Assistant General Counsel

Shape Your Future With Us

General Re Corporation, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is a holding company for global reinsurance and related operations, with more than 2,000 employees worldwide. It owns General Reinsurance Corporation and General Reinsurance AG, which conducts business as Gen Re.

Gen Re delivers reinsurance solutions to the Life/Health and Property/Casualty insurance industries. Represented in all major reinsurance markets through a network of 37 offices, we have earned superior financial strength ratings from each of the major rating agencies. We value diversity, equality, and inclusion and promote a culture that supports professional and personal growth.

General Reinsurance, Cape Town Branch (a subsidiary of General Reinsurance AG) is offering an opportunity for Assistant General Counsel in our Life Australia, UK, SA, Canada division.

Key Responsibilities

To join a global legal and compliance team providing advice on a variety of (re)insurance legal and compliance issues and helping to manage legal and compliance risk for the Gen Re South African subsidiary and services company. The position will work with and provide legal and compliance support for the business management in South Africa, as well as Gen Re Legal and Compliance Department colleagues in the United States, Germany, the UK, and other locations, and reports into the Gen Re Group General Counsel with a local reporting responsibility to one of the co-Management Directors in Cape Town. The below are some of the key activities for the role:

• A fast-moving and wide-ranging workload covering both life and non-life reinsurance matters.
• Drafting and advising on a wide range of legal agreements.
• Monitoring and advising the business with regard to relevant legislative and regulatory developments that impact Gen Re’s business in South Africa.
• Assuming responsibility for the local compliance program and handling compliance submissions to local regulatory authorities.
• Assuming the role of Information Officer for the South African business.
• Advising on regulatory and other legal matters including corporate restructures, competition, trade sanctions, data protection (e.g., POPIA), intellectual property, insolvency and scheme issues, and anti-money laundering queries.
• Advising on potential and actual legal disputes.
• Helping to promote an understanding of legal/compliance issues and legal/compliance risk, including through an ongoing legal and compliance training programme within South African operations.
• Working with Group Legal Department and external counsel, as necessary.

Qualifications & Experience

Candidates need to have completed an LLB degree, with a minimum of 4-6 years post-qualification experience, preferably in insurance/reinsurance. The role requires knowledge and experience in the following but not limited to the Companies Act, Consumer Protection Act, Insurance Act, Financial Sector Regulations Act, Prudential Standards, as well as the field of data protection management.

• Practical and commercial approach to legal and compliance matters.
• Affinity towards IT coupled with an interest in familiarizing yourself with legal issues and translating them into corporate practice.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Team player who can work in a diverse and multicultural organisation.
• A hands-on approach and ability to operate proactively and independently.
• Results-oriented.
• Self-motivated and capable of managing multiple priorities with limited instruction.
• Excellent organisational skills & high attention to detail.
• A problem solver.
• Strong communication skills with effective verbal and written communication.
• Ability to communicate with various stakeholders, with varied seniority within the organisation.
• Fluent in English.

Contact
Human Resources

Our Address

General Reinsurance Africa Ltd.

(Reinsurer licensed to conduct composite insurance business)

2nd Floor, Waterway House North, 3 Dock Road V&A Waterfront,
Cape Town, 8001 (South Africa)

Preference will be given, but not limited to, candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act and our employment equity policy.