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Job Title:   Legal Officer/Company Secretary  

Organisation: Hofokam Limited

Duty Station:  Head Office/Fort Portal Uganda

Reports To:     Chief Executive Officer

About US:

Hofokam Limited is one of the largest Microfinance Institutions operating in Western Uganda with its head office at Fortportal City. Hofokam’s mission is to provide quality and competitive financial services to households to enable them to realise their goals, with a vision to be the preferred partner of vibrant and economically empowered households in Uganda.

As an equal opportunity employer, we invite qualified candidates to apply for the job being advertised below.

Job Summary:  The Legal Officer/Company Secretary is responsible for planning, directing, managing, and controlling all legal matters of the Institution and; ensures compliance with internal as well as external corporate governance and legal requirements to enable the Institution to achieve its strategic objectives.

The company secretary plays an important role in supporting the effectiveness of the board by ensuring that board policy and procedures are followed, and coordinating the timely completion and despatch of board agenda and briefing material. It is important that all directors have access to the company secretary. The Legal Officer /Company Secretary works closely with the executive and senior leadership teams, gaining exposure to business operations and strategy development, business planning and execution, and corporate governance issues.

Working Relationships

The legal officer/Company Secretary is a senior officer in the organization and internally, deals with board members, Executive Management, Branch Managers including staff at a lower level and externally deals with Courts of Judicature, Company Registries, External Advocates,UMRA and other statutory agencies.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Company Secretary:

The company secretary shall have a pivotal role in corporate governance by executing the following duties:-

• Issuing notices of the Board and general meetings to the Directors and shareholders respectively.
• Taking minutes of the board meetings and general meetings.
• Countersigning company documents with the Directors of the company.
• Making the statutory filings of the company at the Companies Registry.
• Keeping the company’s statutory books and registers.
• Preparing and reviewing Board papers for quality assurance purposes for Board and Board Committee meetings.
• Keeping management and the Board abreast on key legal issues affecting the financial industry in general and Hofokam and respond to queries and requests of Management and Board members with regard to areas to do with current and future legislation.
• Providing detailed practical support and guidance including relevant corporate governance guidelines
• The company secretary is mandated to provide directors individually and collectively with detailed guidance on discharging their responsibilities.
• Assisting the Board chairperson and the chief executive officer in setting the annual board plan;
• Administering other strategic board level matters,
• Coordinate and participate in the induction of directors;
• Providing a central source of guidance on ethics and good governance;
• Preparing action reports for the Board on the Progress of implementation of Board decisions.
• Advising Management and the Board of Directors on Compliance with all legal requirements pertaining to Hofokam’s operations and the consequences of non-compliance.

Legal Support to Business Operations:

• Oversee the registration of Hofokam’s interest on all collateral pledged for credit facilities by staff and customers and to ensure the perfection of securities.
• Oversee the verification of the securities documents to be charged in favour of Hofokam and ensure that the same are enforceable.
• Provide legal opinion and guidance to Hofokam in the preparation and review of contracts with third parties.
• Represent the interests of Hofokam in the courts of law and other fora.
• Provide legal advisory services to all matters of a legal nature such as; new legislation, internal policies and procedures and monitor whether Hofokam is operating according to applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain a balance of impartiality and fairness while promoting compliance excellence. Personal integrity is of the utmost importance in this role as a legal officer/Company Secretary.
• Promote ethical conduct and compliance with rules, regulations
• Provide periodic (Monthly) progress reports to the CEO on litigation matters and chances of recovery of outstanding loan facilities.
• Any other work that may be assigned by Executive Management/Board members and mutually agreed upon by both parties.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Safe custody and recording of the Board minutes.
• Safe custody of securities documents of the Institution.
• Timely distribution of agendas, minutes and resolutions of the Board and Management to the concerned parties.
• Sound counsel to the Board of Directors and management.
• Timely completion of all legal documents/contracts.
• Timely completion of mortgages and registration of the Institution’s interest with various authorities for perfection of securities.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Law-LLB from a recognized University; Post graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and an enrolled advocate of the High Court of Uganda.
• A valid Practicing Certificate.
• Added Advantages: Master’s degree in law or Business Administration; Professional secretarial qualifications such as ICSA.
• 5+years’s post-qualification experience three (3) of which are in the financial services sector and commercial law
• Demonstrated experience in litigation and knowledge in managing company legal matters.
• Contemporary knowledge in meeting procedures, creating and setting agendas and drafting minutes using Microsoft office programs or related software.
• Ability to build effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders – both internally and externally
• Strong commercial and business acumen
• Strong communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively on legal matters applying a commercial perspective
• Relevant legal and regulatory knowledge of the microfinance sector, company’s act, financial and accounting best practices, taxation and employment laws.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Age: 30-45 Years.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified candidates please send your application with certified copies of academic and professional certificates, a CV, postal address, daytime telephone contact, names and details of at least three (3) referees. Deliver them physically or use the following email address: hr@hofokam.co.ug to The Chief Executive Officer

Deadline:  31^st January 2022

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