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.
My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.
Job Summary
To support the Business by providing pragmatic and effective legal advice to manage legal risk; ensure that changes and developments in legislation, regulations, guidelines and practices affecting the business are analyzed, evaluated and reported as required; manage litigation; advise on contractual arrangements between the Bank and third parties; and support the Company Secretary on Board affairs.Job Description
Key accountabilities
Operational Management – Legal
Review and advise on revenue generating contracts and other agreements with third parties.
Management of litigation by ensuring that instructions are sent to external counsel in time; pleadings are filed within timelines; receive, review, and file monthly litigation reports; update the general litigation tracker; and review the litigation portfolio and advise on cases proposed for settlement; arrange and or attend the Trial Readiness Forum meetings; preparation of witnesses and evidence of the Bank.
Management of law firms by ensuring that law firms have valid contracts, professional indemnities, evaluate performance of law firms, processing payments.
Support with due diligence and verification process through company searches; verification of letters of administration; attending to orders from court, IGG, and other competent authorities.
Participate in and contribute to Group driven initiatives and projects.
Ensure plans are in place to cover leave, training and development and awareness programs to legal and related departments.
Manage, control and monitor office budget and accounts.
Prepare Legal and Secretarial budgets as directed by Director Legal/ Company Secretary ensuring basis is understood and monitor performance against budgets.
Comment on budget variances, recommend action and follow up to ensure action is taken.
Monitor External legal costs ensuring spend is within Budget.
Monitor and oversee the processing of all fee notes from external law firms and liaise with finance to ensure settlement, maintain a detailed spreadsheet of all payments and reconcile figures with related departments on a monthly basis.
Ensure timely submission of reports to forums like ARO, ERC, Trial Readiness Forum, NRR, Legal Principal Risk, Managing Director, and Risk Control Forum.
Take and keep minutes of the Legal Department meetings and ensure action arising are closed within the timelines provided.
Manage the CLE calendar and ensure that all lawyers in the department have the minimum CLE points.
Ensure that the approval of chambers is renewed annually and before 31st March each year.
Governance and Control Management
Ensure that the RCSA/CPA is refreshed within the set timelines.
Track and manage Compliance and Internal Audit deadlines.
Ensure that the Legal Department’s Key Risk Indicators are updated quarterly.
Ensure that Legal Policies, Standards and operation manual are updated and approved annually.
Ensure that the Legal MCA and CE are updated and approved monthly.
Update Legal provisions and litigation reports on the ARO SharePoint.
Board Administration – Company Secretariat
In consultation with the Secretary:
Schedule Board and Committee meetings in line with the annual calendar.
Prepare and distribute notices, agendas, and supporting documents.
Ensure timely delivery of Board packs to directors including uploading on the Diligent system.
Maintain accurate records of Board and Committee meetings, including minutes and resolutions.
Ensure confidentiality and security of Board materials.
Ensure adherence to corporate governance standards and regulatory requirements.
Assist with statutory filings (e.g., annual returns, changes in directorship) and update the Secretarial Software Solution (SSS).
Update the quarterly KAI and share with the Secretary.
Collect and compile information relating to approval of Senior Managers and Directors.
Track and manage compliance deadlines for Board-related obligations.
Act as the primary point of contact for Board related matters.
Organize venues, technology setup, and catering for Board meetings.
Manage travel arrangements for directors when necessary.
Role/person specification
Preferred Education
Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honors, Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and enrolment as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda and all courts subordinate thereto.
Preferred Experience
At least 5 years post enrolment working experience in a similar role preferably in a in regulated institutions, or commercial law firm.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge
In-depth understanding of local and group jurisdictions and regulatory requirements for financial institutions
Experience and understanding of risk management.
Knowledge of budgeting and operational management in a legal/administrative context
Skills:
Very strong communication skills, both verbal and written
Excellent planning & organization skills
Strong ability to view issues from a risk & control perspective
Ability to work well under pressure, working accurately with attention to detail, and meeting deadlines
Education
Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Law, Military Science and Security (Required)