Head, Legal Services at Wema Bank Plc

Job Summary

• The Head of Legal is first and foremost tasked with leading and motivating all the Legal Officers both at the head office and the regional offices to ensure that the perform optimally.
• The person will also act as a mentor to all legal department personnel, encouraging their professional growth.

Job Description

• Legal Advisory Role: The Head of Legal along with the Legal Adviser manages legal risk within the enterprise by providing legal advice to the business and management.
• Collaboration Role: The role of the Head of Legal is also a collaborative one and in that capacity he works with departmental leadership and key stakeholders across the business in overseeing and ensuring legal compliance across the business, maintaining the business’s integrity both internally and externally (reputational risk)..
• Specific functions: The Head of Legal also performs similar duties as he deems fit for the proper execution of his duties and duties as delegated by the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser and management of the bank.

Supervise legal work of Legal Officers, paralegals, and outside counsel; consults on difficult or sensitive issues.

• Ensure compliance by the Bank with best Corporate Governance Practices including risk identification and mitigation.
• Draft, review, and approve policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents.
• Reviews contracts, leases, and other legal documents; researches legal issues and recommends revisions as necessary.
• Review, research, interpret, and prepares both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues.
• Provide efficient, effective legal support services and ensuring compliance by the Bank with laws governing its operations;
• Ensure the Bank is legally protected in all its transactions, with customers and other third parties;
• Manage the Bank’s litigation portfolio to ensure that it is within set parameters by Managing disputes, claims, actions and potential disputes.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.Sc Degree in Law.
• 7-10 years proven experience as Head legal Services/Legal Advisor.
• Professional Certification/MSc is an added advantage.
• Preferably candidates from the banking sector.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of corporate law and procedures in the banking sector.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity.