Legal Advisor

PURPOSE OF ROLE

• To provide leadership in the delivery of reliable, accurate, timely and well-informed advice on the legal matters and potential legal implications of various pension related matters within SALT EB.
• The person appointed to this position will report to the Head of Legal Risk & Compliance.
• The ability to investigate and apply expertise to data with an intended objective to deliver on the specific area of expertise.
• The ability to analyze data and extract trends to ensure improvement of processes and or customer satisfaction. This could be in the form of innovative ideas as well as the task of compiling reports.
• Engage and list to current challenges in the team/business and use expertise to Trouble shoot issues in order to provide workable solutions
• The ability to tackle a Problem with the intent of using expertise/capability and or experience to resolve speedily
• Perform quality assurance based on the specialized requirements of the role.
• Should be able to ensure strong stake holder management ito Communication i.e. feedback to clients, managing clients, responding to clients, attend to queries timeously
• Engage in a professional manner whether it be verbal or face to face
• Have the ability to communicate via different communication channels
• Ensure that the brand or image of SEB is always maintained by adhering to the values (in keeping in line with the KPI and values of the company)
• Be a strong team player
• Have both both industry knowledge and experience
• Ensure that the role is carried out with the relevant accuracy, attention to detail and following instructions.
• Ensure that judgement and attention to detail is applied to the role
• Ensure that the role is completed within required deadlines and should have the ability to organize, plan, set goals and deliver accordingly.
• Strong interpersonal skills as cross team collaboration is required.
• Have the ability to innovate in the role
• Quality of work should be thorough
• Conscious of the abuse of company resources
• Ability to work through Funds Adjudicator (PFA) and FSCA complaints and queries against the Funds administered by SALT Employee Benefits and responding to them timeously and accurately.
• Must have a clear understanding of the legislation governing the Retirement Fund Industry.

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal and policy support to all SALT EB stakeholders, including but not limited to the Executive team, management team and supporting staff.
• To ensure availability for consultation on legal matters and other implications of past and proposed actions;
• Analyzing complex practical problems and advising management on what the issue is all about, available options and the consequences of each of the possible options;
• Providing written opinions on all matters; In particular, the incumbent must consistently provide reliable advice based on their expertise;
• To provide legal support and advice on a variety of corporate legal matters and legal risks
• Draft, review, edit, interpret and advise on contracts and other legal documents
• Keep abreast of legislative changes that may affect the organisation
• Assist in preparation of disciplinary hearing documents
• Conduct investigations and prepare witnesses in advance of a disciplinary hearing.
• Study judgements and share insights with staff
• Represent SALT EB in various public and private sector forums
• Provide input on legislation or review and monitor the progress of legislation that will affect the Office.

KPI

• Investigation of Pension Funds Adjudicator (PFA) complaints
• Respond to PFA/FSCA complaints in respect of the different Funds Administered by SALT EB within the prescribed timeframes.
• Draft eight responses per day, forty per week and one hundred and sixty per month
• Timeous implementation of OPFA determinations.
• Ensure that responses to PFA and other stakeholders are of high-quality standard, furthermore, to ensure that supporting documents relate the drafted response
• Attend to PFA queries relating to responses/Attorney and member queries
• Ensure that all the matters are attended to timeously and deliver high quality work

Record keeping:

Recording of new complaints and determinations for reporting purposes to EXCO and relevant stakeholders.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

• Matric
• Excel
• Communication (Written and Verbal)
• English (Business writing and email etiquette)
• Stakeholder management (CRM)
• Industry knowledge and experience
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Working under pressure And Deadline driven
• Organizational skills / Planning and prioritizing
• Interpersonal skills
• Settings goals
• Cross team collaboration
• Innovation
• Management of time
• Analysis of data
• Judgement/Decision making
• Innovation
• Negotiation and Conflict Management
• Networking
• Persuasion, Prospecting,
• Public Speaking
• Research
• Computer literacy.
• Pensions Law knowledge, particularly the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956
• Knowledge of other SA Laws relevant to the Retirement Fund Industry
• A Bachelors Degree in law or commerce.
• The candidate must have proven relevant and practical experience of at least 10 years within a financial services industry.
• Advanced knowledge of Pension Funds Act, Regulations, Financial Sector Regulation Act, Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill and all other relevant financial sector laws.
• All regulatory instruments issued by the FSCA including but not limited to Interpretation Rulings, Guidance Notices and Industry Communications.
• Applied Strategic Thinking.
• Problem solving and Analysis.
• Attentive to detail and accuracy, committed to excellence, Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong administrative skills including being deadline driven.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure whilst upholding an emphasis on quality.