Chief Technology Officer

Job Description: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Company: Lightway Group

Comprising: Lightway Microfinance Bank (MFB) and Lightway Finance

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Reporting To: Managing directors & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

About Lightway Group

Lightway Group is a diverse financial entity comprising Lightway Microfinance Bank (MFB), dedicated to empowering small businesses and individuals through accessible banking, and Lightway Finance, which is a specialized remittance company holding an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) license in Nigeria and Financial Institution (FI) status in the UK. We are committed to group-wide digital transformation, leveraging technology to harmonize operations, scale our reach across banking and cross-border payment segments, enhance customer experience, and ensure robust operational excellence and strict regulatory compliance in all operating territories.

Role Summary

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is a strategic executive responsible for leading all technological aspects of the Lightway Group. This role requires a proven leader who can define and execute a technology vision that aligns with the Group's business goals, particularly in digital banking, cross-border payment systems (remittance), financial services, and risk management across regulated and non-regulated entities in both Nigerian and international (UK) jurisdictions. The ideal candidate will have deep, hands-on experience within the payments, remittance, or regulated financial services sector.

Key Responsibilities:

Technology Strategy & Vision

• Develop, communicate, and execute a multi-year technology strategy and roadmap that supports the Group's growth, digital transformation initiatives, and financial inclusion mandate.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, platforms (e.g., cloud, FinTech partnerships), and architectures to maintain a competitive edge and optimize operational costs across all entities.
• Oversee the management, maintenance, and enhancement of the Core Banking System (CBS) and all mission-critical banking and remittance platform applications.

Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow the Technology and IT Operations teams, fostering a culture of innovation, agility, security, and continuous improvement (DevOps/Agile).
• Manage the technology budget, ensuring cost-effective investment in infrastructure, software, and personnel.
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to overall business strategy and decision-making.

IT Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Establish and enforce robust IT governance frameworks, policies, and procedures to ensure adherence to best practices and internal controls across the Group.
• Oversee compliance technology: Ensure all payment and banking platforms meet the strict regulatory requirements of the Nigerian Central Bank (CBN) (especially for IMTO) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, including AML/KYC technology and reporting.
• Oversee the Group's disaster recovery (DR) planning, business continuity management (BCM), and overall IT resilience.

Digital Innovation & Product Support

• Collaborate closely with the Product and Business teams to rapidly design, develop, and deploy customer-centric digital products (e.g., mobile banking, payment channels, agency banking solutions).
• Remittance Platform Management: Drive the technical stability, innovation, and efficiency of the cross-border payment infrastructure, ensuring fast, reliable, and secure transaction processing.
• Drive the effective integration of third-party FinTech solutions and APIs to expand service offerings.
• Champion data infrastructure and analytics capabilities to support informed business intelligence and decision-making across the Group.

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure

• Define and manage the enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy to protect customer data, financial assets, and the Group's infrastructure from evolving threats.
• Ensure high availability, performance, and scalability of all banking and finance systems and network infrastructure.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in Information Technology, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a Banking, Payment Service Provider, Money Transfer Organization, or FinTech institution.
• Industry Knowledge (Mandatory): Deep understanding of financial regulatory environments, IT governance, and compliance requirements in the financial sector, specifically knowledge of IMTO/remittance technology and regulatory compliance (e.g., CBN, FCA).
• Experience managing technology across multiple related entities is a significant plus.
• Technical Expertise: Proven track record in managing and transforming core banking systems, digital channels (mobile/web), and enterprise architecture, with direct experience managing high-throughput transaction processing systems.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to set strategic vision, lead large, complex technology teams, and manage significant technology budgets.
• Certifications (Preferred): Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, ITIL, or equivalent project management/Agile certifications.

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of translating complex technical issues into business terms for the board and executive team.
• Proven ability to drive organizational change and digital transformation.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical practices in a regulated environment.

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience, particularly within the financial services sector and cross-border payments, to