Senior Legal Counsel: Privacy and Regulatory at Absa, Johannesburg

As Senior Legal Counsel: Regulatory and Privacy at Absa, you will be the go-to legal expert on data privacy and data protection law, regulatory matters and financial crime. You will work independently on complex privacy and regulatory legal matters and turn legal requirements into clear, practical business solutions.

What the role involves:

• Providing highly specialised legal advice and support to your dedicated area.
• Reviewing and legally assessing Privacy Impact Assessments, compliance assessments, new products, projects, technologies, processes and proposed data use arrangements.
• Giving 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.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating data protection provisions, data processing and data sharing agreements, consent wording, privacy notices, forms, customer communications and other privacy related documentation.
• Building strong client relationships and engaging confidently with stakeholders at different levels of seniority.
• Independently planning, prioritising and managing a broad portfolio of matters from instruction through to completion.
• Representing the Bank as a subject matter expert at internal committees, governance forums, industry engagements and professional bodies.
• Managing external counsel and driving good cost control behaviour, particularly in relation to external legal spend.
• Providing relevant legal training to internal clients and translating complex privacy requirements into practical business advice.
• Monitoring domestic and international privacy and regulatory developments and communicating their impact clearly and timeously.

Application note: You will apply on Absa's official site. Use the Apply button to be taken to the bank's own system.

• Admitted attorney qualified to practise in South Africa, ideally with at least five to 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Preferred education: BComm Law and LLB, or BA Law and LLB, or B Juris and LLB, BProc or LLB. A Bachelor Honours Degree in Law, Military Science and Security is required.
• Excellent legal analysis, interpretation, research and drafting skills, including strong contractual drafting and negotiation capability.
• 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 high attention to detail, integrity and reliability.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.