Legal Officer at Advans Ghana Savings and Loans Limited

Advans is a leading microfinance group established in 2005. Advans mission is to respond to the need for financial services of small businesses and other populations who have ill-adapted, limited or no access to formal financial services. The Advans Group currently spans nine countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tunisia and Myanmar. As at end October 2019, the group served more than 1,000,000 clients and employed more than 7,300 staff. Headquartered in Luxembourg with support services in Paris, the group’s shareholders are EIB, KfW, FMO, CDC Group plc, FISEA (AFD Group) and IFC.

Advans Ghana, subsidiary of the international microfinance group Advans, started its activities in 2008. The institution offers a full range of adapted financial products and services to micro, small and medium sized enterprises in Ghana. The institution serves more than 64,000 clients through a network of 20 points of sale and over 650 employees.

Job Description

• To manage all legal functions of the institution.
• To supervise and coordinate the operations of the Institution’s legal and Associates legal issues.
• To ensure the Institution is provided a good and sound legal framework to achieve its objectives.
• To manage all court cases.
• To provide analysis and counsel on legal and policy issues.
• To ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• To perfect legal documents.
• To manage the secretarial duties for the Board of Directors and Shareholders.
• To appoint and manage external lawyers.
• To manage recovery risks.

• Provide analysis and counsel on legal and policy issues. These may include:

1. Proposed new products
2. Protecting intellectual property
3. Financial offerings, financial structuring, securities offerings, compliance issue, non-disclosure agreements, outsourcing agreements and business strategic planning.

• Review contracts between the Institution and other bodies.
• Review contracts between the Institution and other bodies.
• Advise Management on legal issues and ensuring that the rights of the clients are protected
• Manage the Institution’s charged off loans and non- performing assets
• Manage all vehicle transfers and/or registrations for all branches.
• Provide legal counsel to recover outstanding debts from defaulting Customers.
• Conduct and coordinate research into a variety of legal issues.
• Undertake credit appraisals of customers.
• Examine newly published laws, acts and regulations and ascertaining how these affect the institution’s business.
• Perfecting of legal documentation.
• Develop and recommend operating policy and procedural improvements.
• Prepare and create legal contracts on behalf of the Institution and representing the client in various legal proceedings.
• Review and draft contracts, agreements and internal policies and ensure that they are in compliance with all statutory or legal requirements.
• Participate in relevant committee meetings such as disciplinary, credit, loan review etc.
• Ensure the recovery procedures are applied by the Recovery unit and the branch network
• Check the defaulting client’s files that come in for completeness and to take actions to improve their quality if needed (missing or unsigned documents)
• Take concerted decisions with Branch Managers on which clients and guarantors to seize – decisions based on different criteria (passing of Event of Default deadline, payment history, respect or breach of contract)
• Ensure an effective recovery set up for the operations of the company
• Manage the Relationship with valuers and auctioneers and ensure Advans Ghana obtains the returns it deserves.
• Develop comprehensive reports for external lawyers should we have to go to court
• Where necessary liaise with relevant departments to ensure that legal risks have been identified, appropriate courses of action have been taken.
• Review progress of outstanding litigation.

• Initiating court proceedings against Clients
• Representing the Company in court/police stations on cases initiated by client or service providers
• Follow up with government agencies
• Company Secretarial duties
• Liaising with Recovery Department to perform legally sound recovery
• Meeting with defaulters
• Manage and reduce legal risks
• Manage the legal department
• Advising on legal issues

• Challenges with Court Bailiffs/Officers
• Challenges with Government agencies and officials
• Challenges with Departments
• Challenges with Branches

Required Skills or Experience

• Minimum of a first degree in Law, a Professional Law certificate. A Master’s degree in Law will be an added advantage.
• At least four (4) years post call experience preferably in a financial institution