Senior Legal Counsel: Regulatory and Privacy at Absa · Johannesb…

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Belonging at Absa

Absa is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds. In support of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) commitments and Employment Equity objectives, preference may be given to candidates from underrepresented designated groups, including persons with disabilities. We encourage applicants who may require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process to let us know so that appropriate support can be provided.

Job Summary To develop tactical strategy and delivery plans, formulate associated practice/s and to ensure operational implementation and adoption with regards to legal methodology, governance and delivery objectives.

Independently manage complex privacy and regulatory legal matters and translate legal requirements into clear, practical and workable business solutions.

The role requires substantial hands-on data privacy legal experience, including strong advisory, contractual drafting and negotiation capability.

Job Description

Accountability: Legal Risk

• To provide highly specialised legal advice and support to the dedicated area of support.
• Act as a senior legal subject-matter expert on data privacy and data protection law, regulatory and financial crime.
• Review and legally assess Privacy Impact Assessments, compliance assessments, new products, projects, technologies, processes and proposed data-use arrangements.
• Provide independent legal advice on novel and complex data use, data sharing, disclosure, retention, cross-border transfer and related privacy matters across the Bank, the Group and ARO.
• Draft, review and negotiate data protection provisions, data processing and data sharing agreements, consent wording, privacy notices, forms, customer communications and other privacy-related documentation.

Accountability: Leadership & Management

• Build strong client relationships and engage confidently with stakeholders at different levels of seniority, managing complex or conflicting expectations professionally and effectively.
• Independently plan, prioritise and manage a broad portfolio of matters from instruction through to completion, taking ownership and providing clear legal advice, direction and follow-up.
• Contribute to the development and achievement of team objectives and strategy, while providing high-quality support to business and Legal stakeholders.
• Represent the Bank independently as a subject-matter expert at internal committees, governance forums, industry engagements and professional bodies, and supervise others where appropriate.

Accountability: Commercial

• Demonstrate strong analytical skills and solve complex problems creatively and effectively
• Drive good cost-control behaviour, particularly in relation to external legal spend, and consistently deliver against a broad range of competing priorities and deadlines.
• Manage external counsel
• Add value in commercial and technical discussions, translate complex privacy requirements into practical business advice, and provide relevant legal training to internal clients.

Accountability: Risk and Control

• Strengthen Legal’s contribution to the effective identification, management and mitigation of legal risk across the business.
• Promote awareness of, and support adherence to, applicable legal policies and control requirements.
• Build effective partnerships with Risk, Compliance and other key control functions to support coordinated and effective risk management.

Accountability: Teamwork

• Collaborate proactively across teams and geographies within Legal, contributing to the development and achievement of team objectives and helping to break down silos.
• Share knowledge and expertise openly, provide objective and constructive feedback, and contribute to the planning and delivery of Legal Function knowledge sessions.

Accountability: Technical

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to business and infrastructure functions, providing clear, practical advice on relevant legal and market developments and their business impact.
• Proactively monitor domestic and international privacy and regulatory developments, assess their legal and practical impact on the Bank, the Group and ARO, and communicate implications and recommended actions clearly and timeously.
• Represent the Bank as a subject-matter expert at internal committees and industry forums, contributing to industry initiatives and maintaining a strong external professional network.

Preferred Education

BComm Law and LLB; or B A Law and LLB; or B Juris and LLB; BProc or LLB

Preferred Experience

• Admitted attorney qualified to practise in South Africa, ideally with at least five - eight years’ relevant post-qualification experience.
• Substantial specialist legal experience in data privacy and data protection is essential, including hands-on experience drafting and negotiating data protection provisions, data processing agreements and related documentation.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment and managing competing demands; financial-services experience is advantageous.
• Experience with financial-sector regulatory matters, including market conduct and financial crime, is advantageous.
• Experience advising across multiple jurisdictions, particularly African jurisdictions, and representing an organisation at internal governance and external industry forums is advantageous.

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep expertise in POPIA and relevant domestic and international data privacy and data protection laws, with an understanding of applicable financial-sector regulation and best practice.
• Excellent legal analysis, interpretation, research and drafting skills, including strong contractual drafting and negotiation capability.
• Ability to provide practical, commercially balanced legal advice and to distinguish between legal, compliance, risk, control and operational responsibilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to exercise independent judgement and provide constructive legal challenge.
• Proactive horizon scanning, with the ability to identify, assess and clearly communicate the legal and business impact of relevant developments.
• Highly organised, proactive and deadline-driven, with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive matters to completion with minimal supervision.
• High attention to detail, integrity and reliability.

Education

Bachelor Honours Degree: Law, Military Science and Security (Required)