Principal Legal Counsel (Head of Markets) EE at Barclays Africa Group Limited

Job description

To provide strategic direction and legal support on the most complex legal matters affecting the Bank and promote and maintain legal knowledge management and sharing. Suitable post admittance experience (at least 12 years) as an in-house legal counsel in a financial institution, other corporate, in a reputable law firm with specific focus on Markets (Equity Capital Markets, Private Equity, Project Finance, Leverage Finance, M&A).

Accountability: Legal advice and opinions (50%)

• Act as the principal legal advisor to relevant Executive committees by providing legal advice, counsel and guidance on the full range of legal issues for example intellectual property issues, conducting research into legal matters, drafting legal documents and assisting in negotiations which have a legal element involved
• Establish and build relationships with potential external Legal Counsel and make recommendations to on which external firm/s to use for which legal component.
• Maintain the relationship with all approved external Legal Counsel, making recommendations on which firms should be used. Monitor the overall performance of such external counsel and ensure performance standards are as agreed and are being adhered to.
• In liaison with Absa Group General Counsel address all issues directly with the appropriate member of the firm (for example the Director of the firm).
• Evaluate, based on internal and external counsel areas of specialisation, whether major cases (litigation or advice) can be handled internally or if they need to be referred to external Legal Counsel for advice.
• Delegate the matter accordingly and oversee the preparation and rendering of legal opinions on these matters by engaging with theresponsible individual/s on a frequent basis.
• Report to the General Counsel on all aspects of Legal Risk Management in the cluster business unit.
• Own the Legal Principal Risk Framework for the cluster and ensure it is properly embedded and accurately interpreted to reflect regulatory requirements and ethical standards so that well-informed, ethical and responsible decisions can be reached.
• Develop and market the Legal function as an advisory, ambassadorial, enabling and enforcing function and make use of appropriate communication channels to ensure that there is a broad understanding within the business unit for the services provided
• Monitor, control and reduce through communisation, the Group's internal and external Legal spend, while remaining within the Group's Risk appetite as determined by the board.
• Where required participate in contract negotiations on behalf of the Group for key deals, specifically major vendor, IT,outsourcing agreements and corporate real estate agreements.

Accountability: People Management (30%)

• Set the standard for people management of the cluster legal team.
• Together with the Head of HR for the business unit and the General Counsel, determine the people management strategy for the area with a focus on talent management, development, resourcing and retention. Communicate the strategy to managers in the area.
• Continuously mentor the team leaders within the cluster Legal team on proactive people management techniques.
• Embed formal Performance Development and informal coaching in the business unit.
• Review training needs analysis conducted by managers. Approve training budgets and review training expenditure to ensure that allocated funds were utilised.
• Establish and maintain a succession plan for the key roles in the area and review and approve succession plans for one level below.
• With the support from the HR Business Partner, interview and recruit direct reports and provide support to them during the recruitment of their teams on request.
• Review workforce and recruitment plans for the area and reallocate resources where required
• Review requests from team leaders for headcount changes. Approve or decline with reasons.
• Approve leave requests for direct reports and ensure that they manage the leave planning for their teams effectively.
• Review overall business unit performance and approve outcomes of consistency check meetings.
• Motivate teams in the business unit and ensure that there are measures in place to recognise the efforts of staff
• Deal with all relevant remuneration matters

Accountability: Manage legal spend (10%)

• In consultation with relevant stakeholders within the Legal team;
• Manage legal spend by outsourcing instructions to external panel law firms only if instructions are complex or if there are capacity constraints within the team within the budget constraints of the relevant business unit.
• Assist with identifying panel firms.
• Approve external legal invoices up to the allocated mandate

Accountability: Business Management (10%)

• Agree targets and take accountability for the achievement of business area in terms of Employee Satisfaction, Customer Experience, Cost performance, Return on Investment, Risk, Compliance and Governance requirements.
• Oversee the Legal professional fee budget, influencing the business unit to meet the requirements of Group-wide frameworks.
• Approve Capital Expenditure items within mandate ensure that proper processes are followed for the acquisition of capital items.
• Interact with the cluster and Absa Group business unit heads and other executives to communicate the Group Legal vision and philosophy.
• Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and participate in any applicable sub-committees in so far as they deal with legal risk.
• Contract the analysis of the effectiveness of systems and processes in use in the business area and ensure that required improvements take place.
• Ensure that framework Agreements with internal customers if any are reviewed on an annual basis and managed quarterly through service review meetings.
• Take ownership for selected audit findings as assigned by the General Counsel, agree audit actions and closure dates, follow through on resolution and arrange issue assurance and closure

Education and Experience Required

• B-degree in Law: LLB, NQF level no. 7
• Admitted attorney or Advocate of the High Court in SA

Preferred:

• Post graduate diploma or masters degree in law - Banking, Corporate or Commercial
• Articles at law firm or pupillage
• Suitable post admittance experience (at least 12 years) as an in-house legal counsel in a financial institution, other corporate, in a reputable law firm or at the Bar.
• Markets experience is essential (Equity Capital Markets, Private Equity, Project Finance, Leverage Finance, M&A)
• 5 years Experience within the financial services sector handling work with strong multi-jurisdictional dimensions
• 5 years experience in setting up systems & processes for legal and regulatory risk management

Knowledge & Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of Banking and finance law and the regulatory environment of Financial Services Providers
• Ability to manage and apply effective matrix management principles
• Extensive knowledge of law of Contracts

Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating