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 credit compliance 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.

• Assisting with the vetting of the terms and conditions of deals from a legal perspective prior to the Credit Committee approving a deal
• 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
• Project managing commercial recovery matters, internally and in conjuction with external legal advisors (from initiating action legal action to full reciept of funds)
• General monitoring of portfolio 
• Provide legal advice and services to the organisation in corporate and commercial matters
• Performing KYC/FICA/AML/PEP checks on clients
• 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
• Attend to queries from credit analyst, operations and clients, providing legal expertise to the Credit Committee
• Draft documentation including regulatory required documents, non-standard security agreements and resolutions.
• To ensure that all client documents are up to date and signed off correctly and all required information is loaded onto the system 

Required Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney
• Law Degree
• 3 years post articles work experience

 Desired Skills

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