Chief Operating Officer at Stellas Digital Bank

Role Description

• This is a full-time role for a Chief Operating Officer, based in Lagos State, Nigeria. The Chief Operating Officer will oversee business operations, drive operational efficiency, and execute strategic initiatives. Responsibilities include managing budgets, optimizing processes, analyzing business performance, and aligning daily operations with organizational goals to ensure growth and sustainability. The individual will collaborate closely with the executive leadership team to achieve Stellas' strategic vision.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of developing and executing operating policies that support overall company objectives and long-term strategic goals.
• Extensive experience managing and directing company-wide operations to meet revenue, budget, and other key financial targets, including annual operating plans.
• Proven ability to lead strategic business planning, including long- and short-range objectives, business plans, policies, and budgets across multiple business units.
• Demonstrated success working with functional leaders to translate corporate strategy into clear operational deliverables, KPIs, and performance goals.
• Deep expertise in reviewing and optimizing business processes and operating practices to improve efficiency, scalability, and customer satisfaction.
• Experience driving organizational change and building a productive, dynamic, and high-performance culture across diverse teams.
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to determine short- and long-term financial needs, interpret financial reports, and ensure alignment with growth and profitability objectives.
• Proven leadership in performance management, including setting goals, allocating resources, measuring progress, and holding senior management accountable for results.
• Experience overseeing business continuity management and implementing best practices to ensure resilience and rapid response during disruptive events.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain key relationships with clients, regulators, industry stakeholders, and community partners in support of business strategy.
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, with a strong focus on compliance and proactive risk management.
• Experience establishing succession planning strategies and talent development frameworks for senior leadership roles and other key positions.
• Excellent communication, advisory, and decision-making skills, with the ability to foresee and articulate the impact of changes in regulations, policies, and procedures.

Key Requirements

Education and Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a reputable institution
• MSc/MBA is an added advantage
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant experience, including at least five (5) years in an executive / C‑level role

Skills and Competencies

• Proven track record of facilitating progressive organisational change and development within a growing organisation
• Strong understanding of core business support functions (HR, Finance, Marketing, IT, Operations, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and work with executives responsible for key operations
• Advanced organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple business units simultaneously
• Advanced knowledge of developing and executing corporate and business strategy
• Strong drive for execution, with a focus on delivering on time, in full, and with high accuracy
• Strong aptitude for budgeting, cost control, and cost savings, with verifiable budgeting and sales experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Digital-first and customer experience focused, with an ability to align operations to customer needs
• Excellent judgement and creative problem-solving skills
• Ability to operate effectively at both tactical and strategic levels
• Superior strategic agility, evidenced by quick problem identification, insightful and “out-of-the-box” thinking, and the ability to balance short-term results with long-term value creation

Key Performance Indicators

• Achievement of company strategic objectives
• Overall company performance across financial, people, and operational metrics
• Return on investment and profitability
• Company’s competitive position within the market
• Customer Satisfaction Index
• Net Promoter Score (NPS)
• Employee satisfaction and retention index
• Compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and provisions
• Working capital efficiency
• Revenue growth
• Current ratio
• Cost-to-income ratio
• Reduction in procurement cost
• Effectiveness of shared strategy implementation