At Iress, we believe technology should help people perform better every day. Since our beginning in 1993, people across financial services have trusted us to take their performance to the next level. From the world’s most established financial brands to new and disruptive players, we help improve every aspect of our clients’ businesses so that they can work better, every day. Iress is one of Australia’s largest technology companies and employs more than 1,900 people across Australia, United Kingdom, Africa, Canada, France, New Zealand and Asia.
Role Purpose
As the Legal Counsel for Iress South Africa, you will be responsible for managing all legal matters impacting the business, ensuring compliance with government regulations, assisting with the mitigation of risks, and providing legal support across various company functions. Success in this role involves effectively advising on legal issues, coordinating with external counsel when necessary, and ensuring that all company activities adhere to legal standards and contractual obligations.
Your objectives and responsibilities will focus on…Advise the company on legal matters including regulatory compliance, data privacy, intellectual property, commercial contracts.
Prepare and review legal documents such as contracts, agreements, and policies to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to protect the company's interests and minimise exposure to risk. Provide legal guidance and support to stakeholders in contract negotiations, ensuring that contractual terms align with business objectives and legal requirements.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess legal implications of business decisions, provide timely legal advice, and support strategic initiatives.
Monitor changes in legislation, regulations, and industry trends relevant to the financial services and ICT sectors, and advise management on potential impacts and compliance requirements.
Manage external legal counsel and other professional advisors as needed, ensuring cost-effective and timely delivery of legal services.
Support the development and implementation of compliance programs, policies, and procedures to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
Assist in the resolution of legal disputes and litigation matters, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to achieve favourable outcomes.
Prepare and deliver training sessions to employees on legal and compliance matters, fostering a culture of awareness and accountability within the organisation.
Conducting regular risk assessments and maintaining risk registers in line with Iress global risk policy and framework. Collaboration with various departments to enable risk identification and proactive management thereof.
Support any M&A activity as required.
May be required to manage internal legal support employees.
Leadership responsibilities
Recruit, interview and select suitable candidates for open positions in your team
Onboard new starters
Manage the performance of team members
Set and monitor team objectives and Key Results
Provide continuous learning and development opportunities to team members
Ensure team members are engaged and motivated
To be successful in this role you will have…
Qualifications and Certifications
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized institution (required)
Additional certifications in areas such as compliance, risk management, or corporate law (advantageous)
Minimum of 5 years of experience in handling legal matters within a corporate environment (preferably in Fintech Industry), including some exposure to regulatory compliance and data protection, and demonstrated experience in commercial contracting
Professional Skills and Competencies
Legal Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of South African legal principles, regulations, and industry standards relevant to the Financial Services sector.
Compliance Management: Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements, develop compliance strategies, and implement compliance programs.
Contract Management and Negotiation: Proficient in drafting, negotiating, and reviewing complex client contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), and vendor agreements within the financial services industry. Skilled in identifying key terms and conditions, assessing legal risks, and negotiating favourable terms to protect the company's interests.
Risk Assessment: Strong analytical skills to identify and assess legal and business risks, and develop strategies to mitigate risks effectively.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate complex legal concepts and advice clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
Collaboration: Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to achieve legal and business objectives.
Operational Risk Management: Experienced in implementing operational risk management frameworks and controls to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with client contracts and SLAs. Skilled in developing processes and procedures to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and minimise operational disruptions.
Process Improvement and Compliance Automation: Innovative thinker with a focus on implementing process improvements and automation solutions to enhance compliance with client contracts and SLAs. Skilled in leveraging technology and workflow tools to streamline contract management processes, improve efficiency, and reduce manual errors.
Problem-Solving: Resourcefulness and critical thinking skills to address legal challenges and find creative solutions that align with business goals.
People Leadership Competencies
Coaches others to find solutions to problems
Establishes connections with team members
Supports the development and growth of team members
Communicates effectively with team members and across teams/departments
Values diversity and creates inclusive team environment
Remains calm and guides team members through change
Makes decisions effectively and timeously
Holds team members accountable to meet performance standards
Empowers team members to think creatively and follow through on innovative ideas
Creates a clear strategy for achieving team goals and aligning team members to team objectives
Understands challenges in the team and has the technical knowledge to guide and remove barriers
Why work with us?8 paid days per year to extend your weekends.
State-of-the-art offices
Annual Profit Share when Iress meets its annual profit targets
Casual dress, flexible work policy
Access to learning and development programs through Udemy
3 days’ leave per year for charity initiatives
Global 36-hour hackathon
Starting school leave - 8.5 days of leave to assist your kids with the transition to school
Life Insurance & Private Medical
Up to 26 weeks’ paid parental leave for primary carers (up to 4 weeks for secondary carers), and the ability to work part-time when returning to work