Legal Advisor

Accountable for performing a variety of legal compliance activities within the legal function in Finance, to protect the organization’s reputation and business interests and ensure it complies with all relevant laws and regulations. The incumbent in this role will be responsible for legal advice, drafting and reviewing legal agreements, legal compliance and general legal related administrative tasks within the legal team to enable and drive ethical business conduct.

This role supports and reports to the Head of Legal in implementing and managing the regulatory framework in the various jurisdictions of the Group.

Job Purpose

Provide methodical management of legal work in the company and legal assistance to Business Units to inform the process of ongoing development, implementation and execution of the Legal Framework and Strategy, as aligned to business objectives to facilitate successful business integration and collaboration in conjunction with the Head of Legal.

Key Accountabilities and Outputs

Legal

Facilitate implementation of the Company’s legal strategies, policies and approaches to ensure that the Company’s long-term sustainability is ensured, by acting as a subject matter expert and legal advisor regarding actual / potential legal risks, as well as provide support to the Head of Legal.

• Contract negotiation, drafting bespoke legal agreement, NDA’s, terms and conditions and notices, vetting and review for legal robustness and compliance to the relevant legislative environments including developing templates and processes.
• Advising and supporting other departments as may be necessary in respect of their legal requirements. Management of the Company’s panel of legal experts including litigation matters with a view to mitigate risk as best possible,

Support the design of mitigating solutions that reduce the areas of legal risk, maintain the contract repository, maintain the legal template register database and perform general administrative tasks to support the legal function in this regard.

Corporate Affairs

General administrative corporate legal work and secretarial work in relation with the companies’ governance structures (e.g., Executive management committee, administration of Board of Directors, minutes, Company registration, setting up and managing corporate structures etc.

Ethics, compliance and governance services.

Drive transformation, the promotion of BBBEE

As a member of the legal team, drive a positive cultural and values driven environment within the legal team and your interaction with business units, compliance and support for social aspects of the business including BBBEE.

Monitor and track the progress of BBBEE , report on all and any BBBEE projects together with BBBEE pillar owners.

Support

Conduct research on legal issues, analysing data and providing summarise of relevant laws and regulations and cases

Ensure that key strategic legal projects are implemented on time and within budget while working with cross-functional departments involved.

Administrative support with the usage, protection and enforcement of Company IP, trademarks and proprietary information in conjunction with companies trademark attorneys and the Head of Legal.

General

General legal and corporate legal work as may be required from time to time.

Keep abreast of changes in law that may affect any aspect of the Company’s business.

Working with the relevant stakeholders to recommend on acceptable risk levels in the Company.

Conversant with relevant business information, policies, processes and procedures

Maintains expected performance standards

While Job Descriptions are written up for the purpose of a basic outline of the work and responsibilities associated with the Job, the Company encourages and expects all employees from time to time, to assist with work that may not be a direct part of their job description

Additional Region-Specific Accountabilities and Outputs

Demonstrate a strong command of the legal and regulatory environment.

Strong corporate and commercial background such as drafting, negotiating, reviewing and drafting a wide range of agreements ranging from standard to bespoke agreements and implementing legal standards.

Ability to work independently, superior oral and written communication and presentation skills to effectively address and maintain effective relationships with all departments and employees, in a team-oriented environment and at all levels within the organisation.

Willing to travel, as required.

Qualifications and Experience

Tertiary qualification – B. Com Law / LLB, Post Grad will be an advantage

5+ years’ experience within a legal, compliance management and advisory role within a similar environment. (In House Exposure is preferred)

Proficient in MS Office.

Driver’s licence.

Key Qualities

Communication

Detailed verbal or written instructions or requests to employees or contractors

Ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely

Problem Solving

Proactive identification of functional problems related to a specific process or policy, determine cause and impact, and choose the best alternative to solve the problem based on guidelines provided and an understanding of the theory or practices underpinning the problem.

Strong process orientation, analytical, organisational and project management skills.

Detail oriented, flexible adaptable approach, logical, and methodological approach to problem solving and result orientated.

Relationships Maintained

Others outside of own work area, both inside and outside the organisation.

Proven experience in directing effective processes for change and adaptation.

Self-Reliance

Strong business acumen and the ability to understand financial and economic concepts and principals.

Ability to work under pressure and provide vision and leadership.

Proven experience in directing effective processes for change and adaptation.

Behavioural Competencies

Judgment and Decision Making

Able to gather information from a variety of sources.

Understands cause and effect relationships within data and interprets this to make competing, holistic decisions

Develops alternatives before making complex decisions

Looks for the most innovative, efficient and value adding solution when making a decision

Makes decisions in time and forecasts when decisions need to be made

Formulates a “big picture” understanding of the near-term impact of decisions (including the time and resources required to implement decision)

Evaluates the longer term business impact of decisions

Takes initiative when making decisions

Leadership

Able to communicate and gain team commitment to a vision of what is to be achieved.

Delegates fully and creates opportunities which help others to develop their potential.

Identifies inequalities of opportunity within the workplace and takes steps to address them.

Inspires and empowers others to overcome difficulties and achieve goals.

Nurtures strong team identity and pride.

Continuous Improvement

Increases performance expectations when success has been achieved

Seeks out sources of information, including trade associations, “best practice” companies, customers, peers, subordinates, etc.

Finds ways to fast-adapt improvement ideas to work processes

Proactively seeks out resources, alliances, etc., needed to quickly introduce improvements

Collaboration

Helps others with their work.

Meets commitments to team members or others in the organisation.

Actively contributes to team discussions and the accomplishment of team work plans.

Shares expertise and resources to help others address their needs.

Seeks to include all those who can contribute to the most successful outcome and those who have a stake in the results.

Actively keeps all stakeholders informed.

Attempts to reinvigorate team processes when progress is lagging : stays engaged even when not in full agreement with the team’s direction.

Accountability

Accomplishes assigned tasks and goals : takes necessary actions to keep progress against objectives on track and prepares a roadmap for success and ensures that all who need to know, are clear about the plan.

Takes full responsibility for own actions and outcomes, including mistakes.

Always acts in the company’s best interest, regardless of whether it is difficult or unpopular.

Ensures others are on track for achieving their goal.