Our client is a fast-scaling fintech business driving innovation in the financial infrastructure space across Africa and beyond. Their team works at the intersection of regulation, technology, and commerce, and they are looking for a detail-oriented Legal Associate to support their legal and compliance function across multiple jurisdictions.
Role Overview
The Legal Associate will play a key role in supporting licensing, regulatory, and commercial legal matters. You will work across jurisdictions on high-impact legal operations, helping ensure that the company remains compliant, well-structured, and contractually protected as it grows. This is a hands-on legal role ideal for a proactive and organised professional with fintech, payments, or cross-border regulatory experience.
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Cape Town
Workplace: Hybrid
Requirements
- Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB).
- Admitted attorney.
- Minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience (PQE) in a law firm or in-house legal department.
- Strong grounding in financial services, banking & payments, and contract/commercial law.
- Ability to work independently in both structured and fast-changing environments.
- Strong attention to detail and organisational abilities — must be meticulous.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Comfortable performing both strategic and administrative legal tasks.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Responsibilities
Regulatory & Licensing
- Assist with the preparation and submission of new license applications across various jurisdictions, liaising with financial regulators as needed.
- Track and support the renewal and ongoing compliance of all licenses in coordination with senior legal and compliance teams.
- Conduct legal research into new regulations or laws that impact the business.
Contracts & Legal Documents
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex legal agreements, including vendor contracts, customer agreements, and technology service terms.
- Assist in the preparation of internal legal documents such as board resolutions, templates, and legal filings.
Corporate & Secretarial Work
- Support the establishment of new legal entities in multiple jurisdictions.
- Maintain company registers, file annual returns, and ensure statutory compliance across the group.
Banking, PSPs & Counterparties
- Assist with onboarding and maintaining relationships with banks, payment service providers, and trading counterparties.
- Prepare and organise legal documentation for counterparty onboarding and due diligence processes.
Regulatory Engagements & Support
- Provide support during engagements with regulators, banking partners, and PSPs.
- Ensure adherence to legal directives and guidelines issued by authorities.
- Provide day-to-day support to the company’s senior legal counsel as required.