Alex Njau

I am an accomplished, motivated and versatile IT manager with over 18 years of experience in banking and financial systems. Seeking the next big career challenge and an opportunity to apply my knowledge and expertise on a larger scale.

August 2019 – Current                        Family Bank Limited 

Position: Senior Technical Manager, Digital Financial Services (DFS)
At Family Bank, my work includes: -

• Analyzing how well software, hardware, and the wider IT system fit the business needs of all DFS business units and make recommendations for improvements
• Coming up with specifications for new or modified systems and liaising with the IT department and system vendors to develop and implement these systems.
• Testing all DFS-related system changes and overseeing upgrades or fixes, ensuring there is minimal interruption to business
• Monitoring the effectiveness of DFS systems to ensure that solutions are viable and consistent
• Conducting regular reviews of DFS systems and generating reports on efficiencies and improvement areas

January 2017 – April 2019                       ModeFinServer

Position: Project Manager
ModeFinserver is an Omni-Channel Banking Solution Provider that offers digital banking platforms to financial institutions across Africa. At ModeFinServer my work included: -

• Offering consultancy on card and card-related technologies to banks across Africa
• Demonstration of Modefinserver solutions during sales pitches organized by sales team across Africa
• Leading customers through requirement gathering sessions before the beginning of a project, taking down all business requirements, and preparing a Software specification requirement (SRS) document to lock the scope of the project. This document is used by ModeFinServer technical team as well as the customer throughout the lifespan of the project to ensure what was promised has been delivered
• Managing implementation projects in 8 banks across 4 countries in Africa.

June 2012 – December 2016                Chase Bank

Position: Head of Alternate Channels
Managing a team of 5 staff members responsible for supporting alternate channel systems at Chase Bank. Responsible for formulation and implementation of the bank's alternate channels strategy in alignment with bank's corporate strategy. 

At Chase Bank I accomplished below major projects alongside other smaller projects: -

• Designed and developed a channel monitoring system that is used to monitor all the banks channels and can quickly identify any issues on the channels systems
• Led implementation of an agency banking system as well as migration of agency banking interface from Kenswitch to Electra and later to Way4
• Led implementation of a system used for salary payment, bulk transfers to Mpesa, online remittances from money transfer companies to mobile or bank accounts via Chase Bank
• Led implementation of a hybrid card management system where credit and prepaid cards were hosted by a third-party processor in India while debit cards and ATM acquiring were setup in Licensing mode in servers at Chase Bank Kenya
• Led implementation of Way4 card management system to replace Electra and included migration of all Electra Cards to Way4 as well as migration of all ATMs from Electra to Way4

November 2011 – April 2012      Equity Bank

Position: Channels Support and Operations Manager
Position involved heading technical support team of bank’s alternate business channels namely ATM, POS, Mobile and Internet banking. 

Duties included:

• Coordinating daily support operations including morning staff meetings, and handling any escalations and customer complaints
• Led implementation of a new ecommerce/online acquiring channel.

May 2006 – October 2011           Technology Associates - Kenya

Position: Electronic Funds Technology Consultant

Duties:  1. Managing Implementation Projects

2. Led implementation and configuration of Card Management Systems in various banks

               3. Developed interfaces between bank host systems and CMS systems

               4. Performed Installation and configuration of EFT/ATM switches

Projects handled:-

• Led implementation of Tieto card suite for Eprocess international, a subsidiary of Ecobank group, Ghana
• Led implementation of ATM/POS EFT switch and Card management system for Wegagen Bank, Ethiopia 
• Led implementation of mobile banking platform using USSD technology for Equity Bank Kenya
• Led implementation of POS Management System at Southern Credit Bank Corporation Kenya
• Led implementation of Electra Card Management System at Ecobank Ghana for managing their credit cards

Nov 2005 – May 2006       Fidelity Commercial Bank – Card Center

Position: Systems Administrator

Duties: 

1. Performed processing and generation of Card embossing files and PIN mailers
2. Daily collection and processing of VISA BASEII settlement files
3. Running of end-of-day and end-of-month processes
4. Documenting help desk tickets/resolutions, and providing overall assistance in the card management system administration-related tickets

• Aug 2021 – Mar 2022 Strathmore University Business School, Nairobi, Kenya
  Senior Management Development Programme
• Jun 2015 Chase Bank Training Center, Nairobi, Kenya
  Way4 Base Course
• Nov 2009 Tieto Training Center, Riga, Latvia
  Tieto advanced course on Card Management System, Real time processing system, integrated issuer authorization.
• Feb 2007 Tieto Training Center, Riga, Latvia
  Card Suite System Administration                                                          
• Jan 2002 – April 2005 Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
  Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) degree, Attained: Second Class honors, Upper Division