Strategic Legal Advisor – Payments

Ebanx; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company in Cape Town is looking for a Regulatory Affairs Manager to ensure compliance with payment solutions. The role involves managing partnerships, negotiating contracts, and aligning product strategies with regulatory frameworks. Candidates should have a strong understanding of the South African regulatory landscape and proven experience in the payments industry. Bonus and benefits include flexible working hours and educational support.

Benefits

Annual performance bonuses

Meal / Food Allowance

Financial support for education

Comprehensive medical and dental plans

Childcare assistance

Life Insurance

Transportation assistance

Special day off on your birthday

Qualifications

• Proven experience working with acquirers, banks, and card networks.
• Fluency in English is essential.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into product strategies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary regulatory expert for South Africa.
• Analyze card scheme mandates and regulatory changes.
• Manage and negotiate contracts with partners and schemes.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Communication skills

Proactive mindset

Education

Understanding of South African regulatory landscape

Job description

Overview

At EBANX, you'll help expand access to payments and technology in some of the world's most dynamic markets.

We're a unicorn‑status fintech, AI‑powered, and scaling fast across 29 countries and counting. Our platform connects leading global companies to more than 1 billion consumers, enabling seamless cross‑border payments where it matters most.

We build with purpose, move with speed, and create solutions that are both innovative and inclusive. If you're looking to be part of a company that's transforming the future of payments with clarity, ambition, and real‑world impact— we'd love to meet you. In the corporate areas, we work behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. We provide the strategic support that keeps EBANX connected, efficient, and ready to grow. From technology to finance, every team collaborates to enable projects and turn challenges into opportunities.

Responsibilities

This role is critical to ensuring EBANX's payment solutions are not only regulatory‑compliant across key markets but also strategically aligned with business growth and merchant needs. The day‑to‑day responsibilities include:

• Serving as the primary regulatory expert for South Africa and key African markets (including Kenya and Nigeria), with a deep understanding of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), National Payment System Department (NPSD), and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) frameworks.
• Assessing EBANX products from a regulatory and contractual perspective, identifying risks, and uncovering opportunities to enhance our offering.
• Strengthening relationships with pan‑African and global card networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) and local acquirers, driving strategic initiatives that support our commercial goals.
• Managing and negotiating contracts with partners, schemes, and other third parties.
• Partnering with Product and Legal teams to design, launch, and manage innovative, compliant payment solutions.
• Analyzing card scheme mandates, new programs, and regulatory changes across the region to ensure alignment and uncover new business opportunities.
• Managing merchant communications related to payment mandates, regulatory matters, and contractual changes.
• Leading strategic discussions with external and internal stakeholders to deliver technically sound and commercially viable solutions.
• Developing regulatory risk assessments, compliance reports, and strategic briefs that support decision‑making and product development.

Qualifications

• Based in South Africa with an extensive local professional network in the payments industry.
• Proven experience working with acquirers, banks, and card networks (Visa, Mastercard, and similar) in the African context.
• Strong understanding of card scheme operations, rules, and mandates.
• Essential: In‑depth knowledge of the South African regulatory landscape (SARB, NPSD, FSCA) and a solid understanding of the regulatory frameworks in other key markets like Kenya (CBK) and Nigeria (CBN).
• Solid knowledge of broader regulatory frameworks relevant to payments and fintech (e.g., POPIA, FICAA).
• Experience in reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory and contractual requirements into commercially viable product strategies.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to identify opportunities for product innovation, cost optimization, and margin improvement.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is essential.
• Proficiency in other African languages is a plus.
• Ability to draft clear and concise regulatory documents, contract summaries, reports, and presentations.

Benefits

• WAVES Program: Annual bonuses based on the company's performance.
• Meal / Food Allowance: Credit provided on a flexible benefits card.
• EBANX Education: Financial support for undergraduate, graduate, and MBA programs to support your professional growth.
• EBANX Skills: Budget dedicated to workshops, courses, and certifications to encourage your continuous development.
• Language Classes: Spanish, English, and Portuguese lessons for your personal and professional development.
• EBANX Health: Comprehensive medical and dental plans fully covered for the employee, plus subsidies for dependents to take care of your and your family's well‑being.
• EBANX Family: Childcare assistance, extended parental leave for caregivers, and support programs for pregnant employees and children.
• Life Insurance: Fully paid by EBANX.
• Transportation: Parking assistance or transportation vouchers, depending on your needs.
• EBANX Flexible: A special day off on your birthday, semi‑flexible working hours (8 hours / day, Monday to Friday), and year‑end recess between Christmas and New Year's without affecting your vacation days.
• EBANX Play: Well‑being program including access to Wellhub, e‑Sports, and partnerships with SESC.
• Blue Club: Exclusive discounts at bakeries, restaurants, stores, courses, and more.

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