Head of Legal & Company Secretariat at ABSA
Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.
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Job Summary
• To lead the Legal unit and providing strategic direction and focus.
• Responsible for the implementation and maintenance of bank’s
legal and regulatory framework, address all elements which fall under
the scope
• To support business in the effective management Legal matters
and ensure the Legal Control resources are sufficient at all times, and
capable to deliver on all key elements.
• To assist in the effective management of relation with key Country legal bodies and external lawyers
• To ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place
and embedded to meet Group, legal and local regulatory requirements.
• To support the management on due diligence investigations of
potential acquisitions assist it to make sensible decisions on legal
aspect
• To ensure that the business has an effective program for raising
awareness of relevant issues relating to legal matters and provide
relevant training programs to enhance the knowledge of management and
other colleagues
• To ensure the Legal related matters are well managed and
monitored within acceptable level, timely and proactively advise the
management on appropriate course of actions.
• To represent the bank in all legal related matters and ensure the best interest of the business is embedded in good faith.
Job Description
Main accountabilities and approximate time split
TeamLeadership: Establish a highly motivated Legal team.
- Set challenging and stretching objectives and ensure effective performance management, development and succession planning.
- Inspire and drive high performance in individuals and in the team.
- Act as a role model and drive proactive application of Absa Values throughout the team including establishment of common goals and objectives.
- Manage Performance Development (PD) for the function, ensure the performance objectives are set within the provided time lines and periodic reviews of colleagues is conducted continuously
- Equip team leaders to deliver a high performance culture and ability to manage consequence for non-performing colleagues
- Timely reward the positive behaviours to induce and drive culture change toward business performance
- Develop Team Members taking opportunity of both internal and external trainings as well as long term and short term assignments
Technical
- Ensure the Legal and Regulatory Risks (referred to below as ‘Legal & Regulatory’) and send a quarterly report to Director of Compliance & Legal as well as ARO Head of Legal and the Risk & Control Forum.
- Responsible to ensure that the Bank has effective Legal & Regulatory risk control frameworks and processes in accordance with the Absa Group Board Governance Standards.
- Manage the Legal Team in supporting all the business areas and functions in relation to the identified Legal risks and issues and provide services required to achieve the business and functional objectives and the overall Bank strategy.
- In particular, support Compliance Team with legal advice in relation to regulatory compliance, sanctions, financial crime and money laundering, and new laws that require the Bank to comply
- Monitor and follow up on new issued laws and amendments thereto through the Government Bookshop, Government Gazettes and the Media.
- Manage relationships with external lawyers and monitor their performance using best supplier management practices
- Support the Company Secretary in managing preparation of Board and Shareholders meetings, Board Packs and minutes, filing Annual Returns, Filing Appointments and Resignations of Directors, overall management of the Bank’s file at the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA)
- Monitor ongoing litigation and non-litigation matters and present the Legal Risk Report to the Director of Compliance and Legal, the Risk & Control Forum (RCF), Board Audit Committee and ARO Head of Legal on a quarterly basis.
- Monitor costs by tracking External and Internal spend including all invoices received from External Law firms and other sources and reconcile accounts on a monthly basis.
- Monitor costs by tracking External and Internal spend including all invoices received from External Law firms and other sources and reconcile accounts on a monthly basis.
- Manage external legal expenditure. (get competitive prices for new instructions)
- Support and manage output of the security documentation from the Documents and Securities Team within the Legal Function
- Support management of contracts and drafting emanating from the Sourcing Team and other functions, ensure the standard contract templates are used and the basic Bank protection clauses are included such as liability clause, indemnity clause, confidentiality clause, termination clause, duration clause, Anti-Bribery & Corruption clause and governing law clause to mention but a few.
- Manage the Key Risk Indicators.
- Embed Legal Policies within the business by creating awareness through training, regular circulars as a champion for the Documentation Policy, Intellectual Property Policy, Use of Law Firms Policy, Competition Policy and Litigation Policy.
- Coordinate Training of the Business on new laws or Legal related issues through in-house Legal Team or as a value added service from the Panel Law Firm.
- Manage the Documentation Database updating the products and services within the Business. Standard documents are then reviewed every 24 months
- Review the Panel of Law Firms once every two years and review the panel of Valuers and Insurers as and when it is called for
- Conduct Risk Control Assessments bi annually and as a risk owner, ensure remediation is done timely to address any issues from the route cause.
- Give observable and honest feedback in a timely manner.
Commercial Focus
- Acts as an ambassador in delivering against the Legal function objectives within scope of the role
- Offers proactive insight as exhibits in-depth knowledge of Absa business with specific cluster experience
- Positively adapts to change and adjusts approach to provide solutions
- Develops thorough commercial recommendations
- Delivers effectively on key business issues
- Develops strong networks across the organization to get things done.
- Exhibits ability to negotiate and influence positively to get things done
- Clear and confident communicator who tailors message according to audience.
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Customer Focus
- Understanding of customers stated needs
- Offers insightful service provision in response to business issues.
- Develops professional relationships with key business areas and maintains relationships in testing situations.
Solutions Focus
- Takes ownership of problems and fixes what is not right with personal accountability for high quality outputs
- Gets involved in projects in the team and across the function to share knowledge and learn new skills alongside CPD
Team Working
- Shows enthusiasm for new ideas and contributes to implementation.
- Works with others to improve and seeks coaching/ mentoring for self
- Involves team members when developing recommendations and utilizes resource to the best effect
- Makes the team a fun place to work, supports others to make a success of the team and function and encourages collaborative working.
- Gives observable and honest feedback in a timely manner.
- Work on team and Function wide initiatives to make Absa a better place
Risk and Controls Objectives
Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Absa Operational Risk Framework and internal Absa Policies and Standards
- In the event of major issues in the business unit, act as crisis coordinator and allocate tasks to the crisis teams.
- Review the risk and Legal profiles of the business unit on a regular basis and provide consultative support to the Head of Compliance & Legal on changes that are required to rebalance risk and reward where required.
- Understanding of own role in the end to end processes in which you play a part, including applicable risks and controls.
- Adhere to Absa policies and procedures applicable to own role, demonstrating sound judgment and responsible risk management.
- Keep up to date on all legal and regulatory changes and have the ability to articulate the impact to the Business, be well informed on the industry thinking.
- All mandatory training completed to deadline.
Technical skills / Competencies
- Strong legal analytical skills.
- Strong written and spoken English including legal terminology.
- Strong conversational French
- Ability to work with figures confidently and to construct and use excel spreadsheets confidently
- Positive personal impact on colleagues in a ‘winning together’ collaborative environment.
- Computer literate – comfortable user of usual office software packages
Experience, qualifications and other requirements specific to the role
- Essentials
- Satisfies the Regulatory criteria for an approved person.
- Lawyer qualified to practice in Tanzania
- Experience of retail and commercial banking and financial services gained in a financial institution or legal practice group, chambers or law firm in Tanzania and other common law jurisdiction
- Law degree (Tanzania or common law)
- Exposure to Compliance and Anti Money Laundering frameworks in a Financial Services context.
Knowledge and Expertise
- Essential
- Law and practice of banking
- Financial Services Compliance Frameworks
- Anti-Money Laundering Frameworks, Laws and Regulations
- Retail financial services contractual drafting of terms & conditions / products terms etc.
- Commercial banking facility terms and standard security documentation
- Sourcing contractual relationships and drafting
- HR & Industrial relations practice
- Civil Litigation practice
Absa Values
Absa’s Values and Behaviours represent the set of standards which governs the actions of all of us who work for the bank and against which the performance of every one of us in Absa are being assessed and rewarded:
- Trust
- Resourceful
- Stewardship
- Inclusive
- Courage.
Education
Bachelor Honours Degree: Law, Military Science and Security (Required)
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
Senior Relationship Manager - Large Local Corporates at ABSA
Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.
Job Summary
• To directly manage a relationship covering a portfolio of Local Large (LLC) and Regional Corporates (RC) banking customers.
• A senior member of the Corporate Banking Team, driving business performance within that specific business/market segment.
• Skills sharing and coaching of members of the corporate team.
• To personally relationship manage and sustain a portfolio of
Corporate Banking customers with specific focus on the Large Corporate,
building long term relationships founded on efficient and reliable
support for their business. This is achieved particularly through quick
risk decisions and managing consistency and quality of operational
service.
• The primary objective is to maximize risk-adjusted portfolio
contribution, while balancing the requirements for lending to all such
entities vis a vis Reputation risk for the bank.
• The jobholder will be responsible for business development both
with new customers and with existing customers where they are expected
to increase “wallet share”.
The job holder will be expected to develop an intimate knowledge
of the local corporate market covering diverse industries, relevant
regulatory framework and demonstrate the ability to meet with senior
management of the Corporates for negotiation of financial transactions
Job Description
Main accountabilities and approximate time split:
Sales and Service: 40%
- Grow the industry/segment portfolio profitability by identifying new and existing customer potential including sales opportunities and new product promotion initiatives.
- Formulate business development strategies and objectives for the industry/segment to meet changing market needs.
- Monitor conformance of industry/segment using new relationship development procedures.
- Monitor results of customer surveys for the industry/segment against target service quality standards.
- Monitor levels of complaints and quality of handling for the industry/segment portfolio.
- Proactively research, competitive threats/opportunities within the segment’s market and geographical area.
- Communicate all key messages to customers including agreed service standards, negotiated pricing, relationship team contact points (including introductions to new personnel) and new product changes.
- Conduct annual and if appropriate, interim reviews of customers borrowing facilities.
- Conduct annual and if appropriate, interim reviews with non-borrowing customers.
- Determine the products that are most effective in meeting customers’ needs and be able to sell these at short notice both reactively and proactively.
Business Management 30%
- Manage performance of the industry/portfolio against key financial (risk-adjusted contribution) sales, service, and operational targets.
- Champion, manage and monitor implementation of change impacting the portfolio and business area and arising from central and local corporate change programmes.
- Consult customer owners/managers on financial/credit issues and general business practice/ideas.
- Develop Customer Relationship Plans for customers in portfolio.
- Work closely with the Head – Large Corporate in driving and delivering business performance in the Business Area.
- Research, create and follow up on a target list for potential new business.
- Identify priority customers using the Customer Relationship Planning templates to assess their present and potential contribution.
- Control and quality of the portfolio, using available triggers and adherence to Risk management guidelines and policies.
- Stand in for the Head – Large Corporate (as appropriate) in his absence, attending to client management and providing leadership to Unit.
Staff Management 30%
- To be a key member of the Corporate Banking Team, driving business performance within that specific business/market segment.
- Skills sharing and coaching of members of the corporate team.
- To personally relationship manage and sustain a portfolio of Corporate Banking customers with specific focus on the Large Corporate, building long term relationships founded on efficient and reliable support for their business. This is achieved particularly through quick risk decisions and managing consistency and quality of operational service.
- The primary objective is to maximize risk-adjusted portfolio contribution, while balancing the requirements for lending to all such entities vis a vis reputational risk for the bank.
- The jobholder will be responsible for business development both with new customers and with existing customers where they are expected to increase “wallet share”.
- The job holder will be expected to develop an intimate knowledge of the local corporate market covering diverse industries, relevant regulatory framework and demonstrate the ability to meet with senior management of the Corporates for negotiation of financial transactions.
- Help in leading the RMs and CMAs within the Corporate Banking team using a team-based management approach.
- Help team members to identify strengths and weaknesses in their own skills and attributes, review their self-development plans and ensure training and development needs are accommodated.
- Help in coaching team members on relationship development, service quality and risk.
- Assess managers’ performance against contract. Review and input to Performance Development Reviews.
Technical skills / Competencies
Personal Attributes:
- Commercial/sales focus
- Adaptability
- Business development
- Decision making
- Managing Relationships
- Team results
- Innovative
- Active listening
Skills required undertaking the role:
- Outstanding relationship and interpersonal skills
- Strong selling and negotiation skills
- Strong Presentation Skills
- Relationship Skills
- Credit Risk Skills
- Leadership and Team skills
- Communications skills
Knowledge, Expertise and Experience
- A detailed knowledge of the Core set of products
- For Complex products, will have a detailed knowledge of the requirements of the more sophisticated customers.
- Introduce the product and co-ordinate the introduction of the relevant Group product specialist.
- A good knowledge of the products and services available in the Personal Sector is also required.
- A broad understanding of policies and strategies within the country as they relate to the demands of the customer base.
- A detailed understanding of Country and CBRM guidelines and credit risk policies.
Training likely to assist effectiveness in the role, and which may have been completed prior to undertaking this role:
- Internal and external senior risk assessment and management
- Presentation
- Influencing and Negotiating
- Man-management/development.
- Performance Management
Additional details of exceptional aspects of the demands of the role:
- The jobholder will benefit from supervision and support from the Head of Coverage who will be the jobholder’s direct report.
- The jobholder will be required to act on his/her own initiative in terms of business development activities ensuring that quality business is retained, and in driving up sustainable income from the whole team portfolio under his/her control.
- Jobholder represents Absa, for the Corporate Banking Segment, within the local Business community/country.
Absa Values
Absa’s Values and Behaviours represent the set of standards which governs the actions of all of us who work for the bank and against which the performance of every one of us in Absa are being assessed and rewarded:
- Trust
- Resourceful
- Inclusion
- Courage
- Stewardship
Read Also:
Education
Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
