Legal Associate (Fintech/Crypto/Finance)

Black Pen Recruitment; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A high-growth fintech company in Cape Town is looking for a Mid-Senior Legal Counsel to drive licensing, contract drafting, and governance in financial services. The ideal candidate must hold an LLB degree, be an admitted attorney with 3+ years of PQE, and possess solid analytical, communication, and organisational skills. This role involves collaborating with regulators and managing complex legal relationships in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Admitted attorney.
• Minimum of 3 years of post-qualification experience in financial services.
• Experience in contract and commercial sectors.

Responsibilities

• Support new licence applications across jurisdictions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Support formation and maintenance of corporate entities.
• Support onboarding documentation for banking counterparties.
• Conduct legal research into evolving regulations.
• Provide day-to-day support on legal projects.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational abilities

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

LLB degree

Job description

Role Overview

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.

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), or contract & commercial sectors.
• 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.