Head of Payment Systems
About Me
I am a business-focused, results-driven professional with over 10 years of experience delivering strategic value through product development, IT, and operations management, particularly in payment systems within the banking and iGaming sectors. My expertise lies in driving process optimization, automation, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure regulatory compliance. I have a proven track record of leading international teams and managing over 100 projects across Georgian and international markets, consistently delivering measurable business impact and growth.
Throughout my career, I have successfully saved significant costs, including ₾180K monthly through payment integration and automation at the Bank of Georgia, and cut vendor expenses by 20%, saving ₾100K monthly on POS and ATM operations. I have managed large-scale ATM and POS terminal networks, improving uptime and operational control. My leadership extended to expanding fintech operations internationally, notably leading Cyprus market expansion and securing local banking and payment partnerships.
I excel at launching automated reporting systems that increase accuracy and operational efficiency. My role often involves coordinating complex projects that require aligning technical, legal, and operational processes to ensure compliance with national regulations. I am adept at building centralized data systems and dashboards that support real-time performance tracking and data-driven decision-making.
I am passionate about re-engineering workflows and implementing automation tools such as Tableau reports to facilitate faster monitoring and executive decision-making. My background also includes front-end development skills, which enhance my communication with engineering teams and improve project accuracy.
I am open to relocation opportunities and eager to bring my expertise in payment systems and fintech product management to new challenges, driving innovation and growth in dynamic environments.
Skills
Communication SkillsProject ManagementCustomer ServiceJavaScriptCollaborationStakeholder ManagementRisk ManagementStrategic PlanningTeam LeadershipAutomationHTMLCSSQuality AssuranceVendor ManagementClient ManagementProcess OptimizationOperations Management
Education
Certificate in HTML, CSS & JavaScript
Certificate in Project Management
Master’s Degree in Banking
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management
Experience
Led the full lifecycle of digital payment products, from strategic planning and development to testing and rollout, delivering measurable business value. Led Adjarabet integration project with Bank of Georgia, aligning technical, legal, and operational processes, resulting in ₾180K monthly cost savings through automation. Established an internal ATM network with standardized operational, reconciliation, and cash-handling procedures, including automated reporting and transaction monitoring dashboards, improving efficiency and reducing errors. Managed PSP AjaraPay compliance program, ensuring full alignment with National Bank of Georgia regulations, including creation of local backup server and automated monthly reporting. Built a centralized card BIN database with automated dashboards for real-time performance tracking, enabling transaction splitting and automatic routing to appropriate channels, supporting data-driven decisions. Coordinated Cyprus market expansion, handling partnerships, banking agreements, and system setup, contributing to international business growth. Re-engineered departmental workflows and implemented automated Tableau reports for faster monitoring and executive decision-making.
Coordinated 20+ payment projects simultaneously, ensuring on-time delivery, quality, and budget adherence, consistently driving business value. Improved collaboration between IT, Finance, and Compliance teams through structured reporting and weekly updates, improving efficiency and transparency. Applied front-end development skills (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) to facilitate clear communication with engineers and increase project accuracy. Supported international expansion by managing contracts, documentation, and compliance for Cyprus operations, contributing to successful market entry.
Managed nationwide network of 970 ATMs and 40,000+ POS terminals, ensuring system reliability and uptime. Negotiated with 5 vendor companies, monitored SLAs, and controlled maintenance and invoicing, optimizing operational processes, while leading the resolution of complex POS terminal integrations for major clients where standard processes were insufficient, streamlining operations and ensuring reliability. Reduced POS maintenance expenses by 20% and achieved ₾100K monthly cost savings through process optimization. Implemented automated reports for real-time performance tracking and operational transparency, supporting data-driven decision-making.
Expanded the ATM network with 50 new installations annually and relocated 100 underperforming devices to higher-traffic locations, improving customer accessibility. Introduced a zone-based SLA system, reducing response times for high-traffic ATMs and increasing overall network availability. Coordinated with technical vendors to enhance system uptime and customer experience, ensuring reliable operations.
Served 50+ clients daily, managing front-office operations and resolving service-related requests. Improved service satisfaction by applying strong product knowledge and attention to detail.