Legal Counsel

Ria Money Transfer; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ria Money Transfer, part of the Xe Legal team, seeks a focused Legal Counsel to support global operations. The role involves reviewing and negotiating international commercial contracts in English, advising on regulatory matters, and collaborating with the Legal Director and senior lawyers.

The ideal candidate has 6–7 years of legal experience, including at least 4 years in a top law firm, English fluency, and a practical, business-oriented approach to risk in payments or fintech sectors.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer admitted to practice in a relevant jurisdiction.
• 6–7 years of relevant legal experience, including at least 4 years in a reputable law firm (essential).
• Near-native or fully professional fluency in spoken and written English (essential).
• Demonstrated experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts in English (essential).
• Strong experience with commercial contracts, preferably international and cross-border agreements.
• Solid understanding of common law style agreements and legal drafting.
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently with international stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with a practical, business-oriented approach to legal risk.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in payments, fintech, financial services, or other regulated sectors are highly desirable.
• Additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate a variety of international commercial agreements in English, particularly under common law frameworks.
• Collaborate with internal business teams to ensure legal documentation accurately reflects the intended business relationships.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply different regulatory frameworks across various jurisdictions where the company operates.
• Proactively identify and address potential legal risks and propose effective, business-oriented solutions.
• Assist in finalizing legal documents for execution and managing contract processes.
• Provide legal support to multiple internal departments, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
• Support senior members of the legal team on strategic, regulatory, and cross-border matters as needed.

Skills

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

English fluency

Cross-border agreements

Regulatory understanding

Legal risk analysis

Stakeholder communication

Attention to detail

Fast-paced environment

Payments/fintech experience desirable

Additional languages are a plus

Education

Bar admission / qualified lawyer

Job description

Description

We are seeking a focused and diligent Legal Counsel to join the Ria and Xe Legal team. We are looking for a proactive qualified lawyer who takes responsibility, is comfortable in a fast-paced environment and who thrives on a variety and a challenge; whether reviewing commercial contracts to providing legal support on matters arising in other territories. You will work with the Legal Director and Senior Legal Counsel to provide quality, efficient and effective legal support to Ria and Xe global business.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate a variety of international commercial agreements in English, particularly under common law frameworks.
• Collaborate with internal business teams to ensure legal documentation accurately reflects the intended business relationships.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply different regulatory frameworks across various jurisdictions where the company operates. Will they be required to do this?
• Proactively identify and address potential legal risks and propose effective, business-oriented solutions.
• Assist in finalizing legal documents for execution and managing contract processes.
• Provide legal support to multiple internal departments, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
• Support senior members of the legal team on strategic, regulatory, and cross-border matters as needed.

Qualifications & Skills Required

• Qualified lawyer admitted to practice in a relevant jurisdiction.
• 6–7 years of relevant legal experience, including at least 4 years in a reputable law firm (essential).
• Near-native or fully professional fluency in spoken and written English (essential).
• Demonstrated experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts in English (essential).
• Strong experience with commercial contracts, preferably international and cross-border agreements.
• Solid understanding of common law style agreements and legal drafting.
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently with international stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with a practical, business-oriented approach to legal risk.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in payments, fintech, financial services, or other regulated sectors are highly desirable.
• Additional languages are a plus.