Job Vacancies at The Payments Association Of South Africa (PASA)

Overall job purpose

The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) payment system environments are responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance and support services for the National Payment System (NPS) of South Africa, PASA members and the greater payments industry, also contributing to the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of the global financial system.

The Communication specialist will be required to create, oversee and drive internal and external communication programmes for PASA through various communication channels, such as the PASA website, PASA social media channels, project communication, conferences, events and other interventions, in alignment with PASA’s communication strategy. This broadly includes public relations, media relations and communication, and being the custodian of the PASA brand and corporate identity.

Additionally, the role will ensure predefined and timeous communication outputs are effectively planned and scheduled.

Key stakeholder management including communication and engagement.

• Internal: Internal PASA functional areas, PASA Executive Committee (ExCo) and PASA employees.
• External: PASA structures and members, South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Banking Association of South Africa (BASA), payment system operators (PSO's) South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), media, media agencies and representatives, service providers, as well as forums with an interest in the payments industry of South Africa.

Core accountabilities
Core responsibility 1 – Managing public relations and media liaison.

• Assisting with media engagements and press releases, assessing and managing media requests, formulating responses to ad hoc written media requests and providing support for media interviews.
• Drafting media releases and/or articles and managing the effective distribution thereof.
• Ensuring that scheduled and ad hoc PASA media communication is tracked and reported on as well as the monitoring of external media referencing PASA or key projects/topics.
• Working with the project and change resources to maintain an up-to-date repository of media FAQs for all major PASA projects and topics.
• Compiling of holding statements in the event of risk and crisis mitigation.

Core responsibility 2 – Managing PASA’s social media platforms.

• Maintaining and growing PASA’s social media presence by identifying new communication opportunities and current trends.
• Providing guidance and assistance to executive management and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in producing relevant content (articles, thought leadership pieces) for social media and media publication.
• Creating and managing social media content, as and when required and using various social media channels to display the content.
• Monitoring, managing and reporting on social media activities as it pertains to PASA, identified stakeholders and relevant topics and/or projects that are the current focus.
• Supporting key PASA events by drafting and executing social media activities for each event.

Core responsibility 3 – PASA brand management and profiling.

• Assisting with effective maintenance and building of the PASA brand through assessing, securing and managing external communication and profiling opportunities for PASA.
• Coordinating PASA’s participation in external campaigns and events by assessing opportunities and assisting with the preparation for such campaigns and/or events.
• Overseeing the PASA website to ensure brand and messaging coherency and consistency.
• Fulfilling the role of ownership of the PASA brand and corporate identity.

Core responsibility 4 – Supporting internal communication, project communication as well as industry communication and education efforts.

• Providing communication expertise into internal and external communication plans and strategies, as and when needed.
• Ensure PASA communication is executed to the satisfaction of the commissioning person or team as well as per the applicable communication plan, PASA brand and communication guidelines.
• Working with Change management and Communication specialists by obtaining expert input into topic-specific industry campaigns.
• Assessing timelines, narratives and collateral of different campaigns, creating a consolidated view and ensuring optimal alignment and output.
• Ensuring all communication and education campaigns align with PASA’s communication strategy, principles and guidelines.
• Attendance and representation at key project and industry events, as and when required.

Core responsibility 5 – Other external communication support.

• Supporting the output of defined communication, through writing, editing, proofreading and ensuring graphic design is included per the approved PASA branding and playbook.
• Being the custodian of formal external communication templates and guidelines, including letterheads, and presentation templates.
• Ensuring all PASA employees are aware of and have access to the latest PASA templates and guidelines.
• Custodian of the PASA Language and Style Guide, ensuring that all employees are made aware of and comply with the Style Guide.
• Ensuring a methodical and concise communications review process within the agreed timelines.
• Build and nurture relationships with partners and stakeholders to ensure consistent and timeous messaging throughout the industry.
• Define and deliver relevant reporting as required internal and external on the communication function of PASA.
• Role/person specification

Preferable education and experience.

• A minimum of 8-10 years of hands-on experience in communication and/or public relations in payments and/or banking environments.
• An undergraduate qualification in communication, journalism, marketing or public relations.
• The completion of the PASA Certificate in Foundational Payments will be advantageous.

Skills and knowledge.

• Experience working in a collaborative environment and achieving results through collaborative platforms.
• Development and implementation of strategic communication plans and strategies for complex projects and programmes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing, copywriting and presentation creation.
• Excellent command of the English language.
• Expert knowledge of news media and media relations, digital media, social media and other communication channels with proven ability to apply these for effective communication.
• Proven ability to develop internal and external partnerships for communication and stakeholder management.

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Job Purpose: 

• To act as the Executive for Legal, Compliance and Governance, with an emphasis on Company Secretarial functions of the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA). To provide guidance, structure, and leadership to the Legal and Compliance teams, and to ensure quality service delivery to PASA employees, members and the broader National Payments System (NPS).
• As a member of the PASA Executive Committee (ExCo), the executive will play a broader leadership role within PASA and will engage constructively and critically with colleagues to ensure optimal outcomes for PASA. The executive will set an example of high standards of delivery, build high-performance teams, and drive culture change in line with PASA values.
• The executive will be responsible for ensuring alignment with good corporate governance principles in compliance with the Companies Act (where appropriate) and King IV, and where required, necessary segregations of duty and information sharing. Further, the executive will be responsible for managing succession planning, adequate capacity, upskilling of existing resources, and, where appropriate, cross-skilling.
• The executive will be required to build out the governance, legal and compliance structures and processes for the Payments Industry Body (PIB), which should ultimately replace PASA, in adherence to the approved PIB Design, and while retaining stakeholder support and involvement.

Portfolio descriptions:
Legal: The legal function within PASA covers all legal matters pertaining to the day-to-day functioning of PASA in the NPS and as a legal entity, encompassing litigation, contractual arrangements, PASA member policies and position papers, PASA and PASA structure constitutions, Payment Clearing House agreements and rules, and in-scope service level agreements, and any other legal documents underpinning legal certainty in the National Payment System. The legal function also provides expert advice to regulators responsible for regulating, overseeing and supervising the NPS.

Compliance: The compliance function within PASA also plays a two-fold role, responsible for PASA’s internal compliance as a legal entity, and the compliance of PASA members to PASA policies and rules. The role includes compliance monitoring and enforcement, as well as providing oversight of membership admittance and other licensing, registrations and authorisations, and providing guidance to new and existing entities seeking admittance into the NPS.

Job Responsibilities:
Company Secretarial duties:

• Provide Councillors with guidance as to their duties, responsibilities, and powers.
• Make Councillors aware of any law relevant to or affecting PASA and affecting them in their personal capacities.
• Report to Council any failure on the part of PASA or a Councillor to comply with the PASA Constitution and legislation where appropriate.
• Assist the Nomination and Induction Committee and ensure that the procedure for appointing Councillors and managing conflicts of interest is properly carried out.
• Assist in the proper induction, orientation, ongoing training and education of Councillors, including assessing the specific training needs of Councillors in their fiduciary and other governance responsibilities.
• Have a direct channel of communication with the Independent Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and be available to provide comprehensive practical support and guidance to Councillors, with particular emphasis on supporting the independent non‐executive Councillors, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Council and the chairs of Council Subcommittees.
• Ensure the scheduling of all Council, Council Committee meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee for the year. The Company Secretary prepares the agendas and work plans for these meetings in conjunction with the Chairperson and key executive/s.
• Ensure that meeting papers are circulated timeously to all Councillors to enable them to prepare adequately for these meetings.
• Take responsibility for the minutes, feedback reports and matters arising schedules for PASA Council and its Committees. Minutes are to be circulated promptly, after the approval of the Chairperson.
• Take responsibility for the minutes, the feedback reports and matters arising schedules for the Executive Committee. Minutes are to be circulated promptly, after the approval of the Chairperson. Raise matters that may warrant the attention of Council.
• Assist with the bi‐annual evaluation of the Chairperson, Council and Councillors.
• Provide general governance advice pertaining to PASA as an entity, its compliance with its Constitution and the King IV principles.
• Design and implement PASA and Payments Industry Body (PIB) governance models. Engage stakeholders for the necessary support and approval for these models.
• Proactive and assertive governance management of the executive committee.
• Strong understanding of PASA strategy and macroeconomic strategic issues.
• Drive policy and culture change in PASA when needed.
• Accountable to PASA Council, and the PIB Board, when constituted.

Compliance function duties:

• Maintain a compliance framework for PASA. Continual input into the enhancement of the framework, policies & procedures.
• Ensure compliance and membership application processes are implemented in alignment with other processes. Processes must be integrated and optimised.
• Procure and drive independent assurance assessment of PASA’s compliance management framework at regular intervals.
• Maintain and oversee PASA’s Regulatory Universe and Annual Compliance Management Plan.
• Compile and maintain a membership register regularly.
• Management reporting on compliance and membership matters.
• Work with functional areas to ensure monitoring and reporting to ensure compliance with the organisation’s standards and reporting of the most non-compliance issues and risks.
• Draft entry and participation with the support of industry participants.
• Process membership applications and advice on membership requirements.
• Manage the member compliance enforcement process.
• Fulfil the role of Deputy Information Officer of PASA.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to employees, members, Council and executives to facilitate decision-making.
• Manage stakeholder relations and ensure that their needs are met in line with business and legislative requirements.
• Ensure that compliance platforms and tools meet business and member requirements.
• Manage the overall approach to external compliance management and membership applications and maintain necessary infrastructure, frameworks, tools, and methodologies accordingly.
• Ensure effective compliance governance through the maintenance of appropriate governance structures and processes.
• Keep abreast of industry trends, practices and regulatory change

Legal function duties:

• Represent and advise PASA, PASA Council and employees in all legal matters pertaining to the daily operations of the National Payment System (NPS) and PASA. Serve as legal counsel to PASA and obtain specialised legal advice from external law firms when required.
• Prepare legal opinions pertaining to legal matters in the NPS, including The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), POPIA, Competition Act, Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act and others
• Establish and facilitate key relationships with interested parties, participants and stakeholders both on a local and international level, to receive and provide guidance/input on the legal foundation of the National Payment System in South Africa being the South African Reserve Bank Act, National Payment System Act and the various legal documents named below.
• Use specialised legal knowledge to develop, maintain and review legal documentation including PASA policies and position papers, PASA Constitution, Payment Clearing House Agreements, PCH Clearing Rules and Service Level Agreements, and PASA structure constitutions.
• Ensure that all activities of PASA are legally supportable and carried out in accordance with PASA values.
• Chair and facilitate legal forums made up of PASA members in support of the above.
• Advise PASA stakeholders (including regulators) on technical matters relating to the drafting and finalisation of regulations, standards and policy papers.

Qualifications:

• An admitted attorney with academic qualifications such as B Juris, B Proc or LLB or equivalent NQF level 7 qualification or higher
• A Company Secretariate qualification. Registration with the Institute of Company Secretaries of Southern Africa (ICSA) will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• Experience in a company secretary function is compulsory (10 years minimum)
• Experience in managing legal and compliance functions.
• Experience in managing dispute resolution, disciplinaries or compliance enforcement is an advantage.
• Experience in restructuring organisations, building new organisations or corporate transactions is an advantage.

Knowledge:

• Highly proficient in all MS Office applications
• Management skills and experience (people, projects and finance).
• Knowledge of the NPS legislation, regulation, and processes will be an advantage.

Skills and competencies:

Specific competencies:

• Utmost integrity and honesty
• Team player within the team and on the executive level
• Stakeholder relations and relationship-building skills
• Facilitation and negotiation skills
• Client orientation and customer focus
• Analytical
• Excellent management skills
• Problem-solving orientation
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexible and able to work in a changing environment
• Planning and organising skills
• Strong communication skills

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The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) is building its capacity for payments knowledge in the banking and financial services industry. This role will form part of our plan to instil in-depth knowledge of the payments industry on our successful incumbent while adding significant value to the legal department.
Duties:

• Shadowing PASA Legal Counsel on all payments matters, including being involved in drafting payment documents, responses and guidance
• Studying and/or developing a basic understanding of current (relevant) legislation (e.g. National Payments Systems (NPS) Act, Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) Bill, Banks Act, Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), National Credit Act (NCA), POPIA, etc, as well as PASA Policies and Rules)
• Attending all PASA Structure meeting attended by PASA Senior Counsel, including industry meetings and smaller workgroups
• Exposure to industry representatives, including regulators
• Assisting with general legal matters

Knowledge and skills recommended:

• Legal drafting skills
• Analytical skills
• Change agent capabilities/orientation
• Ability to build and maintain relationships
• Presentation skills
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• High level of personal integrity, self-disciplined, and a highly positive attitude.

Requirements:

• B.Proc or LLB
• Completion of articles will be advantageous
• 2-3 years of legal experience in financial services