Our client is a well-established financial markets institution in Kenya, offering critical post-trade services to investors and market participants. They are seeking to hire a Manager, Legal, Risk and Compliance to anchor the organisation's legal integrity, regulatory standing, and enterprise risk agenda.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this pivotal role sits at the intersection of legal counsel, regulatory compliance, and risk governance — bridging the gap between the corporation's operational realities and the evolving demands of Kenya's capital markets regulatory landscape.
The core purpose of this role is to ensure the organisation operates within a robust legal and compliance framework while proactively managing risk across all divisions. The Manager, Legal, Risk and Compliance will align legal strategy, regulatory affairs, data protection, and policy development with the organisation's strategic objectives — equipping leadership with the clear, well-grounded guidance needed to navigate an increasingly complex and regulated capital markets environment.
Job Responsibilities
Legal Affairs
- Guide the Board and Management in the interpretation of capital markets laws, regulations, rules, and guidelines.
- Coordinate and manage external legal counsel engaged to provide legal services to the organisation.
- Provide leadership for internal legal support across all projects and divisions.
- Oversee key legal processes relating to drafting, negotiations, and commercial settlement agreements.
- Review all contracts and documentation to assess legal implications and escalate matters requiring Executive Committee attention.
- Review and modify contractual instruments to assist and support various business activities.
- Ensure updated records of all legal information and data, and safeguard legal documents and contracts.
- Provide legal advice and research on matters concerning the organisation and the broader capital markets.
- Monitor and manage outstanding litigation in liaison with external lawyers.
- Provide and interpret legal information, conduct training, and disseminate appropriate legal requirements to staff.
Regulatory Affairs
- Ensure all regulatory obligations under relevant laws and requirements of regulatory authorities are met and maintained.
- Coordinate the preparation and filing of regulatory documents and submissions.
- Develop and disseminate materials on legislative developments to senior leadership and relevant policymakers.
- Interpret regulatory rule changes and ensure they are embedded into corporate policies and procedures.
- Advise project teams on regulatory requirements and determine the types of regulatory submissions or internal documentation required.
- Oversee the compilation and maintenance of regulatory documentation, databases, and systems.
- Maintain the organisation's positive image and identity through the development and implementation of progressive corporate communication strategies.
- Direct the activities of external agencies and departments that develop and implement communication strategies and information programs for the organisation.
- Coordinate the organisation's relationships with regional and international partners.
Legal & Regulatory Compliance
- Manage and supervise control systems to ensure compliance with the Capital Markets Act, Central Depositories Act, and all regulations issued thereunder.
- Develop strategies to prevent violations of legal rules and internal policies, including monitoring compliance with all operational and procedural manuals.
- Provide guidance in the preparation of internal policies to ensure alignment with relevant laws.
- Design and implement frameworks for monitoring compliance by Central Depository Agents with applicable rules and regulations.
- Prepare and submit periodic compliance reports to the Board, including reports on material regulatory breaches.
- Spearhead the settlement and arbitration of disputes to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Ensure the organisation complies with government regulations and company policies applicable to the capital markets industry.
- Keep the organisation informed of new and upcoming regulatory developments.
- Oversee staff in the performance of their compliance duties, identifying corrective and preventive actions to mitigate potential or actual non-compliance risks.
Risk Management
- Develop, maintain, and implement strategies and annual plans for risk management and related activities.
- Review and maintain policies, procedures, and annual plans for risk across all divisions.
- Oversee and monitor the implementation of the risk framework throughout the organisation, including risk assessments, control environment evaluations, and action plans.
- Report on risk matters to senior management, the Audit and Risk Committee, and external stakeholders as required.
- Ensure risk assessments are undertaken, including analysis and reporting on exposures, control breaches, new developments, and related action plans.
- Identify and communicate industry developments and changes in best practice for risk management.
- Provide guidance, training, and educational programs to embed business understanding of risk management across staff and key stakeholders.
Policy Development
- Provide leadership in the development and implementation of policy priorities and strategy alongside Executive Committee members.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to build and maintain relationships with key policymakers and influencers.
- Review and advise management on the legal implications of internal policies and procedures.
- Ensure all contracts, agreements, and internal policies comply with statutory and legal requirements.
- Conduct or commission research on policy issues as necessary.
Data Protection
- Advise management and employees on data processing requirements under the Data Protection Act 2019 and any other applicable legislation.
- Ensure the organisation complies with the Data Protection Act 2019 both as a Data Controller and a Data Processor.
- Facilitate capacity building for staff involved in data processing operations.
- Advise on data protection impact assessments.
- Cooperate with the Data Commissioner and relevant authorities on all data protection matters.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Law from a recognised university.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
- Relevant Master's degree from a recognised university will be an added advantage.
- At least seven (7) years of relevant working experience, of which at least three (2) years must be in a supervisory capacity.
Professional Qualifications
- Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
- Member of the Law Society of Kenya.
- Certified Public Secretary (CPS).
Key Competencies & Skills
- Strong ability to draft, review, and interpret legal documents and instruments.
- Sound knowledge of risk analysis and compliance within diverse regulatory environments.
- Familiarity with capital markets regulation, including the rules and regulations governing Kenya's capital markets ecosystem, will be a distinct advantage.
- Training and skills in continuous capital markets regulation and development will be an added advantage.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to mediate and facilitate dispute resolution.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of privileged information with absolute discretion and sensitivity.
- Capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to continuous professional development and keeping abreast of evolving industry trends.
- Positive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented attitude.
