Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs

Overview

Mastercard’s Global Regulatory team is responsible for liaising with key regulators and law enforcement officials for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the impact of adverse regulations on the company’s profitability and growth potential. This position will report to the Senior Managing Counsel, Regulatory Eastern Europe Middle East Africa (“EEMEA”) based in Dubai, UAE. This position is part of the Global Regulatory team from a functional perspective and EEMEA CAO (Chief Administration Office) team from a regional and global perspective.

Role

The Senior Counsel, Regulatory, South Africa based role will assist in managing regulatory matters arising in Southern Africa and related within the EEMEA region of Mastercard. This individual will:
• Support the development and execution of regulatory strategy for Southern Africa and identified business verticals within the EEMEA region
• Proactively engage with regulatory authorities to advance Mastercard’s business strategy taking into consideration other related markets
• Engage on the timely submission of regulatory filings/submissions and develop responses to requests in accordance with internal policies, processes and procedures
• Guide the organization by providing regulatory advice on various matters arising in Southern Africa as well as at an EEMEA region level
• Participate in multi dimensional projects across business units/regions or globally, successfully navigating throughout the organization by partnering effectively with individuals from other departments and delivering results
• Participate in the defense of the company in proceedings or quasi- proceedings with regulators in the region
• Anticipating, evaluating and identifying Southern African (and where relevant EEMEA) regulatory risk and support the teams with assessing and implementing controls to mitigate risks
• Work in close collaboration with the EEMEA Government Affairs and Policy, PAIR (Privacy, AI and Data Responsibility) and Regional Counsel teams, including global counterparts to keep informed of regional and global developments.


All About You

• LLB or JD from an established and reputable law school
• Deep understanding of the South African and broader Southern African regulatory environment
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is a requirement
• Excellent written and oral communication skills a must.
• Experience in a regulatory position in a corporation, association or government context and/or as a regulatory attorney in a law firm (preferably in the payments industry, banking, fintech or financial services sector)
• Knowledge of financial and/or payments systems and services regulations
• Experience in applying for regulatory licenses and managing the regulatory licenses
• Proven success in navigating multi-national organizations and operating effectively within a diverse multicultural organization
• Must demonstrate a proactive, time sensitive, results driven approach in carrying out all duties, obligations and responsibilities

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.