial institutions and fintech Skills & Capabilities • Strong understanding of banking finance, payments economics, and fintech business models. • Deep knowledge of financial controls, accounting standards, and regulatory reporting. • Structured, execution-focused mindset with the ability to operate in ambiguous, fast-paced deal environments. • Strong stakeholder management skills, including interaction with regulators and senior executives. • Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills. Education & Languages • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field • Professional qualification preferred (CPA, ACCA, CFA, or equivalent) • Fluency in English required • French strongly preferred (especially for Francophone Africa exposure) Location This position is available as a full-time role, based out of Dubai (UAE) or any of Axian Digibank and Fintech’s operations in Africa. Show more Show less

8–15+ years of experience in M&A, finance integration, transaction services, or finance transformation. Proven hands-on experience leading post-merger finance integration for banks or regulated financial institutions. Direct involvement in acquisitions and integrations in Africa with strong understanding of regional regulatory and market dynamics. Experience working with merchant payments, acquiring, digital payments, or bank–fintech partnership models.

1. Lead the finance integration workstream for mergers, acquisitions, and minority investments involving banks, fintechs, payment institutions, and merchant acquiring platforms. Translate deal theses into post-merger integration roadmaps, milestones, and financial targets. Partner with M&A, Legal, Compliance, IT, and Operations throughout the transaction lifecycle. 2. Manage integration of regulated banking entities, ensuring compliance with local central bank requirements, prudential regulations, and reporting standards across African markets. Coordinate with M&A, IT, risk/compliance to ensure continuity of licenses, capital adequacy, and regulatory reporting. Oversee alignment of financial control environments, governance models, and internal audit frameworks post-acquisition. 3. Lead financial integration of banks and fintech businesses, including banks and microfinances; embedded finance; digital payments & wallets; card issuing & processing; merchant acquiring; align fintech financial models with bank-grade controls, reconciliation, settlement, revenue recognition, and transaction monitoring. 4. Harmonize chart of accounts, accounting policies, and financial reporting across acquired entities. Drive integration of finance systems (ERP, core banking interfaces, payment platforms). Ensure timely consolidation into Group financial statements (IFRS or equivalent). 5. Identify, quantify, and track cost, revenue, and balance-sheet synergies. Establish post-close financial KPIs, dashboards, and governance forums to monitor integration progress and value realization. Support leadership in data-driven operating model optimization and capital allocation. 6. Act as trusted finance integration partner to executive leadership, business partners, and acquisition targets. Lead cross-functional integration teams in multi-country, matrix environments. Support cultural integration and change management between banking and fintech operating cultures.