Legal Counsel needed at Onafriq

The Role

• The Legal Counsel will be responsible for the management of all legal and regulatory matters relating to the company’s business in our Anglophone West Africa region (Nigeria, Ghana and any other countries in the region). Such responsibilities would include providing legal advisory, drafting and review of contracts, providing support in respect of the company’s  regulatory affairs as well as the company’s engagement with law enforcement agencies in the region. At times, you will also provide required support in the company’s other countries of operation as and when necessary. This role requires strong legal knowledge, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across various departments.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Management:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiation of agreements.
• Maintain an organized system of physical and digital records for all contracts and legal documents.
• Provide advice on contractual matters to minimize risks and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Monitor and notify the company of new and existing regulations from relevant regulatory bodies, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
• Engage with regulators to ensure the company complies with all regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement internal policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Law Enforcement Agencies Management:

• Provide the required support in all interactions with law enforcement agencies.
• Ensure the company’s interests are represented and protected in all dealings with law enforcement.

Legal Support:

• Serving as legal advisory and support to all internal stakeholders such as IT, risk, commercial, treasury, compliance and other departments as required.
• Assist in the resolution of legal disputes and issues.
• Ensure all company activities comply with relevant legal standards including but not limited to general legal advisory, product reviews and company secretarial matters.

Desired Skills:

• 5 7 years of experience as a qualified lawyer, preferably with experience in payments or financial services.
• Extensive legal knowledge on a variety of legal issues (e.g., contract, regulatory, IP, data privacy, employment, consumer protection) and an ability to distill complexity and to identify and clearly communicate practical solutions.
• You must be a great communicator and solid project manager, able to effectively prioritise and advance a large number of matters, often on tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with financial services regulations and policies.
• Experience in engaging with regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies.
• Proactive and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working at a PSP or financial services firm and on matters relating to fintech in general is desirable.