Retail Audit Lead

M-KOPA; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

M-KOPA is seeking a Retail Audit Lead to design comprehensive audit frameworks that ensure compliance and optimize performance. This leadership role focuses on driving accountability across retail operations, enhancing operational integrity, and supporting financial inclusion, making a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

Mission-driven environment

Competitive compensation

Professional development opportunities

Values-driven culture

Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years in audit, compliance, or retail operations roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in inventory management and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive retail audit systems.
• Drive operational excellence and regulatory compliance across retail network.
• Perform comprehensive inventory audits and compliance assessments.

Skills

Analytical excellence

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Audit software

Data analysis tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Inventory management systems

Job description

We are seeking a Retail Audit Lead to join our dynamic M-KOPA South Africa team as we establish comprehensive audit frameworks that ensure compliance, optimize performance, and safeguard our assets across all retail locations.

As the Retail Audit Lead, you will design and implement comprehensive retail audit systems while driving operational excellence across our retail network. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on precision, embraces analytical challenges, and is passionate about operational excellence in a mission-driven environment.

You'll establish audit excellence frameworks, lead inventory and compliance auditing, and drive process optimization through data-driven insights and advanced analytics. Your work will directly contribute to the financial inclusion mission that transforms millions of lives while ensuring regulatory compliance and fraud prevention across all M-KOPA retail outlets.

This is a specialized leadership opportunity, offering the chance to build audit excellence from the ground up and drive accountability across our expanding South African retail operations.

About Us

At M-KOPA, we are committed to making everyday essentials accessible through flexible financing. As our Retail Audit Lead, you will play a crucial role in enabling that mission by establishing robust audit frameworks that ensure compliance, optimize performance, and safeguard our assets across all retail locations.

You will design and implement comprehensive retail audit systems, commencing systematic auditing of shop performance across all key retail locations. Your responsibilities span inventory and compliance auditing, process optimization, regulatory compliance, advanced analytics and reporting, and risk and fraud prevention.

You'll perform comprehensive inventory audits and compliance assessments, analyze operational data to identify improvement opportunities, and prepare detailed audit reports with actionable recommendations for management. Your ability to identify patterns and discrepancies, drive compliance across teams, and maintain the highest standards of integrity will be essential to success.

This role is designed for an audit excellence leader who is analytically rigorous, detail-oriented, and committed to operational integrity. If you're ready to establish audit frameworks that protect and optimize our retail operations while supporting financial inclusion across South Africa, this could be your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Expertise

We are looking for an accomplished audit professional with a Bachelor's degree and professional audit certifications (CIA, CISA, or equivalent) being highly valued, plus minimum 3-5 years in audit, compliance, or retail operations roles—ideally with demonstrated expertise in inventory management and regulatory compliance.

You will bring:

• Proven experience in audit, compliance, or retail operations with strong track record of inventory management and regulatory compliance.

• Technical proficiency with advanced skills in audit software, data analysis tools, Microsoft Office Suite, and inventory management systems.

• Analytical excellence with strong problem-solving capabilities, exceptional attention to detail, and ability to identify patterns and discrepancies.

• Outstanding communication skills—both verbal and written—with ability to present complex findings clearly to diverse stakeholders.

• Natural leadership qualities with ability to influence and drive compliance across teams while maintaining professional relationships.

• Deep understanding of retail operations, financial services regulations, and audit best practices in African markets.

• Risk management expertise with experience in fraud prevention and implementing robust operational controls.

• Process improvement mindset with ability to analyze operational data and identify optimization opportunities.

What We Offer

• A mission-driven environment where your audit excellence directly supports financial inclusion across South Africa.

• Specialized leadership role with opportunity to build audit frameworks from the ground up in a high-growth fintech.

• Direct impact on operational excellence and regulatory compliance across our expanding retail network.

• Advanced analytics focus with access to cutting-edge tools and data-driven decision-making opportunities.

• Competitive compensation and a values-driven culture rooted in innovation, inclusion, and empowerment.

• Professional development opportunities with a diverse, high-performing team committed to operational integrity.

If you're ready to establish audit excellence, drive compliance across retail operations, and build frameworks that safeguard M-KOPA's mission in South Africa—we'd love to hear from you.

Why M-KOPA?

At M-KOPA, we empower our people to own their careers through diverse development programs, coaching partnerships, and on-the-job training. We support individual journeys with family-friendly policies, prioritize well-being, and embrace flexibility.

Join us in shaping the future of M-KOPA as we grow together. Explore more at m-kopa.com.

Recognized four times by the Financial Times as one Africa's fastest growing companies (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and by TIME100 Most influential companies in the world 2023 and 2024 , we've served over 5 million customers, unlocking $1.5 billion in cumulative credit for the unbanked across Africa.

Important Notice

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-KOPAexplicitly 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 freely 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/chargeany money as a pre-employment or post-employment requirement. This meansthat 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.