Head, Board Secretariat/ Legal Affairs at PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) Nigeria

PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) Nigeria - Our client is a development finance institution involved in providing short and medium-term loans, risk bearing services as well as trade and market information and export advisory services to the Nigerian export community.

They are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Head, Board Secretariat/ Legal Affairs

Reference No.: 130-PEO01175
Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Permanent
Department: People & Change Nigeria

Roles & Responsibilities
The role holder will:

• Coordinate the provision of legal advisory services to the organisation on matters of litigation, debt recovery, contracts and other such transactions with legal implications.
• Provide comprehensive company secretarial service to the organisation
• Articulate and develop the department’s strategy, ensure alignment with the organisation’s strategic objectives and provide support in its execution.
• Approve and coordinate the execution of the department’s work program and plans.
• Champion the development of legal frameworks to support the organisation’s strategic planning.
• Keep abreast of changes in relevant legal and regulatory specifications/ requirements.
• Provide advisory services on issues that relate to the legal and regulatory framework and liaise with necessary regulatory bodies as at when needed.
• Advise on and ensure compliance of all departments with applicable laws and regulation.
• Ensure that collateral security taken for the organisation’s facilities are adequately perfected.
• Ensure legal clearance reports are issued to relevant departments on the fulfilment of pre-disbursement conditions and legal documentation prior to drawdown.
• Coordinate the drafting, vetting and review of all agreements, contracts and other formal arrangements with third parties and also relating to administrative and personnel matters.
• Ensure the department maintains custody of all original contract documents as well as securities documents.
• Recommend the appointment/ selection of the organisation’s solicitors to executive management and provide broad guidelines for defining the overall framework for managing relationship between the organisation and its solicitors.
• Direct the organisation’s representation in litigation, arbitration, other administrative or legal proceedings and matters in which the bank may have an interest.
• Manage relationships with external solicitors and ensure compliance with agreed service levels.
• Coordinate periodic evaluation of solicitors’ performance.
• Prepare and circulate board papers for all Board and Board committee meetings.
• Supervise the preparation of all agendas, notices, proxies, waivers of notice and subsequent correspondence in connection with meetings of directors.
• Ensure the administration of the organisation's corporate governance architecture.
• Organise logistics and facilitate Board and Board Committee meetings.
• Record and circulate minutes of the meeting of the board and its various committees.
• Ensure compliance with Board’s decisions and directives.
• Ensure timely processing of all Board entitlements.
• Provide advice and guidance to Board directors and executive management in respect of their duties and responsibilities to uphold good governance on constitutional and legal issues.
• Keep board directors and executive management up to date with governance issues which directly or indirectly affect the organisation.
• Supervise the maintenance of all statutory registers, including registers of directors, allotment and transfer of shares and company seal ensuring that they are kept up to date at all times.
• Ensure that all necessary statutory forms, statutory year-end accounts and returns are made under relevant legislation and filed with the relevant regulatory authorities.
• Control the use of organisation seals and their safe custody to ensure compliance with the organisation’s authorised signatory regime.
• Continually review and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the department’s policies, procedures and processes and identify improvement opportunities.
• Review and authorise key expenditures and transactions in line with the approved budget and authority limit.
• Review departmental performance and conduct performance appraisal of unit heads.
• Prepare and submit activity and performance reports to the MD/ CEO.
• Perform any other duties assigned by MD/ CEO.

Requirements

• First degree in Law.
• Relevant postgraduate/ professional qualification or membership of legal professional bodies.
• A company secretarial qualification would be an added advantage.
• Minimum of eighteen (18) years cognate experience with at least three (3) years managerial experience.
• Candidate must be matured with high level of integrity and confidentiality.
• High level of innovativeness, resourcefulness, and possession of strong organization and problem-solving skills required to work with board members.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to make presentations to Management/ Board and other stakeholders as may be required.
• Significant understanding of operations of an Export Credit Agency.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including ability to organise and manage human resources to attain goals.
• Willingness to work extra hours where required in order to achieve the organisation’s objectives.
• General understanding of the objectives and purpose of a development finance institution.

Application Closing Date
6th January, 2021.