Legal Associate (Fintech, Crypto, Finance)

Black Pen Recruitment; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company is seeking a Legal Associate to support legal and regulatory functions across Africa. The ideal candidate will have an LLB degree, proven experience in financial services (3+ years), and the ability to work independently. Responsibilities include contract drafting, managing regulatory applications, and ensuring corporate governance. This hybrid role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about fintech innovation.

Qualifications

• Admitted attorney.
• Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience (PQE) in financial services.
• Experience in contract and commercial law.

Responsibilities

• Support new licence applications across jurisdictions.
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Maintain corporate governance and compliance.
• Assist with banking relationships.
• Conduct legal research on financial regulations.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Written and oral communication

Problem-solving skills

Education

LLB degree

Job description

Our client is a high-growth fintech company building the next generation of payment infrastructure across Africa. Their mission is to make money movement seamless, inclusive, and scalable across borders. They operate at the intersection of financial innovation and real-world impact, empowering businesses and consumers with tools to thrive in a rapidly digitizing economy.

Role Overview

The Legal Associate will support the companys legal and regulatory functions across multiple jurisdictions, including payments, crypto assets, and financial services. The role involves drafting and negotiating contracts, assisting with new licence applications, managing regulatory and banking relationships, and maintaining corporate governance and entity compliance. This is an intermediate-level position that offers exposure to diverse legal environments and evolving fintech regulation across Africa and internationally.

Job Type: Full-time

Location: Cape Town

Workplace: Hybrid

Department: Legal

Reports To: CLCO

Level: Mid-Senior

Requirements

• LLB degree.
• Admitted attorney.
• Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience (PQE) gained in a law firm or in-house legal department.
• PQE must be in financial services (FX/TOC, crypto assets); banking & payments (TPPP/PSP and cross-border); contract & commercial.
• Ability to work independently in a structured and unstructured environment.
• Meticulous attention to detail and organisational abilities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable with performing administrative tasks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Licensing & Regulatory Applications: Support new licence applications across jurisdictions, liaising with regulators and external counsel where necessary. Track and maintain ongoing licence renewals and regulatory obligations.
• Contract Drafting & Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate commercial, vendor, and technology agreements critical to business operations. Maintain contract templates and ensure alignment with company standards.
• Corporate & Secretarial Governance: Support the formation and maintenance of corporate entities, including statutory filings, annual returns, and company registers. Prepare board resolutions and other company secretarial documents.
• Banking & Counterparty Relationships: Support onboarding documentation for banking, payment, and trading counterparties. Assist in managing ongoing legal relationships with payment service providers and liquidity partners.
• Regulatory Research & Engagement: Conduct legal research into new or evolving financial, crypto, and payments regulations. Support engagement with regulators and financial partners on compliance and policy matters.
• General Legal Support: Provide day-to-day support to the senior legal function on operational, regulatory, and strategic projects. Assist in preparing legal documents, filings, and correspondence as needed.