Legal Officer - Advans Ghana Savings and Loans

Are you looking for a new challenge in a dynamic and multicultural environment? Do you have a proven experience in this field? Do you want to contribute to a committed group, seeking to have a positive and sustainable impact? Advans Ghana, a leading MFI, has the position you are looking for.

What will your role be?

The Legal Officer will assist the Head of the Department in the following functions:

• To manage all legal functions of the institution.
• To supervise and coordinate the operations of the Institution’s legal and Associates' legal issues.
• To ensure the Institution is provided with a good and sound legal framework to achieve its objectives.
• To manage all court cases.
• To provide analysis and counsel on legal and policy issues.
• To ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• To perfect legal documents.
• To manage the secretarial duties of the Board of Directors and Shareholders.
• To appoint and manage external lawyers.
• To manage recovery risks.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide analysis and counsel on legal and policy issues. These may include:                       

1. • Proposed new products
   • Protecting intellectual property
   • Financial offerings, financial structuring, securities offerings, compliance issue, non-disclosure agreements, outsourcing agreements and business strategic planning.

• Review contracts between the Institution and other bodies.      
• Review contracts between the Institution and other bodies.
• Advise Management on legal issues and ensuring that the rights of the clients are protected
• Manage the Institution’s charged off loans and non- performing assets
• Manage all vehicle transfers and/or registrations for all branches.
• Provide legal counsel to recover outstanding debts from defaulting Customers.
• Conduct and coordinate research into a variety of legal issues.
• Undertake credit appraisals of customers.
• Examine newly published laws, acts and regulations and ascertaining how these affect the institution’s business.
• Perfecting of legal documentation.
• Develop and recommend operating policy and procedural improvements.
• Prepare and create legal contracts on behalf of the Institution and representing the client in various legal proceedings.
• Review and draft contracts, agreements and internal policies and ensure that they are in compliance with all statutory or legal requirements.
• Participate in relevant committee meetings such as disciplinary, credit, loan review etc.
• Ensure the recovery procedures are applied by the Recovery unit and the branch network
• Check the defaulting client’s files that come in for completeness and to take actions to improve their quality if needed (missing or unsigned documents)
• Take concerted decisions with Branch Managers on which clients and guarantors to seize - decisions based on different criteria (passing of Event of Default deadline, payment history, respect or breach of contract)
• Ensure an effective recovery set up for the operations of the company
• Manage the Relationship with valuers and auctioneers and ensure Advans Ghana obtains the returns it deserves.
• Develop comprehensive reports for external lawyers should we have to go to court
• Where necessary liaise with relevant departments to ensure that legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action have been taken.
• Review progress of outstanding litigation.

Other Duties

• Initiating court proceedings against Clients 
• Representing the Company in court/police stations on cases initiated by client or service providers
• Follow up with government agencies
• Company Secretarial duties
• Liaising with Recovery Department to perform legally sound recovery
• Meeting with defaulters
• Manage and reduce legal risks
• Manage the legal department
• Advising on legal issues

Challenges

• Challenges with Court Bailiffs/Officers
• Challenges with Government agencies and officials
• Challenges with Departments
• Challenges with Branches

Required Skills or Experience

• Minimum of a first degree in Law, a Professional Law certificate. A Master’s degree in Law will be an added advantage.
• At least four (4) years post-call experience preferably in a financial institution.