Legal Head

Job Description

Welcome to FNB, the home of the #changeables. We design for the shapeshifters and deliver products and services that make us incredibly proud of people that make it happen.

As part of our team in FNB HSL you will be surrounded by unique talents, diverse minds, and an adaptable environment that lives up to the promise of staying curious. Now’s the time to imagine your potential in a team where experts come together and ignite effective change.

The Head of Legal is responsible for leading and directing the legal function supporting HSL. The role serves as a strategic business partner to Executive Management and senior leadership, providing commercially focused legal advice, legal risk oversight, governance leadership, and regulatory guidance to enable the achievement of business objectives.

The incumbent is accountable for developing and implementing the legal strategy aligned to business priorities, ensuring effective management of legal risk, sound legal governance, and compliance with applicable legislative and regulatory requirements. The role provides legal leadership across Home Loan products being Pension Backed Loans, Home Loans, Structured Loans, Single Facility and Securities Based Lending.

The Head of Legal acts as a trusted advisor to Executive Committees, governance forums and senior stakeholders, influencing strategic decision-making, supporting transformation initiatives, enabling sustainable business growth and promoting positive customer outcomes.

The role is responsible for leading a high-performing legal team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and maintaining constructive relationships with regulators, industry bodies and external legal service providers.

Are you someone who can:

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnering

• Develop and execute the legal strategy in support of business and Group objectives.
• Act as a strategic advisor to Executive Management and business leadership teams.
• Participate in strategic decision-making by identifying legal risks, opportunities and regulatory implications.
• Influence business strategy through commercially sound and pragmatic legal advice.
• Support growth initiatives, strategic partnerships, acquisitions, operating model changes and transformation programmes.
• Drive a proactive legal partnership model that enables business performance while maintaining sound legal governance.

Strategic Legal Advisory

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to Executive Committees and senior leadership.
• Provide proactive legal support on strategic initiatives, product development, digital innovation and distribution strategies.
• Interpret complex legislation and regulatory requirements and translate them into practical business solutions.
• Prepare legal opinions and legal guidance notes for Executive and Board decision-making.
• Advise on emerging legal and regulatory developments impacting the business.

Legal Risk Management

• Develop and maintain the legal risk framework for business areas within scope.
• Identify, assess and monitor legal risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Provide oversight of material legal risk exposures and escalation processes.
• Report significant legal matters through appropriate governance structures.
• Support the enterprise-wide risk management framework through effective legal risk management practices.
• Promote legal risk awareness and accountability throughout the organisation.

Regulatory & Legislative Advisory

Provide legal advice, guidance and interpretation relating to applicable legislation and regulatory frameworks, including:

• Deeds Registries Act, No. 47 of 1937
• Alienation of Land Act, No. 68 of 1969
• Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act
• Home Loan and Mortgage Disclosure Act
• Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956
• Financial Markets Act 19 of 2012
• Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
• Consumer Protection Act
• National Credit Act
• Companies Act
• Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS)
• Financial Sector Regulation Act
• Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998
• Currency and Exchanges Act
• Long Term Insurance Act
• Electronics Communications and Transactions Act
• Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA)
• Conduct Standards for Banks
• Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI)
• Electronic Communications and Transactions Act
• Competition Act
• Common Reporting Standard (CRS)
• Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
• Prudential Standards
• FSCA Conduct Standards

Conduct Risk & Customer Outcomes

• Provide legal oversight relating to customer outcomes and market conduct requirements.
• Support the integration of Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles across business activities.
• Advise on the legal implications of customer propositions, advice processes and product design.
• Review customer journeys, disclosures and communications to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Support conduct risk management and remediation initiatives.
• Promote positive customer outcomes through legally sound and customer-centric practices.

HSL Legal Support

Provide legal support relating to:

• Client acquisition and servicing strategies.
• Product development and innovation initiatives.
• Technology and digital platform
• Collections strategies
• Perfecting of Immovable and Movable security

Contract Management

Provide legal oversight and support relating to:

• Outsourcing arrangements.
• Strategic partnership agreements.
• Commercial and procurement contracts.
• Service level agreements.
• Supplier contracts.
• Confidentiality agreements.

Responsibilities include:

• Drafting.
• Reviewing.
• Negotiating.
• Approving.
• Standardising legal templates.
• Managing contractual and commercial legal risk.

Corporate Governance

• Ensure effective legal governance frameworks across the business.
• Support Executive Committees and governance forums on legal matters.
• Review and maintain legal governance standards and delegated authorities.
• Support policy development and governance enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with governance obligations and corporate governance best practice.
• Provide legal input into governance committee decision-making.

Regulatory Engagement

• Act as a key legal contact for regulatory authorities.
• Support regulatory engagements, inspections and inquiries.
• Manage legal aspects of regulatory interactions and submissions.
• Provide legal support during regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with relevant regulators and industry bodies.

This includes engagement with:

• National Financial Ombud Scheme South Africa (NFO)
• Information Regulator
• Competition Commission
• Other applicable regulatory authorities.

Litigation, Complaints & Dispute Resolution

• Manage litigation, disputes, complaints and legal recoveries.
• Oversee external legal counsel and litigation strategy.
• Support Ombud and regulatory matters.
• Manage legal costs and litigation expenditure.
• Drive timely resolution of legal disputes.
• Protect the organisation from legal and reputational risk.

Regulatory Change & Transformation

• Lead legal interpretation and implementation of regulatory reforms.
• Assess the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on the business.
• Support large-scale change and transformation programmes.
• Advise on legal considerations relating to new operating models and digital transformation.
• Drive legal readiness for regulatory change initiatives.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing legal team.
• Build legal capability aligned to future business requirements.
• Drive succession planning, talent management and employee development.
• Coach and mentor legal professionals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Promote diversity, inclusion and transformation objectives.
• Manage team performance and employee engagement.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage the legal function budget.
• Oversee external legal service provider expenditure.
• Ensure efficient utilisation of legal resources.
• Drive cost-effective legal service delivery.
• Monitor legal spend and identify opportunities for optimisation.

Stakeholder Management

Develop and maintain trusted relationships with:

• Executive Management
• Business Heads
• Risk Management
• Compliance
• Internal Audit
• Product Houses
• External Legal Counsel
• Industry Bodies
• Regulators

You will be an ideal candidate if you can have:

Minimum

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.

Preferred

• Postgraduate qualifications in Property Law, Commercial Law, Financial Services Law, Governance, Risk Management or a related field.
• Leadership or Executive Development qualification (advantageous).

Experience & Skills

• Minimum 10-15 years post-admission legal experience.
• Significant senior legal leadership experience within financial services.
• Experience supporting Executive Committees and governance forums.
• Experience in banking or financial services.
• Experience advising on financial services regulation and conduct requirements.
• Experience leading legal teams and managing external counsel.
• Experience supporting strategic business transformation initiatives.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic leadership.
• Commercial acumen.
• Legal risk management.
• Regulatory expertise.
• Corporate governance.
• Executive influence.
• Stakeholder management.
• Negotiation and influencing skills.
• Decision-making and judgment.
• Change leadership.
• People leadership and coaching.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Important Closing Date Note

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.