Legal Head

About the role

FirstRand is hiring a Legal Head, based in Randburg. Hello Future Legal Head 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.