Wac Senior Legal Counsel

Job Mission

Ensuring compliance with applicable Laws and regulations within ECCBC WAC and seeking to establish an appropriate coordination of the legal practices followed by the ECCBC Group, all within the framework of fulfilling the corporate interest and supporting a long-term business strategy that avoids legal risks and inefficiencies in the implementation of business decisions.

Implementing ECCBC WAC’s daily legal work according to applicable Laws, KO standards and ECCBC internal policies. Ensuring implementation of developments in the legal, regulatory and compliance environment, being fully committed to legal & compliance awareness and training within ECCBC WAC. Identifying gaps and/or legal risk exposure in contracts and operations as well as developing and implementing strong systems of control.

Activities

• Supervise and coordinate the advice to all ECCBC WAC departments on legal issues.
• Manage and supervise the establishment of policies that minimize legal risks, under the supervision of Group legal and compliance department.
• Collaborate in the implementation in ECCBC WAC of the Legal Policies of ECCBC Group.
• Supervise and Manage interactions with Public Administrations (Foreign Exchange, Licenses, Customs, import / export, Investment declarations, tax agency notifications etc.)
• Supervise and manage the design of the main strategic points to be adopted before a court in case of trials (in coordination with external lawyers), under the supervision of Group legal department when it comes to strategic trials.
• Search, control, supervision and coordination of best-in-class external legal advisors in West African Countries.
• Manage and supervise the control of all legal documentation that affects ECCBC WAC and ECCBC.
• Safeguard the sensitive and confidential documentation of the company.
• Know and understand local legislation to ensure a proper and diligent fulfillment of all Laws applicable to ECCBC WAC.
• To supervise the formulation and approval of annual accounts.
• Manage and Supervise all requests for contracts.
• Advice, review, and validation of documents related to financing operations of ECCBC WAC, including intercompany operations (within ECCBC Group) and operations with local authorities.
• Manage and Supervise the channeling of claims that affect ECCBC WAC.
• Manage ECCBC WAC legal secretariat, under the supervision of Group Legal Department.
• Management and keeping of the Corporate Books, preparation of minutes and company certificates, annual accounts, etc.
• Manage the archiving of legal documents.
• Put in place legal operational process, under the supervision of Group Legal department.
• Review and approve all legal documents before the signing of the ECCBC WAC legal representatives.
• Manage the different providers of external legal services (notaries, official registers, etc.) of ECCBC WAC.
• Supporting ECCBC Group Compliance function in WAC.
• Organize, classify, structure and update all the legal documentation of ECCBC WAC, with the aim of providing a complete and updated view of the same to the ECCBC Legal Department.
• Support and act as a link between the ECCBC HQ Legal & Compliance Department and ECCBC WAC.
• Full reporting on ECCBC WAC legal operations to Legal department.

EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER SPECIFIC TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

• Law Degree
• Master’s degree in law.
• Additional Master’s or certified training in Finance and auditing is valuable.
• Training in compliance and risk management programs is very valuable.
• Languages : high level of English, Good level of French, Portuguese/Spanish desirable

AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:

• Between seven (7) years and ten (10) years of proven track experience as staff attorney in multinationals, preferably in FMCG business, including experience in law firms/BIG Four consultants (between 2 and 4 years minimum).
• Good knowledge of OHADA regulations.
• Ability to develop legal strategies and objectives.
• Proactive legal partner.
• Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and to “see around the corner”.
• Knowledge of commercial, corporate and financial law.
• High level of professional ethics, integrity and empathy.
• With strong leadership, analytical skills, influence skills, and strong verbal and written communication.

Other skills :

• Strong Analytical skills
• Team player
• Results oriented
• Proactive and Internal client focus oriented
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Independently minded, and able to constructively challenge the status quo.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively in a multi – operating unit, multi-cultural environment;
• Passion for service
• Autonomy

Business Enablers

• Self-leadership
• Collaborative Leadership
• Cross Cultural mindset
• Customer Orientation
• Drive for Results
• Strategic Thinking

Business Capabilities

• Strong analytical skills
• Solid business acumen
• Project Management skills
• Influential skills
• Open minded and change oriented

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