Job Description

• The Head, Legal and Company Secretary will play a crucial role in ensuring legal compliance, managing corporate governance, and overseeing legal affairs within the organization. The duties and responsibilities for this position shall include the following:

Corporate Governance:

• Oversee and manage the corporate governance framework of the bank.
• Organize and attend board meetings, ensuring that proper procedures are followed and documentation is accurate.
• Maintain records of board decisions, resolutions, and other corporate governance-related documents.

Contracts and Agreements:

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and legal documents.
• Ensure that contracts entered into by the microfinance bank are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide guidance on legal implications and risks associated with contracts.

Regulatory Affairs:

• Interface with regulatory authorities and ensure timely submission of required reports and documents.
• Monitor changes in regulatory requirements and advise the organization on necessary adjustments.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory inquiries and audits.

Risk Management:

• Collaborate with the risk management team to identify legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Provide legal input into the development and implementation of risk management policies.

Corporate Secretarial Functions:

• Act as the company secretary and ensure proper maintenance of statutory registers and records.
• Facilitate communication between the board, management, and shareholders.
• Handle the filing of statutory returns and other legal documentation.

Dispute Resolution:

• Manage legal disputes and liaise with external legal counsel when necessary.
• Develop strategies for resolving legal issues efficiently and cost-effectively.

Legal Compliance:

• Stay abreast of relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting microfinance banking.
• Develop, implement, and monitor compliance programs to ensure adherence to legal requirements.
• Provide legal advice to the executive team and various departments on compliance matters.

Ethical and Professional Standards:

• Uphold high ethical and professional standards in all legal and corporate secretarial activities.
• Serve as a role model for legal and ethical behaviour within the organization.

Collaboration:

• Collaborate with other departments, including finance, operations, and risk management, to ensure a holistic approach to legal and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

• LL.B, BL in recognized institution and from the Nigerian Law School.
• 5-10 years proven experience in corporate settings, financial sector or FINTECH experience is an added advantage.