Compliance Specialist

CHANCEN International

CHANCEN International

Legal
Johannesburg, South Africa
Posted on Sep 13, 2025

Job Description

About CHANCEN International

Chancen International is a non-profit financial institution providing ethical, fair, and responsible financing to help young Africans access quality tertiary education. Using an innovative Income Share Agreement (ISA) model, we cover students' tuition fees, allowing them to study without financial barriers. Graduates repay a portion of their income once employed, creating a sustainable funding cycle that supports future generations. By empowering young people with education, we enable their transition to meaningful employment, fostering economic mobility and strengthening communities.

Headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, and operating in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana, Chancen International has helped over 5,000 young people access education leading to dignified work. Our focus on marginalized populations ensures these youth gain the skills needed to thrive and contribute to building strong economies and peaceful nations.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive working environment where each individual can flourish and achieve their full potential. Our actions are guided by our company values: Authenticity, Curiosity, Courage, Stewardship and Fairness.

Job Summary

To facilitate, monitor, and ensure that Chacen South Africa and Future of Work Fund South Africa are conducting their operations and student financing operations in full compliance with all national and related industry legislation and regulations, including the National Credit Act (NCA), POPIA, SACRRA membership regulation, and other applicable frameworks. The Compliance Specialist leads the organisation’s risk and compliance environment by leading the implementation of internal controls and regulatory obligations across all functions related to credit provision, data privacy, and debt recovery.

This role contributes to the operational protection of Chancen SA’s systems and services by maintaining compliance registers, supporting internal reviews, and ensuring timely reporting to regulatory bodies such as the National Credit Regulator and TransUnion. The Compliance Specialist also supports the company secretarial function by leading the CIPC filings and board documentation.

The position ensures that compliance concerns are promptly documented, investigated, and escalated where necessary. It involves reviewing existing processes and documents to confirm adherence to legal and regulatory requirements applicable to a student financing institution, especially in areas related to ethical lending, anti-money laundering, and data protection. The Compliance Specialist also leads the drafting and updating of policies, procedures, and training materials, and contributes to promoting a strong compliance culture within Chancen SA. The Compliance will also leads the legal structuring and review of Income Share Agreements (ISAs), including new financing products such as microbusiness incubation and grant-linked ISAs, to ensure continued alignment with evolving regulatory and partnership frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

Prepare, review, and submit all NCR-mandated reports, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting.

Lead correspondence and responses to NCR compliance queries, managing the end-to-end engagement with the regulator.

Conduct gap analyses against NCR feedback and implement corrective action plans.

Advise senior management and the Board on compliance risks and developments that may impact Chancen SA’s credit provider license.

Lead the ongoing review of the Income Share Agreements (ISAs) to ensure compliance with regulations.

Ensure compliance with SACRRA rules, including data reporting, dispute resolution, and submissions to credit bureaus.

Verify data accuracy submitted to TransUnion and respond to compliance queries from credit bureaus.

Ensure internal policies align with relevant legislation, especially for debt collection and consumer protection.

Promote a compliance culture through training and awareness programs.

Archive and maintain documentation of all compliance-related actions and correspondence.

Ensure compliance with broader legislation such as the Companies Act and COIDA (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act).

Debt Collection & Legal Support

Liaise with internal and external debt recovery agents to ensure alignment with NCA and other applicable laws.

Lead the drafting of pre-legal and legal documentation (e.g. Section 129 letters).

Lead legal processes by tracking cases, compiling documents, and coordinating with legal service providers.

Maintain records of collection activities, legal escalations, and communication logs.

Liaise (with instruction) with external legal counsel to obtain legal opinions, manage litigation risks, and resolve legal disputes in coordination with internal stakeholders.

Ensure external service providers’ processes remain compliant with NCR and with Chancen SA’s ethical standards.

Internal Monitoring & Reporting

Lead the development and management of compliance registers (e.g. complaints log, legal notices, non-compliance incidents).

Support internal audits and lead risk assessments.

Track regulatory deadlines and support timely submissions to NCR and other authorities.

Provide regular reports to senior management on compliance activities and risk areas.

Escalate significant non-compliance issues directly to senior leadership.

Develop dashboards and metrics for ongoing monitoring of compliance health.

Company Secretarial Support

Maintain updated CIPC records (e.g. director changes, shareholding, annual returns).

Assist with SA board meeting preparation, including resolutions and minute-taking.

Draft SA board resolutions and ensure governance documents are appropriately filed and archived.

Maintain statutory records and manage the compliance calendar.

Support contract management by reviewing and tracking institutional agreements such as MOUs, funding contracts, NDAs, and education provider agreements to ensure legal consistency and risk mitigation.

Ensure all governance practices are aligned with compliance requirements and regulatory expectations.

Policy Development & Training

Lead the drafting and reviewing of internal policies (credit, data privacy, debt collection, etc.).

Design and implement a compliance training program tailored for different staff levels and lead the delivery of compliance training sessions across departments.


Requirements

Minimum Requirements


Diploma or Degree in Law, Paralegal Service, or related fields.

4–6 years’ experience in legal, compliance, credit, or debt collections.

Proven experience in preparing statutory reports and engaging with regulators.

Experience advising senior leadership on compliance risks.


Working knowledge of:

National Credit Act (NCA).

Companies Act.

FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act).

NCA (National Credit Act).

Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998.

Protected Disclosures Act, 2000.

CPA (Consumer Protection Act).

SACRRA and TransUnion data reporting.

Debt recovery regulations.

Company secretarial practices (advantageous).

Skills and Competencies:

Strategic regulatory interpretation and risk advisory.

Ability to lead compliance audit and implement remediation plan.

Strong stakeholder management skills (NCR, auditors, credit bureaus).

High level of professional judgement, independence, and integrity.



Benefits

Training, learning and development opportunities and financial support for further education.

Medical insurance/aid coverage and wellbeing initiatives.

A fulfilling work environment in a supportive and entrepreneurially driven organization with clear, frequent growth opportunities