Cynthia
Ifebi
Payments Governance Researcher
Author of the Payment Lifecycle Governance Framework
Research at the intersection of payment scheme obligations, operational risk, and the governance structures that connect them.
Professional photograph
PLG Framework
Payment Lifecycle Governance
Publication 001 · 2025
Six domains.
One unified inquiry.
All Research Payment Governance
Designing governance structures that keep payment systems aligned with regulatory intent throughout their operational life.
Cross-Border Payments
Compliance obligations across SEPA, FPS, SWIFT, and emerging real-time payment corridors in multi-jurisdiction environments.
Operational Resilience
How payment systems maintain compliance under operational stress — beyond DORA's minimum standards.
Consumer Duty
Translating FCA Consumer Duty obligations into measurable, scheme-specific payment controls.
AI in Compliance
The governance implications of AI-assisted compliance monitoring in payment operations.
Financial Crime
AML and fraud obligations embedded within payment scheme participation requirements.
The Payment Lifecycle Governance Framework
A structured framework for managing the full compliance lifecycle of payment products across scheme participation, regulatory obligations, and operational controls. The PLG Framework introduces a six-control taxonomy that maps every payment obligation to a measurable governance category — enabling first-line compliance teams to move from reactive gap identification to proactive regulatory alignment.
Thinking on payments,
governance, and regulation.
All Insights Why Payment Products Drift After Launch
The compliance posture of a payment product is not static. This article examines the mechanisms by which products drift from their original regulatory baseline.
The Hidden Governance Gap in Modern Payments
Most payment teams have controls. What they lack is a governance layer that connects those controls to live regulatory obligations.
AI Will Transform Compliance — But Not How You Think
The real opportunity is not automating existing compliance workflows. It is using AI to maintain continuous regulatory alignment across complex scheme matrices.
Bringing payments governance
research to your audience.
Available for conferences, regulatory panels, executive briefings, and academic engagements. Topics span payment governance, regulatory compliance, and the future of financial infrastructure.