Legal Associate (Licensing/Fintech/Regulatory Compliance)

Black Pen Recruitment; Wes-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is looking for a Legal Associate in Cape Town to handle licensing compliance, regulatory engagements, and support legal functions in a high-growth fintech sector. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB), be an admitted attorney, and possess a minimum of 5 years PQE in relevant legal areas. This full-time role offers a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience (PQE) in legal practice.
• PQE in financial services, banking & payments, and contract & commercial law.
• Ability to work independently in structured or unstructured environments.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the process of applying for new licenses across various jurisdictions.
• Draft and review complex legal agreements, including vendor contracts.
• Ensure the company adheres to legal requirements imposed by regulators.
• Handle the establishment of new entities ensuring statutory compliance.
• Assist in relationships with banks and payment service providers.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Excellent written communication

Excellent oral communication

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB)

Admitted attorney

Job description

Legal Associate (Licensing/Fintech/Regulatory Compliance)

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

• Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB).
• Admitted attorney.
• Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience (PQE) gained in a law firm or in-house legal department.
• PQE in financial services, banking & payments, and contract & commercial law.
• Ability to work independently in a structured and unstructured environment.
• Attention to detail and organisational abilities – must be meticulous.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable with performing administrative tasks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• New License Applications: Assists in the process of applying for new licenses across various jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local requirements. This includes working with financial regulators where applicable.
• Contract Management & Drafting: Drafts and reviews complex legal agreements, including vendor contracts, customer agreements, and technology-related contracts critical to the business.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assists in ensuring that the company adheres to legal requirements imposed by local and international financial regulators.
• Corporate and Secretarial Work: Handles the establishment of new entities across various jurisdictions, ensuring statutory compliance and maintaining company secretarial functions like filing annual returns and maintaining company registers.
• Banking and PSP Relationships: Assists in establishing and maintaining relationships with banks and payment service providers.
• Regulatory Engagements: Assists with engagements with regulators or banking and payment partners, ensuring the company adheres to directives and guidelines issued.
• Regulatory Research: Conducts legal research into new regulations or laws impacting the business.
• Banking & Counterparty Onboarding Support: Works with internal stakeholders on legal documentation needed for the onboarding with banking and payment partners, trading counterparties and others.
• Document Preparation: Assists in the preparation of legal documents, including contract templates, board resolutions, and other legal filings.
• License Management: Tracks the renewal and ongoing compliance of licenses in coordination with the company’s senior legal and compliance functions.
• Support: Provides general support to the company’s senior legal function.