Specialist: Legal Counsel - Sandton at Absa South Africa

Job Summary

• Our Absa Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) Legal team has an exciting role for a Legal Counsel (Regulatory). As part of the CIB – Regulatory Legal Team, you will be responsible for managing Key Legal Risk and to contribute to the development of the Legal Function. The role will primarily focus on providing legal support to the Head Legal Counsel - Regulatory, and advice to the business on legal issues emanating from a regulatory perspective and working with other functions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Regulatory Legal Team within the region and across the bank. You will be expected to provide accurate, expert and specialized legal advice on legal and regulatory matters and will be responsible for providing on the go pro-active legal advice, support and risk management.

This role is suited to a candidate with a B-degree in Law, Admitted attorney or Advocate as well as 3 years relevant experience in a financial institution, other corporate, in a reputable law firm or at the Bar.

Job Description

Management of Legal Risks

• Ensure the bank’s legal and regulatory position is managed effectively in all situations in which legal disputes or regulatory issues arise, at all times safeguarding Absa’s reputation.
• Increase awareness of the Legal Key Risk Policies and report any breaches.
• Identify and articulate risks associated with proposed transactions, projects and activities that the business intends to undertake.
• Mitigate risks wherever possible.
• Provide regulatory advice and support from a local and international perspective.
• Attend necessary training sessions to ensure commerciality and continued legal professional development.
• Ensure regulatory & statutory compliance.
• Provide a clear record of relevant business transactions and legal advice given that effectively mitigates legal risk.

Negotiate, draft and review Agreements.

• Help to develop working structures and best practice guides for use within business
• Address all probable risks by seeing to it that they are sufficiently addressed in legal agreements drafted
• Consider, comment, negotiate and give advice on documents/ agreements for the business
• Give regulatory advice on transactions or deals to be done, or transactions that have been concluded
• Conduct legal due diligences on transactions
• Provide advice on legality, the lawfulness and enforceability of agreements and documents

Stakeholder Management

• Determine needs of stakeholders by regular interaction with the stakeholders in order to discuss legal developments and matters with them
• Provide stakeholders with legal advice, support and legal solutions
• Provide specialist assistance to country legal teams in Barclays Africa region
• Manage external counsel where required
• Distil and communicate and legal concepts in a simple, concise way that is easily understood by business stakeholders.
• Evaluate, manage and prioritise tasks in accordance with business need

Reporting

• Compile lists of matters and registers of work or instructions received
• Provide reports as required to support the assessment of the legal risk control framework.
• Attend to ad hoc reports as requested by the Head.

Education and Experience Required

• B-degree in Law: LLB NQF Level 7
• Admitted attorney or Advocate
• Preferred: Post Graduate diploma or master’s degree in Banking, Corporate or Commercial Law
• Relevant experience least 5 years in a financial institution, other corporate, in a reputable law firm or at the Bar.
• General knowledge of regulations impacting the Bank required.

Knowledge & Skills:

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

Education

• Bachelor Honours Degree: Law, Military Science and Security (Required)