Compliance Specialist

Purpose of the role

The Compliance Specialist provides vital administrative and regulatory support to the Talent Acquisition team, ensuring that every new hire who joins Dis-Chem Life meets all compliance, fit-and-proper, and ethical requirements before appointment.

This role manages the full pre-employment vetting process, including DOFA, FAIS, debarment, reference, and background checks, so that recruiters can focus on what they do best, finding and bringing great talent into the business.

By handling all the compliance and verification activities behind the scenes, the Compliance Specialist helps protect the company's license to operate and its reputation for integrity. Working hand-in-hand with the recruitment team, this role ensures that every appointment is both compliant and aligned to Dis-Chem Life's high standards of professionalism and trust.

Summary of the role

The Compliance Specialist is responsible for executing and managing all candidate compliance vetting and pre-employment verification processes within the Talent Acquisition and HR functions. This includes MIE vetting, FAIS fit-and-proper verification, DOFA and debarment checks, RE validation, and employment background screening.

The role demands strong regulatory understanding, precision, and ethical judgement. It requires meticulous data management within Simplify HR and related systems, proactive stakeholder engagement, and timely escalation of potential risks. The Compliance Specialist acts as the compliance nerve Centre for the recruitment process, ensuring every appointment meets Dis-Chem Life's regulatory, operational, and ethical standards.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and growth potential in a high-performance culture.
• Direct contribution to protecting Dis-Chem Life's regulatory standing and reputation.
• Cross-functional exposure across HR, Talent, and Group Compliance.
• Opportunities for professional development within compliance and governance disciplines.
• Experience within one of South Africa's fastest-growing life insurance businesses.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance Vetting and Verification

• Conduct and verify all pre-employment checks including MIE Vetting, FAIS Fit-and-Proper, DOFA, Debarment, and RE verification.
• Ensure all candidates meet applicable regulatory and ethical standards before appointment.
• Validate and upload all supporting compliance documents to Simplify HR or equivalent platforms.
• Maintain full traceability and documentation for internal and external audit readiness.
• Identify, document, and escalate potential compliance risks or irregularities.

Compliance Process Management

• Manage the end-to-end pre-employment vetting workflow in line with HR and Group Compliance standards.
• Monitor vetting turnaround times, proactively escalate delays impacting hiring SLAs.
• Maintain accurate and current vetting records within recruitment systems.
• Continuously improve and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for compliance in recruitment.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Partner with Recruiters, Hiring Managers, and HR Business Partners to ensure compliant and seamless onboarding of new hires.
• Collaborate with Group Compliance to align hiring practices with broader risk management and governance frameworks.
• Provide compliance advisory support to the Talent Acquisition team regarding candidate eligibility and risk exposure.
• Support compliance-related queries, audits, and investigations tied to recruitment.

Risk Management and Reporting

• Proactively monitor and assess compliance risks across the recruitment lifecycle.
• Ensure early identification and resolution of potential breaches or process gaps.
• Report compliance status, exceptions, and audit findings to the Head of HR and Group Compliance.
• Uphold data privacy and security requirements in accordance with POPIA and internal policies.

Continuous Improvement

• Keep abreast of changes in employment, FAIS, and labour legislation to maintain compliance best practice.
• Drive process improvement initiatives that streamline verification efficiency while strengthening control.
• Contribute to building a compliance-first culture within the Talent Acquisition and HR teams.

Soft Skills

• Unwavering commitment to confidentiality, ethics, and compliance.
• Detail-oriented, meticulous with documentation and accuracy.
• Able to work across HR, compliance, and business functions with clarity and diplomacy.
• Anticipates risks and follows through with precision.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of FAIS, FICA, BCEA, LRA, EE Act, POPIA and related HR legislation.
• Hands -on experience using MIE or similar verification platforms.
• Familiar with Simplify HR, Sage 300, or equivalent recruitment and HRIS systems.
• Ability to manage, validate, and report on large volumes of candidate data.
• Skilled in preparing audit-ready compliance reports and maintaining detailed records.
• Ability to interpret results and identify potential compliance concerns.

Experience

• 2+ years of experience in Compliance, HR Operations, or Talent Acquisition support within a regulated environment (insurance, financial services, or similar).
• Proven track record managing pre-employment vetting and regulatory fit-and-proper checks.
• Experience liaising with compliance, audit, and HR stakeholders to manage risk exposure.
• Familiarity with FAIS fit-and-proper requirements and regulatory recordkeeping standards.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Human Resources, Compliance, or Business Administration advantageous.
• Regulatory or Compliance Management certification (FAIS-related qualification advantageous).