Legal Advisor

Wesbank; India; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

WesBank seeks an experienced Regulatory Legal Advisor to manage complex regulatory and Ombud complaints, draft high-quality submissions, and provide first-line regulatory support to operations. You will collaborate with risk, compliance, and business units to ensure fair customer outcomes.

You will contribute to governance practices and engage with regulators as part of an ongoing commitment to compliant dispute resolution in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification (LLB, BCom Law, or similar qualification).
• 8–10 years’ experience in insurance dispute resolution, complaints management, or a related insurance operational environment.
• Experience dealing with Ombud complaints, regulatory investigations, or insurance related disputes.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and manage complex regulatory and Ombud complaints from initial assessment through to resolution.
• Draft and review high-quality submissions, legal arguments, policies, frameworks, and responses for regulators, Ombuds, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide first‑line legal and regulatory support to operational teams on insurance disputes, policy interpretation, claims decisions, conduct risk, and related regulatory matters.
• Engage with business units, claims, underwriting, servicing, risk, and compliance teams to gather information and support fair customer outcomes.
• Identify complaint trends, root causes, and emerging conduct risks, compile management reporting, and recommend improvements to processes, controls, and customer outcomes.
• Represent FNB Life in engagements with Ombuds, regulators, and alternative dispute resolution forums where required.
• Contribute to legal and regulatory knowledge sharing, training, and the ongoing enhancement of complaint‑handling frameworks and governance practices.

Skills

Investigative skills

Analytical thinking

Drafting & legal writing

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Education

LLB/BCom Law or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

To provide legal solutions to legal and business challenges within a business area, to mitigate legal risks and partner with the business on the implementation of policies to comply with legal and regulatory requirements in relation to business processes. To consult with internal clients to understand business requirements and provide sound legal advice pertaining to the drafting, vetting, review, dissemination and/or negotiation of legal documentation and processes, providing clear legal direction based on sound judgment.

Hello Future, Legal Advisor, Welcome to FNB, the home of the #changeables. We design for the shapeshifters and deliver products and services that make us incredibly proud of the people that make it happen.

As part of our team in FR Life Assurance, you will be surrounded by unique talents, diverse minds, and an adaptable environment that lives up to the promise of staying curious.

Now’s the time to imagine your potential in a team where experts come together and ignite effective change.

Join FNB Life’s Regulatory Complaints team and play a key role in resolving complex insurance disputes referred by external bodies such as the National Financial Ombud (NFO) and FAIS Ombud.

In addition, you will be required to assist with high-priority complaints involving legal or reputational risk, provide first‑line legal and regulatory support to operational teams, engage with regulators and business stakeholders, and help drive fair customer outcomes while strengthening complaint‑handling practices, governance frameworks, and regulatory compliance across the business.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and manage complex regulatory and Ombud complaints from initial assessment through to resolution.
• Draft and review high-quality submissions, legal arguments, policies, frameworks, and responses for regulators, Ombuds, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide first‑line legal and regulatory support to operational teams on insurance disputes, policy interpretation, claims decisions, conduct risk, and related regulatory matters.
• Engage with business units, claims, underwriting, servicing, risk, and compliance teams to gather information and support fair customer outcomes.
• Identify complaint trends, root causes, and emerging conduct risks, compile management reporting, and recommend improvements to processes, controls, and customer outcomes.
• Represent FNB Life in engagements with Ombuds, regulators, and alternative dispute resolution forums where required.
• Contribute to legal and regulatory knowledge sharing, training, and the ongoing enhancement of complaint‑handling frameworks and governance practices.

Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification (LLB, BCom Law, or similar qualification).
• 8‑10 years’ experience in insurance dispute resolution, complaints management, or a related insurance operational environment.
• Experience dealing with Ombud complaints, regulatory investigations, or insurance related disputes.
• Management experience with ability to coordinate teams will be advantageous.
• Experience with FNB Life systems and processes will be advantageous.

What We Are Looking For

• Strong investigative, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written communication and drafting ability.
• Sound understanding of insurance, regulatory complaints, and customer conduct principles.
• Ability to manage complex matters independently and manage multiple cases and/or projects while working effectively with stakeholders across the business.
• Strong judgement, attention to detail, and ability to operate in a high‑accountability environment.

You Will Have Access To

• Opportunities to network and collaborate
• A challenging yet growth enabling environment
• Opportunities to innovate

We Can Be A Match If You Are

• Adaptable and curious
• Analyse and map out end to end processes
• Be an independent worker and be able to work with a broad range of stakeholders
• Thrive in a collaborative environment

We look forward to engaging with you!

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan.

The bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.

Important Closing Date Note: Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below. 04/09/26

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan.

The bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.

FirstRand provides a comprehensive range of financial services in South Africa and certain markets in broader Africa. The group also offers certain niche products and services in the UK and India. Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), FirstRand Limited is the largest financial institution by market capitalisation in Africa. The group follows a multi‑branding approach. Its portfolio of financial services businesses includes FNB, RMB, WesBank, Ashburton Investments, Aldermore, MotoNovo and DirectAxis. Many are leaders in their respective segments and markets, offering transactional, lending, investment and insurance products and services The FirstRand Corporate Centre houses many of the critical functions required by a large and complex financial services group. The group's track record of delivering superior returns to shareholders has been achieved through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, innovation and the creation of completely new businesses. The group’s purpose of delivering Shared Prosperity provides many opportunities for employees to innovate to address social and environmental challenges in our markets. All of our businesses have successful Volunteering programmes which also allow employees to adopt and support causes close to their hearts.