Country Manager – South Africa (Digital Lending)

About the role

We are looking for a Country Manager to lead Loaney’s entry into the South African digital lending market. The role will oversee all aspects of the payday‑loan business, from acquisition to collections, ensuring compliance with local regulations while driving growth.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute a market entry and growth strategy, defining target segments, CAC, approval rates and portfolio yields.
• Build and maintain relationships with banking partners, debit‑order providers, payment aggregators and lead‑generation affiliates.
• Manage end‑to‑end operations including customer acquisition, credit assessment, loan disbursement, collections and customer service.
• Own the P&L for the South African operation, optimizing pricing within regulatory caps and repeat‑borrower conversion.
• Ensure full compliance with the National Credit Act, NCR registration, POPIA and other relevant legislation.

Required profile

• Minimum 2 years experience in online lending or payday‑loan business, preferably in South Africa.
• Proven track record of managing teams and delivering business growth.
• Deep knowledge of short‑term credit products, credit risk management and data‑driven monetisation.
• Strong understanding of South African regulatory framework (NCA, NCR, POPIA, Companies Act).
• Excellent verbal and written English; additional proficiency in Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho or Afrikaans is a plus.

Required skills

• Knowledge of short‑term credit product economics, lead generation, approval optimisation and collection strategies.
• Familiarity with credit‑bureau reporting and data‑privacy requirements.