From building Bidvest Bank's payments infrastructure from the ground up to coaching the next generation of leaders — I bring the operational depth that only comes from doing the work.
A bridge between four decades of institutional authority in banking and a new chapter of empowering others.
Jill Murtagh began her banking career at Barclays South Africa at the age of 18. Over the next four decades, she worked her way through five major South African banks — FNB, ABSA, Mercantile, and ultimately Bidvest Bank, where she served 23 years as Executive Head of Payments and Banking Operations.
At Bidvest, Jill was instrumental in the institution's transformation from a Bureau de Change into a fully-fledged bank. She built the entire banking and treasury operations infrastructure from the ground up — setting up SA's local payment rails (RTGS, ACH, SWIFT local clearing) and establishing the cross-border payment infrastructure that would serve the bank's corporate and retail clients.
Today, as an independent consultant, trainer and certified life and business coach, Jill brings that rare combination of executive authority and on-the-ground operational mastery to her clients — on her own terms, for those who need the real thing.
40+ years across five major SA banks. Executive-level mastery of payments infrastructure — earned through every rank.
Certified life and business coaching grounded in real experience — helping others find their independence.
Consulting, training and coaching on her own terms, for clients who need operational depth, not theory.
Extensive experience in the payments and banking sector — driving transformation across financial institutions' payment ecosystems.
Over the past several years, I have worked as a consultant supporting banks in shaping and executing payment strategies. My work has spanned the modernisation and implementation of payment applications — including real-time payments, cross-border solutions, and third-party payment provider (TPPP) integrations — enabling institutions to enhance their digital capabilities, improve customer experience, and remain competitive in an evolving financial landscape.
I am currently working with BASA, supporting their members on the payments modernisation journey. This includes contributing to the evolution of payment infrastructure and helping align strategic initiatives toward a future-ready, scalable payments ecosystem — including elements of the cash-to-digital strategy. The work spans the larger payments ecosystem: NPSD, PEM, PAYINC and PASA, alongside banks and fintech players.
In addition to my consulting work, I actively coach and mentor payments executives across the banking sector. This includes working with leaders at Managing Director and executive levels — supporting them in navigating complex transformation programmes, strengthening leadership capability, and delivering impactful outcomes within their organisations.
Three areas of practice, all grounded in the same four decades of real operational experience.
SA local payment rails, cross-border infrastructure, and the regulatory landscape — the real operational picture, not the textbook version.
Treasury, settlement, compliance frameworks and operational risk — end-to-end banking infrastructure consulting for institutions in change.
Certified coaching for leaders navigating change — clarity, confidence, and a plan to move forward on your terms.
A career built entirely on expertise, accountability and deep institutional knowledge.
Responsible for all Banking Operational Support and Strategic Payment Gateways. Built the bank's payment infrastructure from scratch — local and cross-border. Oversaw the transition from Bureau de Change to a fully-fledged bank.
Let's talk about how 40 years of banking expertise can accelerate your next move.