Legal Compliance Officer - Southern Suburbs (Cape) at HomeChoice Holdings Limited

Description

We are recruiting a legal advisor that will focus on regulatory and operational compliance across the business. This role will involve limited day to day legal work but will form an integral part of enhancing homechoice's compliance obligations. The ideal candidate for this role will be responsible for managing, monitoring and growing a compliance and operational risk management framework, driving risk and compliance culture within the organization, and working with the business to imbed compliance within the organization.

What you will love doing in this role

• Knowledge of applicable legislation – National Credit Act, Consumer Protection Act, Protection of Personal Information Act, Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, Financial Intelligence Centre Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act & Labour Relations Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, etc.
• Advising on & drafting of business policies, and assisting with implementation and monitoring thereof – conduct, ethics, employment, standard operating procedures, process documents, etc. 
• Providing support & legal advice to various departments, such as procurement, supply chain (warehouse and logistics), merchandise, human resources. Offer strategic guidance on business aspects & ensuring full compliance with relevant regulatory standards.
• Staying updated on the latest industry trends, regulatory updates, and legal developments relevant to a credit and insurance provider, and retailer in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
• Preparing legal opinions & memorandums (with or without external legal counsel), including presenting these opinions to key business stakeholders.
• Drafting & facilitating legal correspondence – such as customer service responses & regulatory body responses, etc.
• Ad hoc project work as needed by business and in response to regulatory changes & requirements. 
• Conducting operational case studies with the aim of improving efficiencies and response times whilst creating awareness of required Compliance standards. 
• Mapping non-conforming processes and providing realistic solutions according to best practice of compliance standards. 
• Conducting compliance risk assessment training workshops (incl. Risk Champions training and compliance training review & monitoring).
• Owning annual Enterprise Risk Assessment activity, to document business risks and control environments, and monitoring these throughout the year. 
• Project-managing the internal audit function within the business. 
• Reporting to executive management on the functioning of the department and progress of compliance aspects across the business.

Requirements

What you’ll need to do this role

• LLB degree. Admitted attorney in South Africa, maintaining good standing within the legal profession.
• 2-4 years PQE, with demonstrable practical experience in compliance areas, such as advising on new laws and regulations, implementation of and compliance with same. 
• Compliance and/or internal audit training is highly advantageous.

Key competencies

• Display a keen analytical mindset, enabling efficient problem-solving & a thorough assessment of legal regulatory matters & problem solving.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written & verbal, which are crucial for articulating legal concepts clearly, succinctly & professionally.
• Proficient technical drafting and ability to create documents from scratch. 
• Critical & creative thinking, going beyond the obvious and thinking towards the future. 
• Confident public speaking & presentation skills. 
• Taking initiative & being proactive in performance of job. 
• Timeous delivery of work within agreed timelines, managing expectations of coworkers & timeous escalation of work when required. 
• Willingness to learn & develop skills to enhance your offering to the business. 
• Working with colleagues in various areas of a diverse business environment to encourage participation in the compliance function.  

Ideal Characteristics

• Collaboration skills, an ability to work harmoniously in group settings, & a proactive willingness to contribute to shared goals.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks & priorities within a collaborative setting, without compromising the quality of work.
• Possess a strong commitment to delivering high-quality solutions that align with business needs & objectives, and a willingness to go beyond the obvious expectations. 
• Display a self-driven approach, taking the initiative to excel independently while contributing positively to the team.
• Demonstrate high motivation to thrive within a dynamic environment, adaptability, & readiness to excel in diverse scenarios.