Serves as a point of legal advice on all contracts, regulatory and compliance matters, and legal risk for 9PSB as a CBN-licensed financial institution.
Liaises with relevant departments and divisions to draft, review and/or interpret contractual agreements, and ensures that all contracts and business initiatives entered into by 9PSB are consistent with corporate and governmental laws, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rules, regulations and guidelines.
Tactical
- Support 9PSB with legal and regulatory advice on contracts, products and services, and assist departments in closing out legal requirements in the best interest of 9PSB.
- Keep up to date with local best practice, trends in financial services and fintech, and new or amended CBN circulars, guidelines and other regulatory requirements relevant to the unit's activities; flag their legal implications to the Head, Legal Services.
- Contribute ideas for improving the unit/team's processes and help implement approved initiatives.
- Build and maintain good working relationships with key internal stakeholders, and support engagement with external counsel and other external parties as directed.
Operational
- Liaise with individual departments & divisions and provide advice on legal issues arising from contracts, products and operations, escalating complex matters to senior colleagues.
- Review and vet contracts and legal agreements, including memoranda of understanding (MoUs) or agreement (MoAs), letters of intent, service level agreements, agency/partnership agreements and other related documents, with senior review for complex or high-value agreements.
- Assist in drafting and reviewing legal and regulatory documentation for new products, services and partnerships, including customer account terms and conditions, agent banking and fintech/third-party arrangements, to ensure compliance with CBN requirements.
- Track changes in the regulatory environment (CBN, NDIC, NFIU, NDPC and other relevant authorities), summarise new regulations, and work with Compliance, Risk and business units to support timely implementation and adherence.
- Provide legal input, as assigned, on regulatory returns, licence and approval applications, and responses to regulatory enquiries and examinations.
- Provide legal support on anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF), KYC, data protection and consumer protection requirements as they relate to the Bank's operations and contracts.
- Research and provide input on legal enquiries or issues of a contractual or regulatory nature arising from the interpretation and application of contracts, agreements, laws and regulations, for review by senior colleagues.
- Check that terms and conditions set out in contractual documentation are legally valid, consistent with 9PSB's policies, rules and regulations, and are in the organisation's best interest.
- Provide legal support to tender committees and concerned departments/divisions in preparing and finalizing tender documentation, and assist with tender amendments, contract negotiation and finalization.
- Assist in litigation by or against contractors or other parties arising out of contracts, agreements, or similar documentation, including debt recovery, fraud-related and regulatory matters.
- Work with external counsel and support case management on litigation matters involving the Bank.
- Track litigation (including any alternative dispute resolution mechanisms) by and against the Bank, and keep the Head, Legal Services informed of status and exposure.
- Maintain a database of all contractual documents, litigation (& dispute related matters) and related legal documentation.
- Ensure safe custody of tenders and contracts.
- Assist in implementing the unit’s work programs and plans in line with agreed upon procedures and guidelines.
- Maintain good working relationships across departments to ensure effective collaboration.
- Participate in training and development on contract and tender review and management processes, and on legal and regulatory updates relevant to the role.
- Prepare periodic activity, legal risk and regulatory-update reports for the attention of the Head, Legal Services.
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head, Legal Services.
Requirements
- First degree in Law (LL.B) and a call to the Nigerian Bar (B.L)
- Minimum of Four years post-call work experience, with a significant part of it in banking, microfinance or another financial institution (major criterion).
- Practical experience in supporting advice on CBN regulatory and compliance requirements, and in contract drafting, negotiation and litigation support within a financial institution.
