Operations Director - Legal & Compliance

Sonata One; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Income Protection

Hybrid Working

Annual Leave

Pension Scheme

Wellness Budget

Employee Assistance Program

Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Leave

Career Training & Development

Paid Volunteering Day

Job summary

A fintech company based in Cape Town is seeking an experienced Operations Director – Legal & Compliance. In this role, you will drive operational excellence while ensuring service delivery aligns with client expectations and regulatory requirements. Your expertise will help optimize legal and compliance processes and enhance client relationships. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and possess a strong legal and compliance background, this opportunity could be your next career move.

Qualifications

• Thorough understanding of legal and compliance operations within private markets.
• Proven ability to combine strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Experience in managing SLA-driven service environments.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence across legal and compliance service delivery.
• Oversee service performance and develop scalable operational processes.
• Partner with client teams to enhance service offerings.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Operational execution

Client relationship skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, or related discipline

Job description

Sonata One is a rapidly scaling, regulated fund services and technology (fintech) business. We're The Private Funds Clearinghouse, connecting more than 53,000 investors with 6,500 funds and 180 fund managers around the globe. Our vision is to change the paradigm of private markets investing through harmonising the end-to-end investment process within one platform. Investors benefit from a seamless, one & done experience across the fund lifecycle (from fund selection and subscription through to settlement and reporting) underpinned by a globally compliant KYC passport and 24/7 support. Fund managers can raise capital faster at a lower cost from a wider pool of pre-approved investors. Founded in 2015, Sonata One has a presence in eight locations worldwide including the US, UK and Luxembourg, Guernsey, South Africa and Mauritius.

We operate as #OneGlobalThread in line with our values: We challenge the norm, we change the way we think and work, by connecting systems and people, while committing to our vision and each other. We are now looking to recruit an experienced Operations Director – Legal & Compliance to join our global team.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Operations Director – Legal & Compliance to drive operational excellence across legal and compliance service delivery. The role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on operational management to ensure services are delivered efficiently, consistently, and in line with client expectations and regulatory requirements.

You will oversee service performance, develop scalable operational processes, and partner with client teams to enhance service offerings, while acting as a subject matter expert (SME) in legal and compliance operations to support service innovation and client growth.

Strategic Leadership

• As the Subject Matter Expert, develop and implement the operational strategy for legal and compliance services in alignment with Sonata One’s goals.
• Identify opportunities to enhance service delivery, improve scalability, and drive operational efficiencies.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to support growth initiatives and expansion of legal and compliance service offerings.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure service delivery aligns with defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and internal quality standards, staying informed on regulatory developments and industry best practice.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimise workflows, automation, and operational processes.
• Monitor operational metrics and performance dashboards to drive data‑led decision making.
• Develop strategies to optimise utilisation of legal and compliance staff across the platform, driving adoption and effective use of internal platforms and operational tools.

Client Service & Relationship Development

• Work closely with client relationship teams to ensure exceptional service delivery and a high‑quality client experience.
• Support initiatives and the new logo team to increase client wallet share and revenue, identifying opportunities to expand legal and compliance services.
• Contribute to maintaining and improving our Client Net Promoter Score (NPS) through consistent, high‑quality service delivery.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• SLA Compliance: Consistent achievement of defined service delivery timelines and quality standards.
• Client Net Promoter Score (NPS): Maintain and improve client satisfaction and advocacy levels.
• Client Wallet Share Growth: Expansion of legal and compliance services across existing client relationships.
• Service Development: Contribution to development and adoption of new legal and compliance service offerings.
• Operational Efficiency: Improved platform utilisation and productivity across legal and compliance teams.

Qualifications

• Thorough understanding of legal and compliance operations within private markets.
• Demonstrated experience leading operational teams and service delivery functions.
• Proven ability to combine strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Experience managing SLA‑driven service environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and client relationship skills.
• Experience implementing operational improvements, platforms, or workflow optimisation.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and leadership capabilities.
• Client‑focused with a commitment to service excellence.
• Adaptable in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, or a related discipline (LLB or equivalent preferred).

Being part of Sonata One provides a collaborative and inclusive work culture that values innovationand diversity. We believe in the power of our unique mission and we all work together towards that one single goal. We also believe in being real. We’re not a big corporate. Everyone has an important role to fulfil, and your contribution will be an integral part of our success story.

Benefits

• Private Medical Insurance – Comprehensive coverage to support your health
• Life Insurance – Peace of mind for you and your loved ones
• Income Protection – Financial support when you need it most
• Hybrid Working – Supporting work/Life Balance
• Annual Leave – With extra days that grow the longer you’re with us
• Pension Scheme – Employee matched helping you plan confidently for the future
• Wellness Budget – Investing in your health with a gym membership
• Employee Assistance Program – Confidential, 24/7 support for life’s ups and downs
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Leave – Because family matters
• Career Training & Development – Ongoing learning opportunities to help you grow
• Paid Volunteering Day – Take time to give back to causes you care about