Open to opportunities

mercy okpakoro

@mercyokpakoro

Payments and reconciliation operations manager turning transaction data into accurate, compliant, and scalable financial processes.

Nigeria

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead payment and reconciliation operations where I can automate processes, protect data integrity, and strengthen compliance. I want a team that values data-driven decisions, clear SLAs, and continuous improvement through cross-functional collaboration.

I’m a detail-oriented finance and operations professional with extensive experience overseeing financial transactions, ensuring accuracy in reconciliations and settlements, and improving payment workflows. I manage teams, develop and implement policies and procedures, and work across departments to drive financial goals with strong communication and interpersonal skills.

As a Manager, Payment Operations at Woven Finance Limited, I set up and managed country operations and led cross-functional teams to develop digital adoption strategies and an operational roadmap. I designed automated processes for data collection, integration, validation, and storage to ensure reliability and accessibility—contributing to an over 90% increase in data-driven decision-making by Executive management.

Previously, as a Manager, Settlement Reconciliation/Funds Management at Palm Pay Nigeria (Fintech), I supervised reconciliation and fund management operations, including hiring, training, coaching, and performance management. I monitored settlement data for trends and risks, reviewed reconciliations within SLA to prevent fund losses, authorized refund transactions, and collaborated with partners and internal teams—especially around new integrations and API-driven reconciliation.

Earlier roles strengthen my operational and analytical foundation: at FairMoney MFB (Fintech) I led reconciliation/settlement and charge back work and automated data processing to reduce full-time employee hours by over 700%. Before that, I served as a Data Analyst & Reconciliation Officer at FirstBank Nigeria Limited, analyzing reconciliation data and supporting risk culture improvements—while building technical capability with tools like Microsoft Excel and Power BI.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Payment Operations Manager

Current

Woven Finance Limited

Jan 2025 - Present (1 year 6 months)

Set up and managed country operations and staff, developing digital adoption strategies and an operational roadmap to improve executive data-driven decision-making. Designed automated operations and oversaw daily business operations while ensuring process efficiency and compliance with company policies.

Country Operations Management Team Supervision Operational Roadmap Process Automation Data Collection Data Integration Data Validation Data Storage Workflow Optimization Compliance Management

Settlement Reconciliation Manager

Palm Pay Nigeria

Nov 2023 - Dec 2024 (1 year 1 month)

Managed settlement reconciliation and funds operations, including hiring, training, coaching, and performance management. Monitored settlement data, reviewed reconciliations within SLA, authorized refunds, and ensured compliance with regulatory and best-practice requirements while resolving discrepancies.

Funds Management Reconciliations SLA Management Refund Transaction Authorization Settlement Data Analysis Regulatory Compliance Cross Functional Collaboration

Reconciliation & Chargeback Lead

FairMoney MFB

Mar 2023 - Nov 2023 (8 months)

Led reconciliation and settlement operations and improved productivity by automating data processing tasks. Reconciled daily transactions, reported reconciliation metrics to management, investigated discrepancies, and supervised team reconciliation activities including bills payment, cashouts, funds transfers, and error resolutions.

Reconciliation Metrics Reporting Process Automation Daily Settlement Controls Bills Payment Reconciliation Error Resolution

Crowdforce Reconciliation Team Lead

Crowdforce Nigeria Limited

Jan 2021 - Mar 2023 (2 years 2 months)

Improved data integrity by developing and recommending data standardization processes and reconciling settlement reports against internal records. Managed accounting reconciliations, ensured correct transaction postings, supported dispute resolution, and produced monthly profit and loss and real-time cash position reports for management.

Data Standardization Payment Reconciliation Dispute Resolution Accounts Reconciliation Receivables Posting Verification Reversal Of Wrong Postings

Data Analyst & Reconciliation Officer

FirstBank Nigeria Limited

Aug 2017 - Dec 2020 (3 years 4 months)

Analyzed and processed bank account reconciliations data, using performance metrics to identify exceptions and improve operational efficiency. Reconciled third-party settlement data from switches against core banking data and generated periodic reports for executives, managers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.

Bank Reconciliation Performance Metrics Identifying Exceptions Third Party Settlement Reconciliation Switch Data Reconciliation Core Banking Data Reconciliation Periodic Reports Operational Efficiency

Assistant QHSE Trainee

Wellsteer Oilfield Technology Services Limited

Mar 2017 - Aug 2017 (5 months)

Assisted the QHSE manager with resolving safety issues and improving working conditions in line with quality and occupational health and safety standards. Prepared HSE reports and supported learning-from-incidents communications to reduce workplace hazards and injuries.

QHSE Safety Problem Resolution Safety Improvements Hazard And Injury Reduction Programs Site Inspections Learning From Incidents (LFI) Communications

Assistant Laboratory Analyst

Standard Organization of Nigeria

Oct 2015 - Oct 2016 (1 year)

Performed analytic quality assurance and quality control activities to verify product compliance with government-approved standards and regulations. Conducted laboratory tests for heavy and light metals in fruit drinks and water for public safety.

Product Standards Monitoring Quality Assurance Testing Heavy Metal Testing Light Metal Testing Laboratory Analysis Compliance Testing