Legal Manager and Company Secretary

Job description

AGORA MICROFINANCE ZAMBIA (AMZ) — WE ARE HIRING! ⚖️🏛️
Position: Legal Manager and Company Secretary
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Employment Type: Permanent and Pensionable
Application Deadline: 26th October 2026

About the Company:

Agora Microfinance Zambia (AMZ) is a rural microfinance company that operates under a non-deposit microfinance license from the Bank of Zambia. Currently, the Company works with some 150,000 clients in all provinces of Zambia through 40 branches and a staff of 500. The Company aims to expand and strengthen its operations with a long-term goal of further national reach, strong financial and social performance, and overall contribution to the Zambian economy and society.

Role Overview:

The Legal & Company Secretary is responsible for providing comprehensive legal support to Agora Microfinance Zambia and ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and corporate governance requirements. The role supports the Board of Directors and oversees legal risk management, contract review, compliance monitoring, and governance activities.

As this is a relatively new function being established, the main initial responsibilities will involve setting up the department, developing policy frameworks, and gaining an understanding of business operations. Thereafter, the Legal Manager & Company Secretary will build a competent team to carry out departmental activities within approved budgets. The role requires a minimum of 30% travel across branches.

Key Responsibilities:

• Company Secretarial Duties: Organise, coordinate, and attend Board and Board Committee meetings; prepare and circulate notices, agendas, board packs, and minutes; maintain statutory registers; ensure timely filing of all regulatory returns with PACRA, Bank of Zambia (BOZ), and other authorities; advise the Board on corporate governance principles and statutory duties; ensure board resolutions are properly recorded, communicated, and implemented; facilitate director induction, continuous training, and board evaluations; maintain secure governance archives.
• Legal Advisory & Compliance: Provide expert legal opinions and practical guidance on matters affecting AMZ operations; draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts and service agreements; ensure institutional compliance with applicable laws; manage litigation, debt recovery legal actions, disputes, and external counsel engagement; monitor legal and regulatory updates and advise executive management; draft and review company policies, guidelines, and compliance manuals.
• Risk Management: Identify and assess enterprise legal and regulatory risks; implement robust risk mitigation controls; maintain an updated legal risk register; report material risks to executive management and the Board.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise effectively with regulators including the Bank of Zambia (BOZ), PACRA, ZRA, NAPSA, and other statutory bodies; guide operational departments on legal requirements; act as custodian of company seals, statutory books, legal instruments, and governance records.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized university.
• Professional Standing: Advocate of the High Court of Zambia with a valid, current Practicing Certificate issued by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ).
• Corporate Governance: Professional qualification in Corporate Governance (e.g., ICSA / CGI) is an added advantage.
• Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in corporate legal practice, ideally in the financial services sector, microfinance, banking, or a regulated industry.
• Legal Acumen: Strong command of Zambian legislation, including the Companies Act, Banking and Financial Services Act (BFSA), Data Protection Act, and employment/labour statutes.

Key Competences:

• Strong legal drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate governance, secretarial practice, and regulatory compliance.
• High attention to detail, confidentiality, ethical integrity, and professionalism.
• Mature, confident, and capable of engaging senior stakeholders, directors, and external regulators.
• Willingness to travel (minimum 30% travel across the 40 branch networks).

Terms & Benefits:

The position is permanent and pensionable, offering an attractive executive remuneration package. Agora Microfinance Zambia is an equal opportunity employer.

How to Apply:

Interested and suitably qualified candidates are invited to submit their application letters, detailed CV, and copies of academic/professional qualifications to:

📧 Email: recruitment@agoramicrofinance.co.zm

Application Deadline: 26th October 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.