Central Business Services: Manager - Contracting and Legal at Deloitte

Job Description

Main Purpose of Job

• The successful candidate will form part of the Contracting and Legal function within Advisory - CBS.  This will be an advisory role focusing on providing support regarding all contractual and legal matters across the firm.

Key Performance Areas

Strategic Impact

• Support the Deloitte service lines in the establishment and management of contracts with clients and business partners
• Providing support to the business from the sales cycle to supporting project teams
• Interact with internal clients (senior individuals) to:
• Determine client requirements and understand their needs
• Negotiate criticality, deadlines and turnaround times
• Assess and discuss the risk impacts of specific terms and requirements
• Negotiate the merits of specific clauses and changes to the agreements
• Provide feedback on agreements
• Establish agreements with clients and business partners, including contract negotiations with external party legal representatives
• Guide business in complex deal structuring involving multiple parties and different types of contractual agreements
• Perform ad hoc contract analysis, in the context of Deloitte contracting policies and standard terms
• Assist in the management of contractual and legal disputes
• Provide ongoing Contract Management support and activities for Consulting, including ongoing maintenance and management of individual agreements, and contract compliance reviews
• Provide ad hoc, well considered and relevant legal guidance and support to the Consulting business
• Ability to conduct legal research and document and present findings to a diverse audience
• Assist in the ongoing maintenance of standard legal agreements for use in Consulting
• Ability to multi-task by driving and supporting on dozens of open matters at any given time with the ability to prioritise and manage deadlines and commitments with internal and external clients
• Ability to consider the commercial implications of contracts, over and above legal terms and conditions; also an ability to consider legal terms relevant to the specific services and products for which the contracts are being concluded
• Ability to flow contractual obligations through multiple agreements between different parties, incl. upstream to clients and downstream to business partners and other Deloitte entities
• Ability to work independently but also work effectively in a team construct, where multiple team members are involved on the same set of contracts
• Assist with the development, maintenance and roll out of various contracting terms & conditions templates for contracting with clients and business partners
• Drive the development, maintenance and roll-out of contracting polices and guidance documents
• Ability to develop contracting and legal training material and drive training activities within a professional services  environment, including the development of continuous learning material for the legal team and from time to time for the broader risk community
• Drive contracting activities withing the overall risk mitigation strategy of Deloitte
• Assist in determining new and improved ways of providing legal contracting support and contract management, including through the use of technology
• Contribute toward the achievement of Deloitte global standards
• Knows the business and industry - Knows how the member firm business works and keeps up-to-date on industry activities, marketplace trends and leading practices
• Manages to results - Takes responsibility for assigned areas and contributes to the successful realization of common goals
• Manages and executes projects - Prepares and manages work plans to ensure efficient and timely completion of work
• Solves problems - Identifies and solves problems objectively using analysis, experience and judgment
• Manages quality and risk - Understands and applies quality assurance and risk management procedures in all areas of work performed    
• Manages change and ambiguity - Is adaptive and flexible in the face of change and ambiguity.

Client Impact: External / Internal

• Oversees and involved in the delivery of contracting and legal support across Service Line/s on aAfrica wide basis
• Provides expert professional input on strategic and complex issues related to area of expertise
• Forms appropriate judgements based on careful analysis to make sound business decisions on issues
• Contributes to thought leadership initiatives and shares knowledge and expertise with client, CBS, across Deloitte Service Lines, colleagues and teams

Operational Effectiveness

• Ensures delivery against client expectations
• Gives direction and support to business and CBS team members on client requirements and team achievements
• Keeps CBS and business leadership teams updated on status of all projects within area of responsibility
• Manages complex risk issues within sphere of responsibility ensuring issues are rectified as soon as possible
• Demonstrates Deloitte value of exceptional service to internal clients through personal example, growing the firm’s brand and talent development

Development/Growth of Team

• Supports the Contracting and Legal Leader to identify recruit, mentors and develops CBS team members
• Acts as counsellor to junior staff within CBS, ensuring effective coaching and guidance in development and career growth
• Develops effective relationships with key talent in CBS and ensures they are well supported in their career growth
• Empowers managers and peers through effective delegation
• Provides consistent recognition and encouragement to teams and leads by example
• Demonstrates commitment to transformation agenda of the firm

Budgets / Profitability

• Manages costs for designated area and ensures time and expenses are submitted weekly

Qualifications

Minimum experience and qualifications

• Qualified Attorney with LLB or B.Com Law (majoring in Commercial & Contracts Law) 
• Experience as a legal adviser in a professional services environment
• 6+ years’ experience in commercial contract negotiations preferably in a professional services environment
• Strong academic credentials

Desired experience and qualifications

• Admitted Attorney or Advocate, with at least 6-8 years post-admission experience
• Preferably previous experience as a corporate/commercial lawyer either at a law firm or as in-house legal advisor role for one of the large professional services firms
• Significant hands-on experience in drafting and negotiating technology agreements, commercial contracts, license agreements, master services agreements, transitional services agreements, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
• Transactional involvement within a broad range of industries, including financial advisory services, managed services, telecommunications, technology, and energy & resources
• Proven leader with a track record of providing direction and guidance to project teams
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to confidently, authentically and effectively engage with executives at all levels of the organization and clients alike
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with experience resolving complex issues
• Self-motivated with a desire to work both independently and in a collegial team environment
• Demonstrated willingness to accept challenges and ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment with competing client demands
• Strong work ethic and the ability to handle a broad array of matters, with a proven commitment to quality
• Ability to build and maintain business relationships across the Deloitte network and externally
• Experience working across borders and with clients from different geographies and cultures
• High level of computer literacy across MS Office including Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel and Word