A reputable player in the Rwandan Financial Services Sector, is looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate to fill the role of Head of Legal Services and Company Secretary.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this role holder will provide strategic leadership for legal and governance matters, ensuring compliance, offering legal counsel, overseeing corporate governance, managing board activities, and ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance within the organization.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Support the Bank’s profitability and efficient debt recovery by aiding legal processes, negotiating with debtors, reviewing securities, managing legal costs, and expediting court case resolutions.
• Drive customer satisfaction by adhering to Service Level Agreements, provide timely feedback, and ensure compliance with consumer data protection principles.
• Review and draft security agreements and contracts, negotiate terms, ensure legal compliance, and regularly update standard documents/forms to meet regulations.
• Provide concise, practical legal solutions for all Bank business and support units involved in contracting.
• Implement contract registers and trackers to monitor and manage all bank contracts, ensuring timely updates.
• Oversee the timely and accurate perfection of Bank securities by coordinating with stakeholders, reviewing drafted documents, ensuring proper execution, and confirming registration for perfection.
• Provide concise and timely legal advice to all departments as needed, ensuring compliance with the Legal Risk Policy and promoting optimal performance.
• Review and outsource disputes, monitoring for best representation, and periodically report credit and non-credit litigation matters to management and the Board.
• Supervise litigation matters for and against the Bank, implementing procedures to track court cases, notify Bank representatives, and manage external legal service providers with ethical standards.
• Advise the Board and senior management on compliance laws, rules, and standards, ensuring they stay informed about new policies, and prepare Monthly Compliance Status reports for relevant committees and regulators.
• Coordinate Board and Committee meetings, including agenda preparation, in collaboration with the Chairman and Committee Chairpersons.
• Define, implement, and manage risk-based Compliance and AML programs, including developing and reviewing the Bank’s Compliance Strategy, Compliance Policy, and AML Policy.
• Develop and maintain a robust compliance tracking system for legal, regulatory, and policy parameters, promptly escalating exceptions and ensure timely compliance reporting, including Suspicious Transactions & Activities, in accordance with AML and KYC.
• Oversee corporate governance, including board meetings, statutory records, and regulatory compliance, ensure adherence to legal requirements and maintain statutory books and registers.
• Prepare a work plan outlining activities for each financial year and coordinate the annual board evaluation process.
• Develop, implement, and review appropriate legal and compliance structure to manage the Bank’s risks while training staff on legal and compliance obligations.
• File all statutory returns and maintain registers as required by the Companies Act, 2012, or other applicable laws and regulations.
• Lead in coaching, mentoring, talent management, succession planning, and resource retention for the Business Development teams.

Academic/Professional Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognized university. A Master’s degree in Law (LLM) is highly desirable.
• A Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
• Practicing law in Rwanda
• Admission to the bar in Rwanda or another relevant jurisdiction.
• Certifications in corporate governance or company secretarial practices (e.g, ICSA) are an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience in legal practice in banking/financial services industry, with sound exposure to credit or lending and debt recovery.
• At least 5 years’ experience in Compliance Risk management and company secretarial practice within a corporate legal department or a reputable law firm.
• Proven experience in corporate governance as a company secretary, managing board processes, and implementing AML and KYC compliance frameworks, preferably in the banking industry.

How to apply

If your career aspirations match this exciting opportunity, Please send your application for your consideration to this email: hrservices@kpmg.co.ke quoting ‘Head of Legal Services and Company Secretary’ by 10 June 2024.