Retail Audit Lead — M-KOPA Western Cape You're the person who walks into a retail location and sees what everyone else misses. The variance that doesn't quite add up. The process that is being followed in spirit but not in practice. The risk that hasn't surfaced yet — but will. You don't just find these things. You build the systems that make sure they get found consistently, by design, not by accident. If that's how you think about audit work, M-KOPA has a role that's been waiting for someone like you. We're hiring a Retail Audit Lead in South Africa — a role that goes well beyond compliance checking. You'll design and own the audit framework that protects the integrity of M-KOPA's retail network, drives accountability across locations, and generates data‑driven insight that informs decisions at the highest level of the business. What M-KOPA is building We've served more than 7 million customers across Africa, unlocking over $2 billion in credit. 55% of those customers are accessing formal financial services for the very first time. 86% report a meaningful improvement in their quality of life. We're growing toward 10 million — which means our retail footprint is expanding, our operational complexity is increasing, and the systems that protect our assets and our customers need to be built to keep pace. This role is part of how that happens. Why this role is different Most audit roles ask you to apply a framework someone else designed. This one asks you to build it. You'll establish M-KOPA's comprehensive retail audit system from the ground up — defining evaluation criteria, implementing consistent scoring methodologies, and creating the accountability architecture that keeps every retail location operating to standard. That's an unusual level of ownership for an audit function. It's also what makes this role genuinely consequential. What the work actually looks like You will lead inventory and compliance auditing across M-KOPA's retail outlets — conducting physical counts, reconciling variances, and working with analysts and stock controllers to investigate discrepancies and close them properly. You will perform comprehensive compliance checks covering branding standards, health and safety protocols, record‑keeping accuracy, and adherence to M-KOPA's operational processes — scoring locations objectively using established criteria and providing structured feedback that drives real improvement. On the analytics side, you will prepare detailed audit reports with findings, recommendations, and corrective action plans for management review. You will analyse stock audit results and operational data to identify patterns, surface risks, and generate insights that inform strategic decisions across the retail network. This is not reporting for reporting's sake — the findings you produce will directly shape how M-KOPA manages risk, allocates resources, and develops its retail operations. Fraud prevention is also part of the scope. You will identify and elevate suspicious activity discovered during audit activity, implement controls that reduce operational risk, and provide field‑level support to resolve issues as they arise. In a business that extends credit to millions of customers, the integrity of retail operations is directly linked to customer outcomes and portfolio health. What makes you ready for this Proven track record in audit, compliance, or retail operations — with demonstrable expertise in inventory management, variance analysis, and regulatory compliance in a multi‑location retail or financial services environment; and professional audit certification (CIA, CISA, or equivalent) a strong advantage. Advanced proficiency in audit software, data analysis tools, and inventory management systems — alongside the analytical capability to identify patterns across complex operational data and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders. Demonstrated experience building or significantly improving audit frameworks, with the communication skills to present complex findings to diverse audiences and the influencing ability to drive compliance and accountability across teams without direct line authority. The reality check This role requires independence, precision, and the kind of professional integrity that does not bend under operational pressure. You will be assessing locations objectively — which sometimes means surfacing findings that are uncomfortable for the people responsible for them. You will need to do that consistently, professionally, and with the credibility that comes from rigorous methodology and clear evidence. If you take personal ownership of the quality of your work and are energized by the challenge of building something robust from the ground up, this environment will suit you well. That's not a typical audit mandate. If you're ready for one that is — let's talk. Equal Opportunity Statement M-KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. M-KOPA explicitly prohibits the use of forced or child labour and respects the rights of its employees to agree to terms and conditions of employment voluntarily, without coercion, and to terminate their employment on appropriate notice. M-KOPA shall ensure that its employees are of legal working age and shall comply with local laws for youth employment or student work, such as internships or apprenticeships. M-KOPA does not collect or charge any money as a pre‑employment or post‑employment requirement. This means we never ask for recruitment fees, processing fees, interview fees, or any other kind of money in exchange for offer letters or interviews at any time during the hiring process. Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisting and interviews will take place at any stage during the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is selected before the advertised closing date. If your application is successful, M-KOPA undertakes pre‑employment background checks as part of its recruitment process, including criminal records, identification verification, academic qualifications, employment dates, and employer references. #J-18808-Ljbffr