Head Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

About the role

The Head Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary will report directly to the CEO of FINCA Zambia and sit on the Management Board. The role provides strategic legal counsel to the subsidiary’s management and board, while overseeing corporate governance and ensuring compliance with banking and financial regulations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the subsidiary‑wide legal function, managing legal risk across banking, regulatory, compliance, employment, litigation and contract matters.
• Act as Corporate Secretary: schedule, prepare and minute Board, Shareholder and Committee meetings, ensure quorum, draft resolutions and maintain statutory registers.
• Advise senior management and the Board on legal aspects of decisions, authority limits and governance best practices.
• Identify legal risks, propose mitigation mechanisms and promote a culture of integrity and transparency.
• Oversee implementation of FINCA’s Code of Conduct and ensure adherence to all applicable laws and internal policies.
• Coordinate with FINCA Impact Finance on director appointments, removals and regulatory approvals.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer with extensive experience in banking, financial services or micro‑finance environments.
• Proven track record in corporate governance and acting as a company secretary.
• Strong understanding of Zambian commercial, labour and regulatory law.
• Ability to work at senior management level and influence board‑level decisions.

Required skills

• Legal risk assessment and mitigation.
• Corporate secretarial duties (meeting coordination, minute taking, statutory compliance).
• Regulatory compliance in the financial sector.
• Drafting legal documents, policies and contracts.