Legal Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary, Banking Sector

The Legal Counsel – Banking Sector provides legal services across ANSA Bank, ANSA Merchant Bank, ANSA Merchant Bank (Barbados), and ANSA Wealth Management. Duties include contracts, transactions, regulation, IP, debt recovery, and governance support. Reports to Head of Legal & Corporate Secretary.

Legal Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary, Banking Sector

Functional Assignment

The Legal Counsel – Banking Sector is responsible for providing legal advice and services to the sector as constituted from time to time, including but not limited to ANSA Bank Limited, ANSA Merchant Bank Limited, ANSA Merchant Bank (Barbados) Limited, and ANSA Wealth Management Limited in connection with all aspects of the companies' operations. This includes contract drafting and negotiation, transaction management, regulatory advice, intellectual property, and debt recovery.

In addition, as Assistant Corporate Secretary, the role will support the Corporate Secretaries of the entities in the Banking Sector in ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance. Responsibilities include assisting with Board and Committee administration, maintaining statutory records, ensuring regulatory filings are completed accurately and on time, and facilitating effective communication and decision-making between the Board, management, and shareholders.

The Legal Counsel – Banking Sector will report to the Head of Legal & Corporate Secretary, who may modify or change duties and responsibilities based on prevailing organizational needs and/or business conditions within the ANSA McAL Group.

Legal Counsel Duties:

• Provide professional legal services by analyzing and advising on legal, regulatory, and reputational issues affecting products and services.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, assessing and mitigating risks associated with commercial arrangements.
• Assist in the formulation and implementation of policy in response to new regulations and guidelines impacting the Banking Sector.
• Oversee debt recovery, litigation, contentious matters, and settlement negotiations to achieve beneficial commercial outcomes.
• Provide support on legal due diligence exercises and advise on M&A legal and regulatory issues.
• Assist in managing external counsel relationships, including compliance with Outside Counsel Guidelines.
• Prepare and deliver legal training as needed to commercial teams.
• Develop and maintain the legal contract template database, ensuring best practice.
• Conduct legal research and provide legal and regulatory advice in support of commercial objectives.
• Liaise with Internal Audit, Audit Committee, and external auditors, providing legal assistance as needed.

Assistant Corporate Secretary Duties:

• Support the Corporate Secretary in preparing agendas, notices, Board and Committee papers, and minutes in compliance with statutory and governance requirements.
• Maintain statutory registers and records, ensuring compliance with the Companies Act and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Coordinate timely regulatory filings to ensure statutory compliance.
• Facilitate effective communication and information flows between the Board, Committees, and management.
• Assist with the induction and training of Directors, and maintain records of Director and Officer disclosures, conflicts of interest, and fit-and-proper requirements.
• Provide oversight, guidance, and delegation of tasks to the Corporate Governance Assistant.
• Support the Corporate Secretary in implementing and monitoring corporate governance frameworks, Board evaluations, and best practice initiatives.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor of Laws Degree.
• Eligible to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago with at least eight (8) years post-qualification experience.
• Experience in banking and finance law, with proven exposure to financial services regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience in corporate governance, particularly supporting Boards and Committees in a regulated environment.
• Master of Laws (LLM) or other advanced legal qualification (asset).
• Eligibility to practice law in Barbados (asset)

Business & Technical Skills / Core Competencies:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong ability to assess, anticipate, and manage legal, regulatory, and governance risks in alignment with strategic objectives.
• In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations, and best practices governing the banking and financial services sector.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment with integrity and ethical standards in complex situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for clear and persuasive documentation.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills; able to build collaborative relationships across all levels and with regulators, advisors, and counterparties.
• Effective influencing and advisory skills for Boards, Committees, and senior management.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.