Head Of Compliance And Legal

Keo-Kutlwi Group; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in compliance and legal management in South Africa is seeking a Head of Compliance and Legal to oversee the compliance and legal functions. You will be responsible for implementing compliance strategies, managing regulatory risks, and fostering relationships with regulators. The ideal candidate will have a strong legal background with a minimum of 10 years in a senior role, preferably within the insurance industry. The position offers opportunities to manage a dedicated team and contribute to strategic leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of post‑qualification experience in compliance and/or legal department.
• Qualified attorney with the right to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements in the non‐life insurance industry.

Responsibilities

• Oversee compliance and legal functions within the organization.
• Implement and monitor compliance and legal strategies.
• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify compliance risks.
• Manage regulatory complaints and ensure timely resolution.
• Provide strategic legal and regulatory advice to leadership.

Skills

Risk management

Legal compliance

Regulatory relationship management

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in law (LLB)

Master's degree in law (LLM)

Job description

Job Summary

The Head of Compliance and Legal is a senior‑manager responsible for overseeing compliance and legal functions.

This role is responsible for implementing and monitoring the compliance and legal strategy to honour the responsibility to comply with all regulatory requirements.

This role involves providing strategic legal and regulatory advice to the organisation’s leadership, managing regulatory risk, fostering a strong relationship with regulators and industry bodies, leading the compliance and legal function to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and overseeing the company's regulatory complaints management process.

Head of Compliance Control Function

Conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential compliance risks and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.

Oversee and provide advice to the Board of Directors, Audit and Risk Committee, senior management, and wider business on all legal and regulatory matters, including business decisions, strategic initiatives, and corporate governance.

Managing and supporting new regulatory processes and ensuring changes and developments in legislation, regulations, guidelines, and practices are analysed, evaluated, implemented, monitored and reported.

Creating and maintaining policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure company operates within all applicable laws and regulations.

Identifying and mitigating potential compliance and legal risks to the company.

Developing and implementing risk management frameworks and effective compliance monitoring; managing litigation and legal disputes.

Fostering strong relationships with regulators and industry bodies to ensure the company's interests are represented and to stay informed about regulatory changes and industry best practices.

Coordinating all regulatory engagements and submissions, ensuring timely and accurate communication with regulatory authorities, and maintaining comprehensive records of all regulatory interactions.

Regularly providing and discussing compliance and legal reports to senior management, the Audit and Risk Committee and the Board of Directors, highlighting compliance, regulatory and legal risks, issues, and recommendations.

Overseeing the company's regulatory (including NFO) complaints management process, ensuring that all complaints are tracked, addressed, and resolved in a timely manner, and identifying trends and major issues to be addressed.

Ensuring that compliance, regulatory and legal training is conducted and staff are kept abreast of regulatory developments and requirements.

Overseeing and reviewing the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of legal documents and contracts to protect the company's interests.

Managing, mentoring, and developing the internal compliance, legal and regulatory complaints team, and overseeing the selection and management of external legal and governance third parties (if and when required).

Developing and managing the department's budget, ensuring efficient use of resources.

Building trusted advisor relationships with internal and external stakeholders and ensuring they are provided with service excellence.

Experience and Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in law (LLB) is the minimum requirement.

A master's degree in law (LLM) or other post‑graduate qualification in compliance and/or legal is preferred.

Must be a qualified attorney with the right to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.

A minimum of 10 years of post‑qualification experience, with a significant portion of that time spent in a senior or management role, preferably within a corporate or in‑house compliance and/or legal department within the insurance industry and/or regulatory bodies.

A strong understanding of key relevant regulatory requirements in the non‑life insurance industry (Prudential Authority, Financial Sector Conduct Authority, Information Regulator) is essential.