Controllership, Geo Lead – South and Southern Africa

1. Purpose

The Senior Analyst / Manager Controllership Operations supports the Head of Controllership for SEA and WCA and plays a pivotal role in driving operational governance financial integrity and process excellence across the region.

This senior role requires a strategic innovative thinker who is energetic driven and highly analytical with a strong ability to:

• modernize processes
• leverage AI and automation
• redesign systems and workflows
• enhance operational efficiency
• strengthen governance and compliance

The role acts as a trusted business partner supporting client and cardholder projects coordinating financial and operational activities and ensuring all processes comply with Visa policies and procedures. This position also engages directly with country teams and leadership across South and Southern Africa to support strategic initiatives and operational execution.

2. Principal Responsibilities / Key Result Areas

Governance Controls & Compliance

• Serve as a subjectmatter expert on policies controls and governance requirements.
• Oversee monitoring and governance routines such as Control Committee Meetings and preclosure review processes.
• Conduct indepth reviews of highrisk and highvalue projects to identify gaps and prevent recurring issues.
• Support remediation of control deficiencies audit findings and compliance issues.
• Collaborate with Legal Compliance Controllership and Sourcing on internal control adherence and deviation management.

Operational Leadership & Business Partnership

• Act as a strategic partner to country teams providing insights guidance and solutions to support business execution.
• Manage and enhance the operations pipeline tracker workload distribution and performance monitoring.
• Support crossfunctional initiatives including marketing campaigns client projects procurement workflows and VIK processes.
• Provide operational and project support for corporate events campaigns and business initiatives.
• Deliver expert advice and training to business teams on policies tools templates and compliance requirements.

Innovation Systems AI & Process Reengineering

• Lead or support process reengineering initiatives aimed at simplification standardization and improved control.
• Identify and design automation opportunities and AIenabled solutions to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Participate in and influence system enhancements ensuring strong business input and effective change management.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and digital transformation across South and Southern Africa controllership operations.

People Development & Team Support

• Support the onboarding of new team members and provide mentorship and guidance to junior colleagues.
• Ensure training materials and SOPs remain relevant updated and aligned to regional needs.
• Share best practices and operational insights with the broader South and Southern Africa and Hub teams.

3. Strategic Nature Management Accountability & Scope

• Contribute directly to the execution of annual controllership and operational strategy for SSA.
• Provide seniorlevel support to the Senior Director of Operations Support including leadership of key initiatives.
• Support strategic decisionmaking through analysis risk identification and business insights.
• Influence operational improvements across multiple markets with varying regulatory and business environments.

4. Decision Making & Complexity

• Operate with a high level of autonomy and judgement in addressing issues and recommending solutions.
• Manage complex interactions with Sales Marketing Products Acceptance Sourcing Legal Compliance and Controllers.
• Prioritize and balance multiple highimpact tasks in a fastpaced environment.
• Assess risks and propose improvements that enhance control efficiency and business outcomes.

5. Reporting Relationships & Interactions

• Reports to: SSA Senior Director Operations Support
• Interacts with: Country Managers Finance Leaders Controllership Compliance Legal Sourcing and regional/global support teams
• Required to engage confidently across all levels including senior leadership.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager. 

Qualifications :

Bachelors degree or higher (preferably in Finance Accounting Business or related field).
Greater than 10 years experience in accounting compliance internal controls audit or operations (multinational experience preferred).
Experience supporting senior leadership in high volume fast paced environments.
Demonstrated experience in governance operational risk or financial controls.

Additional Information :

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation gender identity disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time