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's 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 the kind of 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'll 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'll 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'll prepare detailed audit reports with findings, recommendations, and corrective action plans for management review. You'll analyse stock audit results and operational data to identify patterns, surface risks, and generate the insights that inform strategic decisions across the retail network. This isn't 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 a meaningful part of the scope too. You'll identify and escalate 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 isn't just an internal governance matter — it's 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 doesn't bend under operational pressure. You'll be assessing locations objectively — which sometimes means surfacing findings that are uncomfortable for the people responsible for them. You'll 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 you're energised by the challenge of building something robust from the ground up, this environment will suit you well.

Why M-KOPA, and why now

Retail audit at most organisations is a control function. At M-KOPA, it's a growth enabler. The retail network you'll audit is the channel through which millions of customers access credit for the first time — and the integrity of that network directly shapes whether those customers are served well. When your audit findings lead to better stock controls, more consistent compliance, or earlier fraud detection, the downstream effect reaches people whose financial lives depend on M-KOPA operating with excellence.

That's not a typical audit mandate. If you're ready for one that is — let's talk.

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 6 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-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 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/charge any money as a pre-employment or post-employment requirement. This means that 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, these include; criminal records, identification verification, academic qualifications, employment dates and employer references.