Regional Senior Legal Advisor (Financial Services)

The Regional Senior Legal Advisor provides senior managerial support to the Regional Legal Counsel with respect to a broad range of commercial, corporate and regulatory matters to ensure execution of the mandate of the Regional Legal and Compliance Department.

JOB TITLE:             Regional Senior Legal Advisor (Financial Services)

REPORTS TO:         Regional Counsel- Legal and Compliance

JOB SUMMARY: The Regional Senior Legal Advisor provides senior managerial support to the Regional Legal Counsel with respect to a broad range of commercial, corporate and regulatory matters to ensure execution of the mandate of the Regional Legal and Compliance Department. This role is also dedicated to the provision of legal support services for the companies, within the regional group that are engaged in the business of providing financing and other credit facilities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CANDIDATE: The Regional Senior Legal Advisor will be expected to be proactive and solutions-oriented whilst assisting the Regional Legal Counsel in analyzing complex legal and commercial issues which challenge the business, particularly for, though not limited to, the entities which comprise the Bluestart Regional Group. The candidate will be expected to implement and/or manage strategies and policies developed by the Regional Legal Counsel to ensure that such strategies and policies create tangible improvements in business performance while providing and communicating legal advice constructively and succinctly to internal and external stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Give accurate and timely advice to senior level managerial staff and executives on a variety of legal topics to ensure that day to day operations of the companies are in line with legislative and regulatory frameworks.
• Manage and monitor the implementation and use of internal governance policies developed by the Regional Counsel and to ensure compliance with same.
• Offer proactive advice on possible legal issues as identified by the Regional Counsel in order to guide the companies in execution of their business mandate.
• Draft, review and settle common operational agreements, contracts (including leases, finance agreements and non-financial business agreements) and other legal documents to ensure the group’s or relevant entities’ full legal rights are protected and commercial goals are met.
• Provide clarification on legal language or specifications in contracts, legislation and other operational documents, to all senior and executive management throughout the Group to ensure that the responsibilities of the Group thereunder are effectively carried out.
• Assist in identifying, through research and analysis of information, initiatives that affect the business of the Group and discuss same with the Regional Counsel for further action.
• Provide support to the Regional Counsel in managing and developing the contents of the internal communications on Regulatory issues to employees and key stakeholders, in order to enable the effective delivery of messages to key stakeholders, and to engage with them in dialogue.
• Provide guidance and support of the work performed by junior officers in the department, as necessary, to ensure alignment between the different arms of the Regional legal and Compliance department.
• Maintain current knowledge of amendments in legislation which directly and/or indirectly impact the business of the Group with focus on the Bluestart business  lines, to ensure the operations of the Group continue to be aligned with industry trends and standards.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Law or any other related field and Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognized institution with evidence of admission to practice law in one or more of the regional territories
• At least 10 years proven experience as a legal counsel in a firm or business environment with experience in corporate and/or commercial law.
• Knowledge and experience in banking and finance law will be considered an asset
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of corporate law and procedures
• Full comprehension of the influences of the external environment on a corporation
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity
• Sound judgment and ability to analyze situations and information
• Outstanding communication skills

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Ability to work unsupervised to drive a deliverable or effectively as part of a team
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

This represents a broad outline of duties and responsibilities and cannot list in detail all the tasks the jobholder will be expected to undertake. Management reserves the right to review duties, responsibilities and key performance indicators based on the needs of the business.