Assistant Legal Officer - Absa Bank

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.

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Job Summary

The Assistant Legal Officer will be appointed from the local market and will assist the Head of Legal and Company Secretariat and the Legal Counsels in providing legal and litigation support to Absa Bank Ghana LTD (ABG) by:

• Supporting all litigation and court-related matters including initiating legal action against defaulting customers and any other parties, defending ABG in lawsuits, and resolving disputes through other alternative means such as mediation and arbitration to reduce cost of litigation.
• Representing ABG and supporting the business in handling garnishees, Probate and letters of Administration issues and dealing with court orders and other requests, orders from statutory and regulatory agencies such as EOCO, Ghana Police Service, FIC, GRA, SSNIT, Labour Commission etc. Liaising with external law firms and other internal and external key stakeholders.
• Provide periodic litigation reports, provision reports and any other relevant reports to the Legal Counsels and the Head of Legal and Compliance.

• Supporting in the drafting, review and negotiation of all contracts, agreements and legal documentation as assigned.
• Supporting the bank in ensuring regulatory compliance by conducting impact assessments.
• Ensuring that all searches, external fillings, and registrations that need to be done at various registries such as GIPC, Registrar General’s Department, Trademark Registry etc are done on time and the relevant licenses and certificates are obtained. Undertaking legal research and providing both verbal and written legal advice and opinions to the Legal Counsels and the Head of the Legal and Company Secretariat.
• Liaising with assigned business units on a BAU basis to provide the necessary legal support and advice to enable them to meet their objectives and growth agenda.
• Participating in meetings and undertaking training as may be assigned.
• Supporting records management.
• Attending to any other tasks as may be assigned.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Litigation, Regulatory and Business Partnering Support Time Split: 70%

• Have primary responsibility for handling garnishee, probate and letters of administration cases.
• Have responsibility along with the Legal Counsel for all interactions between Legal and all the relevant business units with respect to the handling and resolution of all litigation and debt recovery cases involving the Bank which are handled by external counsel.
• Have responsibility along with the Legal Counsel for ensuring that litigation and contentious cases handled in house are competently, efficiently and expeditiously handled in court and before other judicial, quasi-judicial bodies such as CHRAJ and the Labour Commission as and when required.
• Undertake research and provide business advice, education and training to selected business areas as required and support to avoid contractual and compliance breaches and litigation.
• Have primary responsibility for the interaction between Legal and the assigned business teams and functions with respect to all legal matters impacting the operations of ABC.
• Have responsibility for drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts and other legal documentation involving the Bank.
• Have primary responsibility for ensuring that changes and developments in legislation and case law affecting the banking Industry and ABG’s operations are analysed, evaluated and reported as required

Administrative Support Time Split: 30%

• Ensure accurate and complete litigation reports, provisions reports and other relevant reports are delivered to the Legal Counsels, Head of Legal and Company Secretariat and relevant functions on time.
• Undertake records management duties.
• Respond to and draft correspondences to internal and external stakeholders are required.
• Coordinate the provision of timely and relevant business information and guidance on Ghana.
• Ensure relevant reports are delivered to the Head of Legal and Company Secretariat and the relevant functions on time.
• Attend to any other task as may be assigned by the Head of Legal and Company Secretariat

Role/Person specification

Education/Knowledge And Experience Required

• LLB or its equivalent from a recognised University/institution.
• Must be a member of the Ghana Bar Association and in good standing with 3 to 4 years of post-call experience
• 1 year’s recent experience working as in-house counsel preferably in a bank or financial services institution.
• Experience in undertaking litigation and courtroom practice
• Experience in undertaking legal research and providing legal opinions and advice. Experience in the review and drafting of contracts and other legal documents.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience in managing litigation.
  • Experience in courtroom practice.
  • Experience of/familiarity with senior relationships, and operational or advisory roles in legal risk management.
  • Understanding of legal framework, business and markets within which the Bank operate.
  • Knowledge of Banking Law, practice and procedures.
  • Familiarity with banking business in Ghana and products across the country and relevant risk.
  • Experience in providing training and doing presentations.
  • Experience in undertaking legal research and providing legal opinions and advice.
  • Experience in the review and drafting of contracts and other legal documents.
• Personal effectiveness time management and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication (including strong presentation skills).
• Proficient in the use of technology and Microsoft Office software.
• Analytical, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent personal and work ethics and integrity.

Education

Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC): Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)