Deputy Company Secretary at Absa Bank Limited

Absa Bank Limited (Absa) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Barclays Africa Group Limited. Absa offers personal and business banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management as well as bancassurance.

Job Summary
To develop tactical governance and secretarial strategy and delivery plans, formulate associated practice and to ensure operational implementation and adaption across a single practice methodology, governance and delivery objectives
About Job
To provide legal support to Absa Bank Kenya and its Subsidiaries, identify and manage legal risk in the Strategic Business Unit (SBU), liaising directly with the businesses as appropriate.

To provide Company Secretarial services to Absa Bank Kenya Subsidiaries and specific insurance entities within Absa Group (“Assigned Entities”)
Key Accountabilities.
Legal Support and Advisory Duties (50%)

Provide objective, conscientious and fearless advise to the Bank.
Support the long-term growth of the business by providing pragmatic and effective legal advice to manage legal risk across the business and assist in the design and implementation of procedures to manage, at an appropriate level, this risk.
Ensure that all aspects of legal risk are identified covered and controlled in the implementation of new projects, systems, procedures, and products.
Develop and deliver strategic legal risk management initiatives.
Ensure best practices are adopted and guidelines complied with, and that all activities comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Ensure that changes and developments in legislation, regulations, guidelines, and practices affecting the markets in which Absa Bank Kenya and its Subsidiaries operate are analysed, evaluated, and reported as required.
Coordinate Business training on legal subjects either internally or through stakeholders (e.g. Law Firms)
Embed the five legal policies, namely, Contractual Arrangements Policy, Use of Law Firms Policy, Litigation Policy, Intellectual Property Policy and Competition & Anti-Trust Policy
Identifying and meeting management information requirements for the measurement of legal risk exposure, performance (both of internal and external legal resources) and productivity.
Identifying and meeting management information requirements for the measurement of legal risk exposure, performance (both of internal and external legal resources) and productivity.
Contributing to the development of Absa Bank Kenya strategy through the identification of legal risk.
Liaising with the Heads of Functions & Departments to ensure that these teams can meet the ongoing requirements of the business.

Company Secretarial Duties (40%)

Responsible in the Assigned Entities and Absa Bank Kenya Subsidiaries for:

Ensuring Corporate Governance standards are maintained/improved in the Assigned Entities and Absa Bank Kenya Subsidiaries
Delivery of high-level business information/data relating to local and regional business activities
Channel for distributing and receiving information critical to Group Corporate Secretariat (GCS) as required.
Monitoring compliance with GCS and Group policies for Assigned Entities and Absa Bank Kenya Subsidiaries
Formulating standards and policies within Kenya and the region and for the Function and embedding in the Business
Assisting with annual audit (governance/legal or otherwise) of the Assigned Entities, Bank Subsidiaries Board and directors
Identify risk and problem areas in the business that need solutions.
Organisation and coordination of Board & Board Committee Meetings
Preparation of Board Minutes, Resolutions, Powers of Attorney etc.
Maintenance of statutory records.
Organisation and coordination of General Meetings and special general meetings
Filing of Statutory Returns and Procurement of required Licences
Board Management including induction, training and development of Directors.
Provision of company secretarial services and advice to senior management within Assigned Entities and Absa Bank Kenya subsidiaries, including listing obligations (debt and equity), AGM, Report and Accounts etc.
Responsibility for process of notifications to the regulatory authorities.
Management of database of information on Group companies and directors.
Monitoring and implementing appropriate Corporate Governance regulatory (such as the Group Governance Framework) and statutory developments and ensuring compliance.
Managing the Company Secretarial budgets for Assigned Entities and Absa Bank Kenya Subsidiaries

Team Leadership (10%)

Provide education, training, and support to the businesses on relevant legal risk issues and developments as appropriate.
Ensure an up to date and relevant knowledge of principal areas of law and practice in all relevant jurisdictions.
Undertake performance reviews and providing coaching and support for the SBUs.

Requirements
Preferred Qualifications

Law Degree from a recognised reputable University
An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya OR Solicitor/Barrister (or equivalent)
Member of the Law Society of Kenya
Certified Public Secretary in good standing with the Institute of Certified Secretaries of Kenya (ICS)
Master’s or advanced degree in law or business would be an added advantage.
Possesses at least seven (7) years demonstrable experience in company secretarial services/corporate governance matters as well as legal risk management experience in banking law/financial services law within the banking sector or the equivalent experience in a busy corporate body or law firm of good repute.

Preferred Experience

Strong technical legal ability
Demonstrable experience of a significant number of those areas of corporate and business law relevant to Absa Bank Kenya and its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, banking law, company law, data privacy, law of contract, lending, commercial and civil litigation, employment law, pension law, commercial contracts, and capital markets.
Loan Market Association (LMA) agreements and Project Finance experience
Understanding of Absa Bank Kenya strategy and Group strategy, business, and markets
Knowledge of Financial Services sector/industry
Wide experience and full understanding of legal risk management

Knowledge & Skills

Company secretarial, Corporate Governance, Compliance, and Investor Relations expertise
Articulate written and spoken English including legal terminology.
Ability to work with numbers confidently and to construct and use excel spreadsheets confidently.
Positive personal impact on colleagues in a ‘winning together’ collaborative environment.
Computer literate – comfortable user of usual office software packages
Role model
Ability to develop and support internal clients.
Prioritising, good at time management and etiquette
Strong commercial and legal risk management focus
Strategic planning
Project and resource management
Delivery under pressure
Effective communicator
Analytical, problem-solving skills with the ability to develop imaginative solutions.
Networking skills
Ability to pull together and mange ad hoc teams & resources to deliver timely and effective solutions.
 Show enthusiasm for new ideas and contributes to implementation.
Work with others to improve and seeks coaching/mentoring for self.
Involve team members when developing recommendations and utilizes resources to the best effect.
Make the team a fun place to work, supports others to attain success of the team and function and encourages collaborative working/thrives in teamwork.
Give honest and candid feedback in a timely manner, constructively.
Work on team and Function wide initiatives to make Absa Bank a better place.

Behavioural Competencies

Effective communication in written and spoken English - Ability to communicate effectively and in an impactful manner to the business and various stakeholders including the Board.
Analytical, problem-solving skills with the ability to develop imaginative solutions - Having a pragmatic approach in balancing business needs vis-a-vis mitigation of legal risks by offering practical solutions with a strong commercial focus.
Stakeholder management, collegiality, and networking skills - Develops constructive and collegiate professional relationships across the business in providing support to internal client base and build relationships with external advisors (legal and non-legal).
Board management skills: coordinating the board calendar, efficiently setting up meetings, writing minutes, managing various board and shareholder engagements.