Purpose of the 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 the business
- 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 current challenges in the team/business and use expertise to Troubleshoot 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 stakeholder management into Communication i.e. feedback to clients, managing clients, responding to clients, attending to queries timeously
- Engage professionally 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 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 are 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
- Must have a clear understanding of the legislation governing the Retirement Fund Industry
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal and policy support to all 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 the preparation of disciplinary hearing documents
- Conduct investigations and prepare witnesses in advance of a disciplinary hearing
- Study judgements and share insights with staff
- Represent the business 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 the business 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, ensure that supporting documents relate to 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
Requirements:
- Stakeholder management (CRM)
- Industry knowledge and experience
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Judgement and Decision Making
- Pensions Law knowledge, particularly the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956
- Knowledge of other SA Laws relevant to the Retirement Fund Industry
- The candidate must have proven relevant and practical experience of at least 10 years
- Advanced knowledge of the 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
Qualifications:
- Relevant LLB, BCom, or Bachelor’s Degree
- 10 Years’ experience in a similar position
- Employee Benefits experience
- Pension Law experience