Country Manager

Company Description

Our client is a Brazilian-founded global payments company that helps international businesses accept payments in emerging markets by connecting them with local payment methods and financial infrastructure. Headquartered in Curitiba, Brazil, the company operates in 20+ countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia, with international offices including Singapore, which serves as its APAC headquarters.

About the role

Our client is expanding into additional emerging markets, including Pakistan, as part of its broader international growth strategy. The Country Manager role is part of this expansion, with the goal of establishing local operations and building the regulatory and financial partnerships needed to enter the Pakistani market.

In this role, you will launch our client's operations in Pakistan from scratch, reporting to APAC Director, based in India.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, develop, and lead the company's local operations in Pakistan, taking ownership of market entry and operational execution.

• Manage the country's P&L, driving commercial performance, sustainable growth, and operational efficiency.

• Navigate the local regulatory landscape, managing relationships and engagement with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and other relevant regulatory bodies.

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with local banks, payment service providers (PSPs), financial institutions, and key industry stakeholders.

• Identify and develop business opportunities, strengthening the company's presence and positioning within Pakistan's fintech and payments ecosystem.

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, including Legal, Compliance, Treasury, Finance, and other relevant teams, to ensure effective local operations.

• Represent the company in the local market, independently navigating business, regulatory, and operational challenges.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with regional and global teams to align local priorities with the company's broader business strategy.

Requirements

• Experience in fintech, payments, banking, or financial services, ideally in a senior leadership or country management role.

• Strong understanding of the Pakistani financial services and payments ecosystem, including local regulations and market dynamics.

• Established relationships with the State Bank of Pakistan, local banks, payment providers, and other relevant financial institutions.

• Direct experience engaging with regulators and central banks, with a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements.

• Experience managing P&L, overseeing business operations, and driving commercial growth.

• Senior stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships, influence decision-makers, and navigate complex environments.

• Hands-on and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to establish and manage local operations independently.

• Currently based in Pakistan or willing to relocate back.