Key responsibilities

The key responsibility of this role is to attend to all legal requirements which stem from the Lesaka Group, with a focus on the Merchant Division of the Lesaka Group, under instruction from the group general counsel and the management team of the Merchant Division. The person will work with the existing legal advisors across the Lesaka group.

Key responsibilities for this role:                                                                                           

• draft and/or review and/or comment on and/or negotiate various agreements and other documents relevant to the conduct of the business (e.g. arrangements with suppliers, customers, business partners, etc. and customer terms & conditions);
• interpret and advise on existing contractual arrangements;
• advise on legal position and regulatory requirements applicable to the business;
• identify and assess legal risks for the various product offerings, processes and functions and develop risk mitigation strategies (where appropriate). This includes staying abreast of developments in the regulatory framework and proactively identifying any concerns and/or risk in conducting the business;
• manage and oversee litigation and legal disputes, including instructing and engaging external counsel, where necessary; and
• administration and other legal related support to the Merchant Division of the Lesaka Group.

Qualifications and Experience

• The candidate must have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited university within South Africa.
• The candidate must have at least 3 years post-articles experience at a top-tier South African law firm, alternatively proven in-house experience preferably within the national payment industry and/or financial services industry.
• It would be advantageous if the candidate has knowledge of, and experience advising on, the relevant legislation applicable to the businesses within the Lesaka Group (e.g. the Companies Act, National Payment Systems Act, relevant SARB directives, PASA frameworks, Financial Intelligence Centre Act, National Credit Act, Protection of Personal Information Act, Consumer Protection Act).
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements.

Competencies

• Ability to collaborate and build strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and solution driven mindset.
• Commercial approach, rather than technical legalese.
• Excellent contractual drafting, analysis, and review skills.
• High level of professionalism and strong interpersonal skills.
• Eagerness to learn and develop skillset and knowledge base.
• Thorough and impeccable attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Adaptable and flexible in order to manage the evolving legal and business landscapes.
• Strong administration and organisation skills.
• The ability to work under pressure while maintaining high standards and excellent quality of work.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player, but ability to operate independently.
• Take initiative and display a work ethic that demonstrates going over and above what is expected.