With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.
Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!
Employee Contract Type:
Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)
Job Description:
Overview
VisionFund Tanzania is owned by VisionFund International, World Vision’s microfinance subsidiary. VisionFund International is differentiated by its integrated approach in working with World Vision’s community-based development efforts to address rural poverty. VisionFund Tanzania (VFT) is currently the fourth largest and the most rapidly growing Microfinance Institution (MFI) in Tanzania. It also has the highest quality portfolio, some of the most efficient operations (second lowest cost per borrower) and is solidly self-sustainable.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Legal, Governance and Recovery will provide corporate governance expertise and legal advisory services to the institution; and maintain secretarial records for the Bank. The successful individual will also help in embedding best practice in corporate governance within the Bank. Finally, they will be responsible to facilitate Board and Board Sub-Committee Meetings, provide oversight and legal support on the recovery of non-performing loans (NPLs).
Key Responsibilities
Corporate Governance
- Provide Secretarial services into Board Meetings, Board Committee Meetings, Board Agendas and Meeting Packs to ensure good Corporate Governance.
- Ensure that minutes of Shareholders/Board Meetings and Committees are timely and correctly recorded, prepared and distributed to the relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure the accurate and timely reporting of Board and Committee proceedings and the appropriate preparation of Board and Committee papers.
- Ensure that Board decisions and instructions are clearly communicated to the relevant persons and authorities.
- Assist with the induction, orientation, training and education of new and existing Directors of the Board.
- Provide expertise, advice and support, in relation to the Companies Act, to the Board and Executive Management.
- Ensure that appropriate guidelines, procedures and processes are in place to promote compliance with the Companies Act, Corporate Governance and other related requirements.
- Ensure that the Board and relevant Committees' charters and terms of reference are relevant and updated.
- Arrange Board and Committee meetings as required by law, Company Policies and Corporate Governance requirements.
- Support with Board Secretarial Correspondences, collate information and write reports, ensure decisions made are communicated to relevant stakeholders and authorities.
- Provide Directors collectively and individually with detailed guidance on duties, responsibilities, powers, matters of ethics and Good Governance as required.
Legal Advisory Services and Litigation
- Provide advice to the Bank on the implementation and training needs relating to emerging and new legislations and regulations. Recovery Operations Contracts and Agreements Review Adherence to policies and procedures. Manage Legal Risks and Controls Children and Adult Safeguarding. Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities Required Qualifications and Experience Applicant Types Accepted: Local Applicants Only
- Development of strategies to protect the Company against potential losses arising from legal issues (legal suits) and contractual obligations.
- Advise Directors and Management on Relevant Laws, Regulations and Agreements affecting the Bank.
- Provide legal advice to the business relating to legal complaints as well as project support.
- Represent the Bank in court sessions in the cases instituted against the Bank
- Initiate Legal Proceedings on behalf of the Bank.
- Attend to litigation matters and ensure that the Bank’s interests are served and protected.
- Handle all staff labor related matters and represent VFT-MFB when required in lawsuits, legal process, mediation & arbitration.
- Provide effective and timely legal advice to the Bank
- Oversee the work of the Recovery Manager and Recovery officers and interns.
- Ensures efficient performance of the recovery team as per set performance targets.
- Develop and implement recovery strategies for delinquent and written-off accounts.
- Ensure all recovery efforts are in line with regulatory and legal requirements.
- Oversee the auction/selling of recovered collaterals in collaboration with the Debt Collectors.
- Oversee the recruitment and monitoring the work of Debt Collectors.
- Evaluate the cost-benefit of various recovery methods (settlements, restructuring, litigation).
- Ensure accurate provisioning for bad debts in collaboration with finance and risk teams.
- Recommend write-offs or restructurings when necessary.
- Effective managing and minimizing credit losses
- Drafting of Contracts and Agreements on behalf of the Bank
- Reviewing Contracts and Agreements on behalf of the Bank
- Ensure that a healthy library of Contracts and Service Level Agreements is maintained within the Bank.
- Vetting of contracts and ensuring that the Bank’s policies and BOT Regulations are adhered to in respect of the inception of contracts and Agreements.
- Custodian of Contracts and MoUs with suppliers, Vendors and Partners.
- Timely Review of Contracts and Agreements.
- Carry out periodical reviews of Laws, Regulations and Directives of the Central Bank and give advice to the Management.
- Ensure that the institution is compliant with the BOT regulations and other relevant Regulatory Authorities.
- Maintain a good rapport between the Bank and the Central Bank/other Regulatory Authorities.
- Manages Legal Risks on a day-to-day basis, which includes monitoring and reporting to relevant levels of Governance Structures.
- Identifies Legal Control weaknesses and corrective action is implemented, including the evaluation of cost-effective solutions to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
- Participate in relevant meetings, identify and inform on the Company’s risks in accordance with statutory & legal requirements and recommend appropriate action.
- Embeds a culture of consciousness and transparency for legal risk management and ensures that the nature and size of risks are well understood.
- Effective Management of Legal Risks
- Provide Strategic leadership in Safeguarding.
- Ensure Safeguarding Policy is contextualized and adhered to by staff and affiliates.
- Initiate Safeguarding Capacity building and awareness.
- Serve as contact person for WVI Safeguarding on Safeguarding Incidence Management.
- Coordinate frequently with the VFI Safeguarding Advisor for ongoing mentoring.
- Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) and Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB), Finance, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Economics or Business Administration.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law School of Tanzania
- Practicing Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and courts subordinates thereto
- At least 5 years Legal Practice Experience in the banking industry, particularly in credit, collections, risk management, or legal recovery.
- Litigation Experience
- Corporate Governance Experience
- Administrative Experience
- Drafting Experience
- Proven ability to interact at Senior levels of an Organization
- Excellence interpersonal counseling & problem-solving skill
- Proficient in Microsoft office applications, very good communication skills
- Ability to conduct training on various microfinance best practices, management and related matters
- Capability and willingness to take responsibility and highly developed sense of reliability and correctness
- Strong writing, analytical & communication skills
- Must be a self-starter, highly motivated, organized, and detail-oriented
- Committed Christian and committed to the values of World Vision/VisionFund
