Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About the role

eRecruiter is recruiting, on behalf of a client, a Chief Operating Officer for a rapidly growing financial services and technology company operating across complex African markets. The company is expanding its institutional partnerships, lending programs and banking relationships, and needs a COO who can turn strategy into execution and build systems that let the business scale beyond founder-dependent operations. The role is based in Lagos.

Key responsibilities

• Translate strategic priorities into execution plans, define ownership, accountability systems and performance metrics, and set up operating rhythms, reporting and decision-making processes.
• Build scalable systems, reduce dependence on informal processes and founder-driven coordination, and foster a culture of accountability and ownership.
• Coordinate execution across Engineering, Risk, Operations, Compliance and other units, and set up daily, weekly and monthly management reviews and escalation protocols.
• Ensure operational readiness for institutional partners, commercial banks, investors and regulators.
• Identify capability gaps, recruit and develop managers and leaders, and make strategic personnel and organizational decisions.
• Possible oversight of banking and institutional financing, government programs, strategic partnerships, market expansion, large-scale lending and technology integrations.

First 90 days

• Audit founder-dependent activities and establish a unified execution framework.
• Implement standardized KPIs, accountability systems and escalation protocols.
• Improve decision speed and cross-functional coordination.

Required profile

• Preferred: senior leadership experience in financial services, fintech, banking, consulting, technology or high-growth organizations.
• Demonstrated success building, scaling or restructuring operational systems.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing organizational transformation.
• Ability to work in dynamic, fast-changing and ambiguous environments; requires minimal supervision.