Legal Associate

Spartan Background

Explore Spartan’s culture and the impact you’d make in funding SMEs to grow - view our Careers page.

The Fit - You & Spartan

Spartan SME Finance focuses exclusively on established SMEs - we are changing South Africa one SME at a time and need people who believe that inclusive growth can happen through helping SMEs grow. If you are looking to help us grow SMEs and build our SA - then you are the right person.

Spartan opened in 1981 and provides financing that backs entrepreneurs. This is done by adopting a structured finance approach that incorporates an intimate understanding of both the jockey [entrepreneur] and their business [SME].

We value a person with truthful candid talk, creativity, curiosity, conscientiousness and an obsession towards holistic learning & growth.

We’re more effective as a team that works closely together and engages with its customers and stakeholders, face-to-face - consequently we are entirely office based [i.e. no work-from-home mode].

Purpose of the Role

Legal Associate with commercial litigation experience, for our internal legal department.

To join the existing internal legal department in fulfilling the legal function in transaction execution, post-transaction monitoring and recoveries.

Job Description

Legal Associate with commercial litigation experience, for our internal legal department.

Spartan requires a Legal Associate to fulfil the legal function in transaction execution, post-transaction monitoring and project management for recoveries.

This is NOT a regulatory compliance role.

Project managing commercial recovery matters, internally and in conjunction with external legal advisors (from initiating action legal action to full receipt of funds)

Reviewing including drafting affidavits and other court papers

Assisting with the vetting of the terms and conditions of new finance transactions from a legal perspective prior to the Credit Committee approving a deal

Draft Term Sheets, ensuring they encapsulate the terms of the credit approval and perform general administration in respect of the facility agreement preparations and finalisation

Drafting legal agreements and related documents from standard templates (e.g. Loan Agreements, Pledge and Cession Agreements, Guarantees, etc.)

Instructing attorneys to attend to the registration of securities (e.g. mortgage bonds, special notarial bonds, etc.)

Liaising with colleagues regarding conditions, implementation and execution of deals

Ensuring compliance with all other conditions of a deal prior to disbursing funds on a deal

General monitoring of loan portfolio for loan covenants, monitoring and payment defaults

Provide legal advice and services to the organisation in corporate and commercial matters

Attend to queries from credit analyst team, operations and clients, providing legal expertise to the Credit Committee

To ensure that all client documents are up to date and signed off correctly and all required information is loaded onto the system

This is NOT a regulatory compliance role.

Required Qualifications

Admitted Attorney

Law Degree

3-5 years post articles work experience

Desired Skills

Robust

Self-Starter

Tenacious

Problem solver, with street wise sense

EQ - (Self-awareness, Self-management, reading the room and managing the room)

Discernment

Obsessive about controlling documentation - understands the impact of incorrect paperwork

Attention to detail

Organized & professional work ethic

Ability to take initiative and learn quickly

Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)

Comfortable in engaging with customers at all levels

Comfortable dealing with conflict and litigation related to recoveries

Techno Savvy

Remuneration

Commensurate with market and years’ experience

Application Requirements

CV

Motivation Letter

Industry

Financial Services

Employment Type

Full Time, Onsite (No Remote)