Senior Manager: Legal - JHB at Hollard Insurance

Job Responsibility

STRATEGIC:

• Provide guidance in a manner that ensures that business understand the impact of their actions on the green control environment goal
• Support 1st line Compliance, Business Assurance and Fraud Risk Management teams
• For legal risks identified, ensure that Regulatory risks, Operations risks and Fraud risks are engaged to ensure associated risks are mitigated
• Will be responsible for effectively managing regulatory and legal risks by identifying, pro-actively and re-actively, business needs for Legal advice and support services, including effectively managing the drafting of legal documents, contracts and agreements.
• The incumbent will be required to creatively and innovatively support Hollard Life with achieving its business objectives within the Hollard Group regulatory risk framework and risk appetite. Individuals with a “How can we make it work?” attitude towards Legal and Regulatory risk will excel in this role and within the Hollard Life Business Unit.
• Playing an integral role in regulatory change initiatives and keeping Hollard Life informed of developments in the industry, including changes to legislation, that could impact business

 RISK MANAGEMENT & CI

• Manage the delivery of legal advisory and support services through internal legal and external legal firms.
• Provide appropriate, proactive legal advice through the interpretation of regulation, acts and other appropriate standards and policies.
• Identify, evaluate and advise on current or future legal risks, given changes in the regulatory landscape.
• Continues scanning of the Hollard Life BU strategy to pro-actively identify changes in legal support / expertise required and enabling it timeously.
• Provide internal stakeholders with the appropriate tools, knowledge and skills to understand key regulatory operational processes / standard operating procedures which they need to adhere to in order to manage legal risks.
• Draft and review contracts to ensure that the contracts entered into by Hollard are effectively drafted, reviewed, interpreted, and vetted.
• Review and sign off product policy documents as requested by the business complying with Hollard Group product policy standards.
• Manage litigation process and budget, where required, working with Group Legal and external litigation firms.
• Conduct strategic reporting on business relevant issues such as litigation management, with the purpose of identifying trends in order to mitigate and prevent future risks.
• Develop, manage and deliver on Service Level Agreements with internal business partners and external providers.
• Research and analyse the implications of case law, legislation and regulatory matters that affect HAD.
• Provide Hollard Life BU with regular information regarding new legal developments (which include new Bills, Acts, Regulations, Directives and Case Law) and clear actions plans to manage the implication or risk of this on the HAD business.
• Interpret all new legislation and regulation and prepare high level impact analyses.
• Conduct Legal Due Diligence Reviews on new partners to be onboarded.
• Produce appropriate management and board level legislative reports.

PEOPLE & TALENT MANAGEMENT

• Manage the performance and efficiency of the BU Legal team and individuals, using KPI’s, standards, process compliance, service level agreements, policy and procedures as tools and guides.
• Ensure that Legal resources across Hollard Life BU are sufficient at all times
• Ensure the Legal Team members perform optimally, are up-skilled and developed; appropriate talent management, reward, retention and succession plans are in place and implemented

CUSTOMER SERVICE & TCF

• Customer service: Establish and maintain a high level of service to customers (internal and external) according to the service standards as set by the company.
• TCF: Ensure customers are treated fairly and that TCF management and relevant training is done in conjunction with the Academy

Required Knowledge and Experience

• 5 – 8 years management experience in Legal in the Insurance or Financial Regulatory Industry, with at least Life and Short-term experience.
• Ligation management.
• Financial services compliance support and/or advisory

Knowledge

• Insurance Legislation and Regulations including, Short-term insurance Act, Long-term insurance Act, , FAIS
• General knowledge of the financial services and insurance industry
• ASISA & SAIA Standards
• General legislation applicable to greater the business environment
• Contract Drafting
• Interpretation of legislation
• Litigation management
• Report writing
• General business acumen

Skills & Qualities

• Ability to lead and motivate a team
• Intellectual and analytical skills of a high order
• Ability to use initiative and work with minimum supervision but ensuring, at the same time, that the line reports are kept fully informed at all times
• Ability to consider issues from a range of angles and propose creative solutions that assist the business in achieving its goals in a safe, compliant and controlled manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with senior internal and external audiences – to educate, persuade, negotiate, gain decisions, enforce.
• Ability to influence senior management.
• Ability to make a real contribution in a rapidly changing environment and thrive on change and the need to learn rapidly.
• Computer Literacy (MS Office)

Educational Requirements

• LLB Degree
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court
• Certificate in Compliance Management (advantageous)