Senior Legal Counsel: Regulatory

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.

Job Summary

To provide strategic legal advisory and transactional support to the Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) division, ensuring regulatory and legal risk is proactively managed while enabling the execution of complex domestic and cross-border financial transactions.

The incumbent advises on legal, regulatory, and governance matters that support business sustainability, cross-jurisdictional compliance, and growth across pan-African markets.

The role applies expert judgment to shape legal frameworks, guide risk-based decision-making, and influence internal policy adaptation in a dynamic regulatory environment.

Job Description

• Key Accountabilities
• Provide end-to-end legal counsel on CIB products and transactions, including investment banking, syndicated lending, project finance, capital markets, transactional banking including rade finance, cash management and derivatives.
• Negotiate, and review a wide range of agreements
• Translate legal and regulatory implications into actionable business insights and risk mitigation strategies.
• Serve as a regulatory risk filter for product innovation, deal reviews, and transaction approvals.
• Regulatory and Compliance Advisory
• Monitor, interpret, and advise on legal and regulatory frameworks including but not limited to the Banks Act, Financial Markets Act, Companies Act, Financial Intelligence Centre Act (“FICA”), Protection of Personal Information Act (“POPIA”), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (“FSCA”) and South African Reserve Bank (“SARB”) directives.
• Influence and shape internal compliance frameworks in response to legislative changes and evolving market conduct requirements.
• Support regulatory audits, inspections, and engagements, working closely with Compliance, Risk, and Governance functions.
• Lead or contribute to legal input on cross-border regulatory matters and multi-jurisdictional transactions.
• Risk Management and Governance
• Identify and mitigate regulatory risks related to transactional, operational, or strategic activities.
• Participate in CIB risk and governance forums, providing legal guidance to inform risk appetite, control frameworks, and decision-making processes.
• Anticipate emerging legal risks and support pre-emptive mitigation strategies aligned with the bank’s enterprise risk management framework.
• Contract Management and Legal Documentation
• Draft, review, and manage transaction and framework documentation to mitigate regulatory risk and to ensure legal robustness, commercial alignment, and enforceability.
• Maintain and standardise legal templates, policies, and procedures across the CIB portfolio.
• Support and provide training for business, operations, and legal teams
• Oversee document control processes and legal record-keeping protocols.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Legal Strategy
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to business.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Finance, and other control functions to ensure integrated regulatory risk management across the transaction lifecycle.
• Manage external legal counsel relationships, including briefing, negotiation, quality assurance, and cost control on complex or multi-jurisdictional matters.
• Contribute legal insight into business planning, new product development, and cross-border expansion initiatives.

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification.
• Admitted attorney or advocate in a relevant jurisdiction.
• Postgraduate qualification in commercial, corporate, or banking law is preferred.
• Master's in Law (LLM) is an added advantage.

Education

Bachelor Honours Degree: Law (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised