Legal Business Partner

Act as first line of defence by providing legal advisory and administrative support to internal and external clients.

Provide specialist legal advice to ensure legal soundness of operations and effective execution of commercial transactions across the business. This includes providing support on legislative and legal agreements to effectively manage clients legal risks.

Internal Process

Provide expert advice to business on various legal technical matters in line with legal framework and best practice.

Ensure that the legal operating environment is structured and up to date. Thus all client structures and legal agreements are up to date signed off and complete.

Manage litigation related matters to enable a consistent approach and mitigate risk.

Provide the business executive leadership with a view of legal and compliance issues and status of risks and provide expert opinion on any matters arising.

Ensure that all legal execution documents are executed in accordance with relevant industry legislation and requirements.

Provide legal advice to all stakeholders on any corporate legal related matters to ensure soundness of commercial operations enabling business to achieve its objectives.

Advise assist or lead on legal negotiations including the reviewing and drafting of all legal documentation.

Provide legal advice on client and supplier contractual matters to business stakeholders.

Review and ensure that all relevant client and supplier contractual documents are in line with business and legal requirements.

Review anticipate and guard against legal risks facing the company in projects and transactions.

Update and educate the business on changes or amendments to business laws and advise how this may affect the business and provide plans to address changes.

Act as the custodian of the contract management system and administration in relation to all agreements.

Assisting with complaints and enquiries from the regulatory authorities as well as coordination of the gathering of relevant information in order to respond.

Assist Portfolio Managers in respective allocated area with all legal matters including but not limited to:

Attending operational meetings with clients;

Assisting clients with legal queries;

Conducting compliance reviews of client documentation:

Conduct research on various adhoc legal aspects:

Gathering and collation of comments to new and existing legislation;

Drafting of various internal legal reports to committee and operational meetings;

Consideration of recording and circulation of legal opinions obtained from external legal firms;

Assisting the third-party assurance team and Portfolio Managers in engaging and following up with clients on any outstanding legal findings.

Coordinate the gathering of relevant information in response to formal enquiries by the regulatory authorities.

Client Services

Ability to work in a team but also work independently as well as work with clients and build relationships with those clients.

Maintain and manage positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Effectively communicate at all management levels with clients/ stakeholders.

Interpret case law regarding common law applicable to disputes mistakes and misstatements misrepresentations and other common law doctrines that could arise during the lifetime of a product.

Deliver on service level agreements made with clients and internal and external stakeholders in order to ensure that client expectations are managed.

Make recommendations to improve client service and fair treatment of clients within area of responsibility.

Self-management and Teamwork

Develop and maintain productive and collaborative working relationships with peers and stakeholders.

Positively influence and participate in change initiatives.

Continuously develop own expertise in terms of professional industry and legislation knowledge.

Contribute to continuous innovation through the development sharing and implementation of new ideas.

Take ownership for driving career development.

Participate and contribute to a culture which builds rewarding relationships facilitates feedback and provides exceptional client service.

Finance

Identify solutions to enhance cost effectiveness and increase operational efficiency.

Manage financial and other company resources under your control with due respect.

Control the budget for area including the authorisation of expenditures and implementation of financial regulations.

Manage high risk and problematic financial issues in area of accountability and contribute to the development of policy.

Qualifications

LLB Qualification

Admitted Attorney of the high court

Post graduate qualification preferred.

Advanced MS Office

Experience

Minimum 5 years of insurance experience post admission.

Experience in insurance/ financial service industry specifically life- and non-life insurance.

Solid knowledge about the laws applicable in the financial services industry.

Sound experience in contract drafting and working knowledge about the litigation process and compliance risk management framework formulation and monitoring process.

Business Acumen

Understands how the business operates what the key issues and risks are that drives business success; and how they impact on the commercial viability of potential ventures and the profitability of the Guardrisk Group

Collaboration

Prioritises the business interests of Guardrisk and invests in the success of the group by aligning effort across divisions.

Client/ Stakeholder Commitment

Anticipates meets and exceeds clients needs by creating long lasting relationships that support the client value proposition supports their financial wellness and ensures client centricity.

Self-Awareness and Insight

Manages self and relationships with others effectively deals with ambiguity uncertainty and pressure and provides perspective in difficult situations.

Drive for Results

Drive a sense of urgency focus accountability agility and execution to deliver business results.

Leads Change and Innovation

Actively leads change does what is right for the business and drives continuous improvement through innovation.

Motivating and Inspiring Team

Creates and maintains an open positive working environment by generating commitment building trust a shared sense of purpose and empowerment in others and encouraging them to contribute to the best of their ability.

Growing Talent

Takes responsibility for own development; and actively mentors coaches and develops talent in others. Builds leadership bench strength for Guardrisk by providing opportunities and experiences to develop skills competencies and business knowledge