Head of Payments, Risk

BetJara is a unique sports and gaming company, focused on the Nigerian market. Our focus is to provide the best gaming and trading experience for all users and also rewarding all of our customers with our driving innovations, products offering, promotions and customer service. We are best known for providing the best betting odds, betting bonus and fastest paying out platform in the industry. We are hiring a Head of Payments, Risk & Fraud to own the strategy and day-to-day performance of our risk management, fraud prevention and payments, across both product and operations. With part of our operations based in Malta and a strong presence in Nigeria, this senior leader will keep every financial transaction secure, compliant and fast, while protecting a seamless player experience. You will set direction for the function, lead the Risk, Fraud & Payments (RFP) team, and act as the senior point of contact for payment service providers, our platform partner and internal stakeholders.

Key responsibilities
Strategy and leadership
• Define and own the risk, fraud and payments strategy, aligned with business growth and regulatory requirements.
• Lead, mentor and grow the RFP team, setting clear objectives and building a high-performance culture.
• Design and deliver training programs on fraud detection, payment processes and emerging threats.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex fraud, payment and risk cases. Fraud prevention and risk management
• Develop, implement and monitor strategies to detect and prevent fraud across all platforms and products.
• Assess risk exposure and own mitigation plans for identified vulnerabilities.
• Oversee fraud detection tools, rules engines and manual review processes to identify and manage fraud patterns.
• Track emerging fraud trends, tools and tactics, especially in the Nigerian and wider African markets, keeping the company ahead of threats. Payments
• Own the payments strategy and roadmap, covering both the payments product and day-to-day operations.
• Work with our B2B platform partner to shape the deposit and withdrawal experience, including cashier flows, payment method mix, routing and cascading, to drive conversion and player retention.
• Identify, evaluate and launch new payment methods and PSPs, with a focus on Nigeria and other target markets.
• Manage PSP relationships end to end: selection, commercial negotiation, integration and performance reviews.
• Own acceptance rates, payment costs and processing times, using data to optimise routing and reduce fees.
• Oversee payment operations, including deposits, withdrawals, chargebacks and refunds, ensuring accurate and timely processing in line with industry standards.
• Identify and resolve payment platform issues with internal teams and external partners. Compliance and governance
• Partner with Compliance to embed AML, KYC and regulatory requirements into operational workflows.
• Maintain robust records and audit trails for internal and external audits.
• Ensure policies and procedures are documented, current and consistently applied. Cross-functional collaboration and reporting
• Work with our platform provider, Customer Support and Compliance and other stakeholders to align risk and payment processes.
• Define and monitor KPIs for fraud, risk and payment performance.
• Report to senior leadership on fraud incidents, payment performance and mitigation strategies.
• Use data insights to recommend improvements to systems, processes and policies. What you bring
• 5+ years in risk management, fraud prevention or payments within iGaming, including time in a leadership role.
• 5+ years working in the Nigerian market, with strong knowledge of its iGaming landscape, local payment methods and PSPs.
• Proven expertise managing fraud detection tools, payment gateways and transaction monitoring systems.
• Deep understanding of iGaming payment flows, risk assessment and fraud detection techniques.
• Working knowledge of AML, KYC and related compliance practices in iGaming.
• Experience owning payments product as well as operations (cashier, payment method roadmap, PSP routing), with broad knowledge of global payment methods and PSPs.
• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable presenting to senior leadership and negotiating with external partners.
• Proficiency in SQL, Excel and fraud detection platforms. Nice to have
• Experience using AI-driven tools for fraud detection, risk scoring or transaction monitoring.
• Experience in other African markets.
• Relevant professional certification in AML or fraud prevention
• A genuine passion for iGaming and an understanding of its unique challenges. What's in it for you?
• A collaborative team: Work alongside colleagues who value openness, mutual support and continuous learning, with the trust to lead your function your way.
• Room to grow: As we expand, you'll shape how the Risk, Fraud & Payments function scales, taking on new markets, challenges and responsibilities.
• A modern workplace: A bright, spacious office with an in-house gym, built to support both focus and wellbeing.