Lead Specialist: Capital Markets and Advisory Legal - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Accountability:  Capital Markets and Advisory Legal Support to Business & Functions & Legal Risk Management 

• Act as the principal legal advisor to relevant business heads and relevant internal committees by providing legal advice, counsel and guidance on the full range of legal issues relating to Trade and working capital, cash management and investor services.
• Assist in ensuring the Legal Principal Risk Framework for the cluster is properly embedded and accurately interpreted to reflect regulatory requirements and ethical standards so that well-informed, ethical and responsible decisions can be reached.
• Work closely with and report to the Head Capital Markets and Advisory Legal on all aspects of Legal Risk Management in the cluster business unit.
• Monitor, control and reduce the Group's internal and external Legal spend, while remaining within the Group's Risk appetite as determined by the board.
• Actively manage the total cost (internal and external), of providing effective legal support and legal risk management to ensure the optimal mix of internal and externally provided legal support.
•  Establish and build relationships with potential external Legal Counsel and make recommendations to on which external firm/s to use for which legal component.
• Monitor the overall performance of such external counsel and ensure performance standards are as agreed and are being adhered to.
• 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.
• Participate in industry associations and act as trusted advisor to heads of business/infrastructure teams, industry bodies and relevant internal committees.
• Provide legal solutions for commercial problems while demonstrating sound judgement and decision-making skills.

Education and Experience Required

• B-degree in Law: LLB NQF Level 7
• Admitted attorney
• Preferred: Post Graduate diploma or Masters Degree in Banking, Corporate or Commercial Law
• Relevant experience (at least 10 years) as an in-house legal counsel in a financial institution, other corporate, in a reputable law firm.
• Relevant experience operating in multiple jurisdictions across Africa.
• General knowledge of bank regulations required.