South African Immigration Compliance and Consulting Services - Manager

Description of Role

As a Manager in Immigration Services, you will lead the day-to-day delivery of a portfolio of local and multinational clients navigating complex immigration challenges in South Africa and further afield as the portfolio necessitates. You will manage teams, ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks, and drive efficient execution of immigration processes. This role is ideal for a detail-driven leader who combines legislative expertise with commercial awareness and thrives in a high-performance, client-focused environment.  You’ll be a key bridge between clients, your team, and government authorities—making things happen on the ground, while advising on broader strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of immigration clients, providing accurate and timely advice on compliance matters.
• Deliver practical, commercially-relevant guidance on South African immigration legislation for all types of visas and permits.
• Manage relationships with government stakeholders including the Department of Home Affairs and embassies.
• Oversee end-to-end casework, ensuring accuracy, risk management, and adherence to strict KPIs.
• Guide clients through documentation and application processes, anticipating potential roadblocks and navigating regulatory complexity.
• Support the implementation of internal technology tools for case tracking and client updates.
• Lead, coach, and develop junior staff, fostering accountability, technical growth, and collaboration.
• Allocate resources across projects effectively and ensure high-quality client service across all engagements.
• Conduct regular reviews and feedback sessions to maintain delivery standards and identify areas for improvement.
• Stay up to date with immigration law changes and communicate implications to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Identify and drive opportunities for process improvement including use of AI and other technology.
• Assist in audit and internal control activities, ensuring clients meet their legal obligations and maintain compliance.
• Escalate complex legal risks or sensitive client matters appropriately and proactively.
• Collaborate with tax, HR, and mobility teams to provide holistic global mobility support.
• Contribute to business development initiatives including proposal writing and responding to RFPs.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities within client accounts and support the growth of the practice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in immigration services or global mobility, ideally within a professional services firm or multinational corporation.
• Solid understanding of immigration legislation, regulatory processes, and practical casework.
• Proven experience managing client relationships and leading junior team members.
• Excellent communication, client-facing, and project management skills.

Skills and Behavioural Attributes

• Excellent organisational and project-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Technologically literate: a good working knowledge of Microsoft applications.
• Able to manage and oversee a team, including development of individual team members
• Manage and oversee client deliverables deadlines.
• Presentation skills
• Motivated and driven
• Ability to work on your own, a team player.

Who we are:

Our immigration practice revolves around helping our clients effectively manage their immigration obligations proactively and responsibly. As part of a global team of 2,000+ tax professionals in over 160 countries, you will advise clients on planning, compliance and reporting on immigration matters  wherever the client has a need. Our unwavering commitment to quality service and our technical networks enable you to help clients mitigate risk and identify opportunities within their immigration programme.

Our immigration practice is housed within our People Advisory Services (PAS) function. As a PAS professional, you will have the opportunity to work with global clients to understand and address some of the largest and most complex challenges related to the movement of people, and ultimately improve and drive valuable and sustainable business results.

At EY we support you in achieving your unique potential both personally and professionally. We give you stretching and rewarding experiences that keep you motivated, working in an atmosphere of integrity and teaming with some of the world's most successful companies. And while we encourage you to take personal responsibility for your career, we support you in your professional development in every way we can. You enjoy the flexibility to devote time to what matters to you, in your business and personal lives. At EY you can be who you are and express your point of view, energy and enthusiasm, wherever you are in the world. It's how you make a difference.