Certra sits at the intersection of fintech and cybersecurity with a patent-pending technology that catches financial fraud in real time. We have paying customers, we’re actively stopping fraud, and we’re growing. The product works, the team is strong, and the business is moving. What we’re now building is the operational layer that lets us scale properly - and that’s what this role owns.
We’re looking for a Business Operations Associate (BizOps) to work closely with the CEO and take broad operational ownership: someone who builds structure where there isn’t any, creates order, drives follow-through and takes real load off the founder’s plate within a few months.
There isn’t always a playbook here - and when there is, understanding why it works is as important as following it. You’ll get close to what Certra actually does, including real fraud cases and the underlying technology, which means the thinking required goes well beyond process management. The people who thrive here get genuinely curious about how things work and are equally comfortable closing the loop and getting it done.
This is a hands-on operator role, not an advisory one. If you need a defined role with clear boundaries, this isn’t it. If you like digging into problems, figuring things out, and building something that matters, read on.
Why Certra
- You’ll work on something real. Financial fraud destroys businesses and livelihoods. When Certra catches a fraud attempt, that’s a real person or business protected. You’ll be close enough to the work to see it.
- Small, close-knit, high-quality team. Everyone is hands-on, including the CEO. There’s no layer of management between you and the decisions that matter.
- Build it right the first time. The business is running and growing. The operational infrastructure is being built now - you’d be the one building it, on top of something that already works.
- The timing is right. Early enough to be part of building something, far enough along that the product works and customers are buying it.
- Blouberg office. A proper workspace with a good environment - not a kitchen table or a co-working hot desk.
What you’ll do
- Own outcomes, not just tasks. Take real ownership of the areas you support - dig into the detail, understand the context, and drive things to completion. You run projects instead of just track them.
- Build the operational foundations. Design and implement the processes that keep the business running and scaling: clear project rhythm, reliable client onboarding, support processes that don’t drop the ball, compliance routines, internal handoffs. The goal is not just to document process, but to make execution more consistent, visible, and dependable.
- Own the tools and systems. Set up and manage operational tooling to help the business run better - project management, dashboards, workflow automation, internal tracking – and take on broad operational work across areas like marketing, IT, finance, and contracting. Use AI to move faster and bring in specialists where genuinely needed.
- Support the CEO and keep things moving. Manage vendors, produce research and documentation, surface problems early, and give the CEO clear visibility without needing to personally track every detail.
Who you are
You’re the kind of person who gets curious about how things work, digs into the detail, and then actually closes it out. You don’t get stuck in the weeds: you know when to go deep and when to just get it done. You have a relevant degree - engineering, operations research, business science, or similar, and 3-5 years of experience working across multiple domains. Industrial engineers and technically-minded graduates who’ve moved into broader business roles tend to fit this profile well.
- A track record of personally owning projects or business areas end-to-end. You ran it and owned the result, not just the reporting.
- Technically comfortable: confident with software tools, able to set up and configure systems, and at ease working alongside developers without needing translation.
- A figure-it-out mentality: you ask for input where it matters rather than waiting to be told or passing work along. You use AI as a tool, not a crutch.
- Clear, concise communicator, commercially aware, and genuinely excited about the startup space.
Growth and equity
As Certra scales, this role grows with it into Head of Operations or Chief of Staff. ESOP participation through Certra’s standard programme is available after the defined review period, based on performance and scope: a real stake in what you help build.
How to apply
Apply with your CV and cover letter.
If the questions below sound like fun to answer, feel free to include a short response (200 words max) in your cover letter:
- What’s the least glamorous thing you’ve done at work - and why did you do it?
- Describe a process you’ve encountered that was badly designed. What was broken, and how would you fix it?
Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted by 30 June 2026.
Education:
Experience:
- working in multiple domains: 3 years (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cape Town, Western Cape
