Company Profile

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

Purpose of the job
The assistant legal officer is a corporate officer who assists the Legal Officer to handle the legal affairs of the institution.. The assistant legal officer will work with other legal staff to address the internal and external legal concerns of Advans Ghana. This professional must have superb legal skills and discipline to keep the institution functioning and out of legal trouble.

Activities/Duties

• Assist the Legal Counsel and Company Secretary generally in providing proactive legal advice and assistance to the Institution.
• Hold Brief for and on behalf of the Legal Officer and Company Secretary in Court
• Undertake such company secretarial duties as are assigned by the Legal Officer andCompany Secretary.
• Ensure that good record keeping practices are observed and that all documents are properly retained in the department.
• Build good relationships with those of equivalent level and more senior in other functions and with external advisers and government bodies. As an administrator, he must promote strong relationships with partners and clients of the corporation, acting as a liaison between partners and work groups.
• Make significant contributions in ensuring that all the department’s internal and external stakeholders receive excellent service delivery thereby ensuring that the legal department effectively partners all the departments and branches.
• Ensure compliance with statutory obligations and advise Legal Officer and Company Secretary accordingly
• Drawing up and submitting major contracts, agreements and other legal documents as directed by the Legal officer
• The Assistant Legal officer may prepare and monitors budgets and expenditures on certain projects and activities of the units
• The assistant legal officer must research different information to make sure the institution is acting in accord with all applicable laws of the country

Interpersonal Relations

• Internal relations: Branch staff / Head Office department
• External relations: Prospects / Clients
• Supervises: Administrative assistant, Legal

Career Path

• Horizontal mobility:
  • Head of Units/ Steerco
• Vertical mobility (within the same function): Branch Manager
  • Staff of the same level

Required Skills or Experience

• A minimum of LLB qualification
• Qualified to work as a legal practitioner in Ghana.
• Must possess a minimum of 1 year post qualification experience within the industry
• Savings and Loans company or its equivalent as lawyer.
• Good knowledge and appreciation of Ghana laws and labor related issues
• Strong decision making skills
• Excellent oral and presentation skills
• Strong, analytical, drafting and negotiating skills.
• Open and outward looking attitude.
• Strong inter-personal/communication skills.
• Ability to work confidently and stand ground with more senior managers.