Legal & Regulatory Associate – Francophone.

Description
Company Summary
AZA Finance is an established provider of currency trading and cross-border payment solutions which accelerate global access to frontier markets through an innovative infrastructure. By leveraging cutting edge technology in our flagship products, AZA can significantly lower the cost and increase the speed of business payments to, from and across frontier markets.
Our API product provides both wholesale currency purchase and retail settlement via our robust API while our Web-Based platform is our B2B over-the-counter product that caters to businesses with wholesale currency needs, especially those paying partners and suppliers.
Our partners utilize our hybrid financial infrastructure and deep local knowledge to manage liquidity and send payments to dozens of bank networks, mobile money operators and payments aggregators across Africa. Licensed by the UK’s FCA and the Bank of Spain, AZA is a market-maker in every major African currency. AZA was founded in 2013 and now has offices in Nairobi, Lagos, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Kampala and Dakar.

Job Summary
As the Legal Associate, you play a crucial role in supporting the legal functions of the organization. Your responsibilities include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and providing assistance in various legal matters. Collaborating closely with legal teams and stakeholders, you ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. So, we’re looking for an empathetic young leader, with the relevant experience and skills, to help maintain and build the vision for excellent standards in the legal department, and to instill a customer-centric culture at AZA.
This is an exciting opportunity to help take Africa’s leading digital FX company to the next level.
This role will be based in Senegal, Dakar.


Responsibilities
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, understanding local regulation, mitigating legal risk and reporting to applicable local Authorities.
• Conducting ad hoc legal research
• Assisting with drafting, reviewing and approving of letters, contracts, internal policies/procedures and other legal documents etc
• Assisting in the creation, collation and regular updating of legal reports/files
• Creating presentations and spreadsheets
• Arranging meetings, preparing/updating agendas for meetings and taking notes during meetings
• Assisting with statutory filings globally for compliance and corporate matters etc
• Maintaining current knowledge of legislative amendments and regulatory updates relevant to the business in the applicable jurisdictions
• Assisting in preparation of training materials as well as presentations to internal stakeholders e.g. other teams and the Board
• Assisting with the updating of template agreements
• Working closely with the Head of Legal on specific projects including preparing corporate governance documents and assisting with the dissolution of entities
• Liaising with work colleagues, internal/external stakeholders, external lawyers, regulators and other third parties locally and abroad
• Assisting in the general ad hoc day to day legal work
• Handling correspondence


Requirements
• Bilingual in French and English
• Experience as Legal Counsel, financial and commercial law specifically.
• Minimum of 3 years PQE experience.
• Willingness and eagerness to learn multiple aspects of the business, devising innovative solutions to complex legal problems.
• Good knowledge of financial regulation in WEAMU and CEMAC region.
• Good knowledge of data protection, intellectual property, banking and contract law in OHADA, WAEMU, CEMAC region.
• Experience in litigation in OHADA, WEAMU and CEMAC region.
• Experience drafting contracts, understanding regulation, mitigating legal risk and reporting to Authorities.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills, meeting deadlines to meet stakeholder/regulator expectations.
• General knowledge of legal principles and contract law.
• Good research and drafting skills.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• Good attention to detail/Discretion.
• Ability to work under pressure/Problem-solving ability.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills with effective communication at all levels of the organization.

Benefits
• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• Global / regional network / exposure in FinTech / Blockchain industry.
• One of the hottest, fastest scaling start-ups in Africa.
• Casual work environment.
• Great work-life balance.
• We value autonomy.
• Opportunity for growth for all employees.
• Opportunity to work hard and play hard.


AZA Finance is an equal opportunity employer and will consider every qualified applicant for employment. AZA Finance does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability