HRIS Specialist
About the job
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
- At least 3 years of experience in HRIS or HR Technology roles within multinational or multi-market organizations.
- Hands-on experience with HiBob, JazzHR, or similar HRIS platforms.
- Knowledge of HR processes, local compliance requirements, and global reporting standards.
- Experience in regional system adoption and cross-market project support.
- Strong analytical, reporting, and problem-solving skills.
- Attention to detail and accuracy in data management.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across regions.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- High initiative, solution orientation, and integrity.
- Ability to drive process standardization and adoption across markets.
- Plan, implement, and maintain HRIS processes aligned with global standards and regional requirements, within defined scope, responsibilities, and priorities.
- Monitor system adoption and performance within the assigned scope.
- Support regional and end-market HR teams with HRIS queries and issues.
- Identify regional opportunities for process improvement and automation.
- Ensure accurate and up-to-date employee data within HRIS systems.
- Generate regional dashboards and reports for business and HR leadership.
- Conduct regular audits to maintain data integrity and compliance with local laws and internal policies.
- Highlight trends, gaps, or anomalies in regional data and recommend improvements.
- Ensure regional HR processes comply with local labor laws and internal HRIS policies.
- Maintain consistency with global HR standards and workflows.
- Serve as a liaison between the region, the HR Systems Manager, Admins, and the Head of HR.
- Act as the first point of contact for regional HR teams on system issues.
- Train and guide regional HR staff on system usage, workflows, and best practices.
- Support change management during system updates, rollouts, or process improvements.
- Partner with the HR Systems Manager to standardize processes across markets.
- Provide input on system upgrades, enhancements, and new features.
- Work closely with Admins to ensure smooth operational support for HRIS platforms.
About the company
Watu is an asset-financing fintech in Africa that provides buy-now-pay-later loans to unbanked and underserved customers to acquire income-generating assets. It finances items such as two- and three-wheelers, smartphones, and education, with bundles that include GPS tracking, insurance, and logbook transfers, and repayment is typically via mobile money with interest and fees as revenue. The company differentiates itself by targeting mass-market mobility and financial inclusion at scale, expanding beyond vehicles into devices and education, and investing in green mobility through EV financing and partnerships. Its goal is to increase access to credit and mobility for underserved populations, while expanding the EV portfolio and building the infrastructure needed for affordable, sustainable transportation across Africa.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Debt Financing
Total Funding
$29M
Headquarters
Nairobi, Kenya
Founded
2015
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- On 23 July 2026, Watu Uganda financed one million devices, doubling 2025 volume.
- Watu and Airtel Rwanda launched smartphone financing on 9 July 2026, broadening distribution.
- Car & General reported 2025 revenue up 92.7% to KES28.3 billion.
What critics are saying
- TechCabal reported 2024 profit plunged 85% as loan defaults rose in Kenya and Uganda.
- The Star said 2025 restructuring cut some departments nearly half, signaling brittle economics.
- If defaults spike again, funding can tighten and force a destructive repossession spiral.
What makes Watu unique
- Watu finances boda bodas, tuk-tuks, and smartphones through bundled asset-credit underwriting.
- Its GPS, insurance, and logbook-transfer bundle locks assets into repayment and recovery.
- July 2026 Airtel Rwanda deal ties handset financing to telecom distribution and mobile money.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Company News
Kenya's Watu has secured a $7 million nondilutive debt facility from AHL Venture Partners to support its asset-financing operations across Africa and Latin America. The funding will strengthen working capital and expand the company's portfolio of motorcycles, three-wheelers, and smartphones in select African markets. Founded in 2015, Watu operates in 10 countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, and Mexico. The company reports originating over 7 million loans since inception, focusing on mobility and connectivity assets for underserved customers. The facility builds on a financing relationship dating back to 2022. It follows AHL's recent second close of its Africa Credit Fund I, which raised $45.5 million toward a $70 million target. The fund provides senior secured, mezzanine, and bridge loans ranging from $2 million to $10 million to profitable businesses across East, West, and Southern Africa.
Metier Capital Growth Fund III partners with one of East Africa's leading connected asset microfinance institutions 16 September 2025 - Metier, through its Capital Growth Fund III ("MCGF III"), has partnered with Watu Group ("Watu"), a non-deposit taking microfinance institution [...]
By combining Jumia's massive online marketplace with Watu's financing model, this BNPL program could turn smartphones from simple gadgets into powerful tools for economic and social growth.
By combining Jumia's online marketplace with Watu Credit's proven financing model, the BNPL program positions smartphones not just as devices, but as tools for economic and social empowerment.
Founded in 2015 by Latvian entrepreneur, Andris Kaneps, Watu has raised over $20 million across five funding rounds from investors including: