Our client is a fast-growing online lending business, leveraging technology and data to provide seamless financial solutions. By using data-driven insights, they optimise customer acquisition, conversion, and retention processes. They are now seeking a Product Manager to develop, manage, and optimise their consumer-facing digital products.

Role Overview

The Product Manager will oversee the entire application journey and product lifecycle, from initial ideation to launch, growth, and continuous improvement. This role sits within the Commercial Team and collaborates closely with marketing, technology, credit risk, and operations to ensure that products meet customer needs, adhere to regulatory requirements, and support overall business objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in product management, consumer finance, and digital lending platforms.

Product Strategy & Roadmap

• Define and execute a clear product strategy for the digital short-term lending business, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall vision and goals.
  
• Develop and manage the product roadmap, prioritising features, improvements, and new products based on market needs, customer feedback, regulatory changes, and business priorities.
  
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, customer needs, and gaps in the market to inform product development and innovation.
  

Application Journey Monitoring and Optimisation

• Track customer progress through the application journey (drop-off rates, time spent per step, retries).
  
• Identify customer pain points and drive collaboration across teams to improve customer experience, completion rates, and risk management.
  
• Develop A/B tests in collaboration with technical, marketing, and credit risk teams to experiment with different UI/integration elements to optimise customer completion rates.
  
• Work with marketing teams to develop strategies that encourage completion through rewards, reminders, or urgency tactics.
  

Product Development & Lifecycle Management

• Lead the end-to-end product development process, from ideation and concept through to design, development, and launch.
  
• Collaborate with design, engineering, data, and marketing teams to define product features, user journeys, and customer experience requirements.
  
• Ensure product compliance with financial regulations and internal risk policies.
  
• Manage the product lifecycle, including post-launch optimisation, enhancements, and updates.
  

Customer-Centric Product Design

• Ensure that product features and user interfaces are designed with customer experience in mind, prioritising ease of use, accessibility, and satisfaction.
  
• Use customer feedback, user testing, and analytics to identify pain points and areas for improvement.
  
• Implement A/B testing, user surveys, and other research methodologies to refine the product and enhance customer satisfaction.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with marketing teams to define go-to-market strategies and develop effective product positioning and messaging.
  
• Collaborate with credit risk teams to ensure products align with responsible lending practices and compliance requirements.
  
• Partner with collections teams to optimise repayment structures and collections strategies.
  
• Engage with customer support teams to resolve issues and gather customer insights for product improvements.
  

Product Metrics & Performance Tracking

• Track key product KPIs to evaluate product performance.
  
• Analyse product data and performance metrics to make data-driven decisions, optimise product features, and prioritise improvements.
  
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on product performance, customer feedback, and roadmap progress.
  

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure product compliance with all relevant financial regulations.
  
• Integrate regulatory reporting, disclosures, and consumer protection measures into the product offering.
  
• Align product development with internal credit risk management systems to assess and mitigate loan defaults and fraud.
  

Continuous Improvement

• Stay up to date with the latest trends in digital lending and consumer finance, leveraging new technologies and market insights to keep the product competitive.
  
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, seeking ways to enhance the product offering and customer experience.
  
• Explore new revenue models, product features, and market segments to drive business growth.
  

Requirements

Key Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics, Business, Finance, or Engineering (essential).
  
• Professional certifications in Product Management or Agile/Scrum Certification are preferred.
  
• Advanced skills in SQL or PostGres SQL (essential).
  
• 3–5 years in product management or a similar role, preferably within digital lending or consumer finance.
  
• Experience working with cross-functional teams to bring a product to market in a financial services business.
  
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and make informed product decisions.
  
• Customer-centric mindset, with a deep understanding of the digital finance customer journey.
  
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate product concepts, features, and roadmaps clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  
• Strong project management skills, with experience managing product timelines, priorities, and stakeholder expectations.
  
• Experience with product management tools (Jira, Trello) and data analysis tools (PostGres SQL, Python).
  
• Deep understanding of lending products in the South African market.
  
• Experience in a fast-paced, evolving environment where innovation and customer-centricity are key drivers.
  
• Strong understanding of consumer behaviour in digital finance, including factors influencing loan uptake, repayment, and defaults.
  
• Adaptability and willingness to continuously learn and adjust product strategies in a rapidly evolving market.