PRIMARY PURPOSE
To lead and manage the Bank’s legal and company secretariat functions by providing strategic and operational legal advice, protecting the Bank’s interests, ensuring statutory and corporate governance compliance, managing legal and regulatory risk, and delivering effective Board and committee support. The role is accountable for the quality, efficiency and development of the Legal and Company Secretariat team and for enabling sound decision-making across the Board, executive management and business units.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Legal leadership and expert advice
Advanced application of corporate, commercial, banking and financial-services law; ability to provide clear advice to the Board, executive management and business units.
Company secretariat and governance
Advanced knowledge of statutory requirements, Board and committee administration, governance standards, registers, resolutions, filings, director induction and governance advisory.
Contracts and transactions
Advanced drafting, review, negotiation and interpretation of contracts, security and facility documents, non-standard clauses, corporate documents and transactional due diligence.
Legal and regulatory risk
Ability to identify, assess and mitigate complex legal and regulatory risks, monitor legislative developments, develop policies and controls, and support regulatory engagements.
Litigation, investigations and IP
Ability to manage disputes, litigation, external counsel and the Bank’s intellectual property portfolio.
Strategic communication and analysis
High-level written and verbal communication, negotiation, analytical reasoning, information analysis, executive reporting and presentation to the Board and external stakeholders.
Leadership and people management
Ability to lead, mentor, and develop, diverse professional team and foster accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
• Legal qualification essential, postgraduate legal qualification or equivalent NQF Level 8 qualification.
• Admitted legal practitioner / attorney with current professional standing will be advantageous.
• Training or demonstrated expertise in corporate governance, company secretariat practice, banking regulation and management is required.
Experience
• Approximately 8+ years relevant legal, company secretariat experience in corporate and commercial legal practice, financial services or banking, including leadership exposure.
• Demonstrated leadership experience across legal, company secretariat, risk and compliance support services, including management of professional staff.
• Proven experience advising Boards and executive management, managing complex contracts and transactions, and overseeing litigation and external counsel.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
• Ability to identify weaknesses in the control environment and implement change
• Attention to detail
• Conceptual Thinking
• Excellent Financial and business acumen
• Leaderships and management skills
• Able to manage a diverse workforce
• Research and analytical skills
• Excellent Communication skills
WORKING CONDITIONS: Office bound
This position is advertised in line with our commitment to Employment Equity.