Head of Legal at ExpressCredit Group

ExpressCredit is a global consumer finance company operating in Zambia and three surrounding countries, including Namibia, Botswana, and Lesotho.

We operate a multi-channel lending platform for private and government sector employees underserved by mainstream financiers. As a good corporate citizen, our goal is to help people in need of short-term and long-term financial assistance – all of which make a meaningful and lasting impact on the local communities.

ExpressCredit is a game-changer and one of the fastest microlenders in the country. A combination of new technologies, mobile sales, and a network of branches and direct sales positions us well for growth and building a sizeable, well-performing loan portfolio.

Express Credit Zambia seeks to recruit a self- motivated, experienced, skilful and result oriented professional based in Lusaka for the position of Head of Legal.

Job Purpose

Oversee the legal department and provide company secretarial solutions & services to ExpressCredit Zambia. To ensure on-going compliance with Statutory and Regulatory requirements in line with Corporate Governance rules. Assist the business in the implementation of policies to comply with legal risk framework, regulatory requirements and business processes

Key Responsibilities

Legal Services Functions

• Provide advisory services in all the legal matters pertaining to the operations and transactions of the Company.
• Review and interpret the statutes governing the operations of the Company and issue well-researched opinions to guide those with functional responsibility.
• Assist in the identification of amendments and redrafts of the statutes governing the company’s operations when so requested by functional areas
• Review and interpret statutes, which although not governing statutes of the company, impact upon the Company’s actions and decisions and issue well-researched opinions to guide those with functional responsibility.
• Assist and guide the departments/persons directly responsible for initiating or defending litigation. In this regard the underlying issues and the supporting documents and arguments should be prepared timely and reviewed in depth for completeness and consistency.
• Review and make recommendations with respect to non-recurrent contractual arrangements. Review contracts and issue opinions on acceptability, undertake negotiations on legal issues and advise on further action required.
• The development of standard contractual documents to address the recurrent contractual relationship with third parties.
• Assess the man-hours required efficiently and effectively undertake the tasks assigned and were considered appropriate, select, through open and competitive tenders, cost effective external assistance.
• Defend the Company in cases of litigation and where external assistance is engaged ensure that the legal processes applied are effective and applied in the best interest of the Company.

Company Secretarial Function

• Develop an annual schedule of Board meetings distribute in a timely manner the schedule to members of the Board and Management staff
• Issue notice of each meeting to Board of Directors and the management staff within the prescribed period
• Issue notice of invitation to non-Board members as and when need arises with clear indication of the reason for the meeting
• Take minutes of board meetings
• Document clearly and precisely the deliberations of the board of directors
• Issue timely and in summary form to respective heads of department decisions of the Board to permit prompt actions where necessary
• Issue timely, to members of the Board minutes of the board meetings
• Review in detail all submissions to the Board, for proper formatting, full coverage of the portfolio responsibility, and recommend corrective action where deficiencies are noted.
• Maintain custody of the company’s seal.
• Develop an annual schedule of executive management meetings to review information recommendations proposed for submission to the Board.
• These meetings should be scheduled to allow reasonable time for review and amendment of submissions, and distribution to board members along with the notice of the meetings while also ensuring that information and recommendations are current and relevant.
•  Issue timely invitation to members of the executive management committee for scheduled and ad-hoc meetings
• Document clearly and precisely the deliberations of the executive management committee
• Issue timely, in summary form to members of the executive management committee decisions of the meeting to permit prompt actions where necessary
• Issue timely to members of the executive management committee the minutes of the meeting to permit actions where necessary.
• Review in detail all submissions to the committee for proper formatting, full coverage of the portfolio responsibility and recommend corrective action where deficiencies are noted
• Distribute submissions to members of the executive committee in good time to facilitate thorough review in preparation for the meeting.
• Provide Compliance, Corporate Governance and regulatory updates

Governance

• Responsible for assessing the effectiveness of the Company’s Legal related arrangements to deliver effective governance, oversight and controls in the business and, if necessary, oversee changes in these areas
• Develop and maintain awareness and understanding of the regulatory framework in which the company operates, and the regulatory requirements and expectations relevant to the role
• Responsible for delivering ‘effective governance’; capability to challenge fellow executives effectively; and willingness to work with any local regulators in an open and cooperative manner.
• Provide unified leadership and ensure strong end to end governance across all matters related to the company.

• Grade 12 certificate with 5 credits or better of which English and Mathematics are a must;
• Relevant bachelor’s degree in law
• Advocate of the High Court of Zambia with current practicing Certificate
• Member of the Law Association of Zambia
• Minimum of 6 years related experience post admission, with a preference for financial services experience
• Admitted to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction
• Experience in finance/banking
• Experience in corporate law
• Experience in litigation and labor law, preferred
• Written and spoken fluency in English required
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of the Company’s business
• Exceptional Communication (Verbal and written) and Persuasion Skills
• Ability to be Strategic
• Good presentation skills
• Moral and Ethical Leadership
• Result and service driven
• Good Problem-Solving Skills
• Attention to details
• Highly Adaptable and Flexible
• Self-motivated
• Good Leadership and people skills
• Good Organizational skills
• Result and Solution skills