Wills Drafting Consultant (6 Months FTC) - Pretoria at Absa South Africa

Job Summary

• To draft Wills for all allocated Will applications accurately within the contracted Service Level Agreement and in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Job Description

Accountability: Drafting of Wills

• Accept call form the Wills Direct telephone line dedicated for the purpose of drafting wills telephonically. Take Will registration information and drafting instructions from intermediaries (advisers/branch consultants/Private Bankers and Planners etc.) or clients directly. Register will via Citrix wills system and draft will using MS Word, according to instructions provided by intermediary. Save the drafted will and dispatch the will via email to the intermediary/client within SLA of 30 minutes or time agreed with intermediary/client. Update status of the drafted will on Chameleon system. Receive Will applications from the Wills Drafting admin department in order to draft the will. Analyse and interpret the instruction of the Will application in order to determine the intention of the client or intermediary who gives instructions in layman’s terms – “I want my estate to go to my wife, she must not receive any benefit until the last of my parents have passed away.” Structure the Will, after the intention has been determined, by making use of legal instruments (Trust / Usufruct) e.g. bequeath estate into a Trust for the benefit of the parents. Terminate the Trust at the death of both parents in favour of the spouse. Draft Will using MS Word by making use of standard legal clauses, generally used in Wills, and creating specific clauses applicable to the Wills application. Save the drafted will onto a server allocated to the Wills Drafting office and update the status of the Will application on the Chameleon system (Absa Trust internal tracking system), e.g. registered, received, drafted, typed or dispatched status. Return the Will application to the Wills Drafting admin department with the instruction to deliver drafted wills to client/intermediary.

Accountability: Drafting Quality 

• Draft Wills accurately in accordance with the interpreted drafting instructions by ensuring that the instructions are interpreted correctly and that the content of the draft wills do not reflect spelling/structuring errors, e.g. incorrect paragraph clause numbering, incorrect use of header/footer (testator/testatrix). Ensure that statutory and company requirements are met in respect of the drafting of allocated will applications, e.g. “I bequeath my estate to my cat”. The law does not allow this, so an alternative must be suggested that is legally allowed and permissible.

Accountability: Customer Service

• Provide a professional and high standard of service at all times, electronically via emails, face to face and telephonically with clients and intermediaries. Build and maintain a sound relationship with intermediaries by continuously engaging in a professional manner that will ensure satisfactory client service.

Accountability: Compliance

• Complete all compulsory compliance and legislation training within the required time frames as prescribed by Absa Risk. Adhere to Risk and Compliance policies in terms of Environmental Health and Safety, Information Security, Records Management, Money Laundering, Sanctions etc. Nonadherence to Absa’s Policy and Procedures may lead to disciplinary action.

Education and Experience Required Grade 12 (NQF Level 4)

• Qualifications Required (Essential) Grade 12 (NQF Level 4)
• Qualifications Required (Preferred) LLB Degree (NQF Level 6); or Certificate in Deceased Estate Administration via LEAD; or Trustee Diploma (NQF Level 5)
• Essential Two years experience in Law of Succession
• Preferred Experience in drafting of Wills

Education

• Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC): Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)