Role: Head of Legal
Category: Legal and compliance
Location: Cape Town
Salary: Market-related
Our client, a diverse group operating within a wide range of non-banking financial services, is seeking a Head of Legal based in Cape Town. The successful candidate will navigate significant legal complexity across the group's various entities, which include financial services providers, a retirement fund administrator, a collective investment scheme management company, a linked long-term insurer, and a treasury outsource company.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide legal support to a range of group companies and business units, including wealth management, asset management, collective investment scheme management, linked long-term insurance, treasury solutions, and marketing.
- Offer legal support to the Compliance department and advise on compliance with relevant legislation.
- Advise on legal considerations relating to new business ventures and assist with the legal aspects of their implementation.
- Keep the business updated on relevant legal developments and provide proactive advice to group businesses regarding these changes.
- Provide opinions on legal matters of relevance to the business.
- Draft and vet contracts relating to financial services as well as those of a more general commercial nature.
- Draft and vet client documentation and correspondence.
- Liaise with external legal service providers.
- Represent group companies in negotiations of contractual provisions with external suppliers.
- Represent our client at ASISA as needed, contributing to commentary on behalf of our client to ASISA or directly to regulatory bodies on proposed regulatory changes. Manage the Legal team.
Requirements & Qualifications
- An LLB degree and admission as an attorney of the High Court.
- At least 15 years of post-qualification legal experience.
- At least 12 years of experience as a legal advisor within non-banking financial services or as a practising attorney specialising in non-banking financial services.
- Experience managing a team is considered an advantage.
- Expertise in non-banking financial services law and general commercial law.
- Computer competency in Outlook packages, Microsoft Word, Adobe, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Teams.
- Excellent writing and contract drafting skills.
- Strong communication skills, negotiation skills, and problem-solving abilities.
- Business insight, accountability, and ethical behaviour.
- Good time management and a hands-on attitude.
- The ability to work independently, as part of a larger team, and to effectively manage a small team.