Legal Officer – Corporate Search Desk at Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank is today ranked amongst the top 10 in the Nigerian banking industry, with presence in the major cities and commercial centres of Nigeria. Over the years, the bank has been reputed for integrity and professionalism. It is also respected for the quality and stability of its management. Fidelity staff are also respected in the Nigerian banking industry for the quality of training they receive on the job, as well as in good business schools both in Nigeria and Overseas. The Management is particular about the quality of people that join the system. To qualify as a member of Team Fidelity, a candidate is expected to possess three vital statistics, with the acronym TAC:

Talent (an innate mental aptitude)
Ambition (a desire to succeed) and
Character (a total quality of integrity which will guide the talent and ambition to productive ends).Job Summary

The Legal Officer, Corporate Search Desk, will conduct and process corporate searches through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal, verify corporate information, prepare standardized corporate status reports, and provide timely and reliable search services to legal services division, the Bank’s branches, business units and relationship teams in support of customer onboarding, account opening, due diligence, credit appraisal and investigations.

The role is responsible for ensuring the accurate processing of search requests, payment of applicable statutory fees to CAC, proper record-keeping and compliance with the Bank’s internal procedures and service standards.

The Legal Officer shall also perform other related duties as may be assigned by the designated supervisor or the Head of the Legal Services Division, provided that such duties are consistent with the objectives and operational requirements of the Division.

Key Responsibilities

Receive, review and process corporate search requests submitted by branches, business units and relationship teams.
Conduct corporate searches directly through the CAC portal to obtain relevant company, business name and other applicable entity information.
Prepare and issue standardized, accurate and complete corporate status reports based on information obtained from the CAC portal in line with the approved internal reporting standards
Verify corporate particulars, including registered names, registration numbers, status and other available registration details relevant to the search request.
Identify discrepancies, incomplete information or inconsistencies in search results and escalate material issues to the appropriate supervisor or requesting unit.
Ensure that searches are conducted accurately and that the information obtained is properly documented.
Pay the actual statutory CAC fee for each search from the dedicated Legal Services account and maintain accurate records and reconciliation of customer-funded search fees received, against CAC payments made.
Keep to the approved internal tariff structure for search services and maintain records of charges in accordance with established procedures and report any discrepancies promptly.
Safeguard the desk’s dedicated payment card, mobile line and portal credentials, and ensure One-Time-Passwords and transaction alerts are handled securely and in line with Bank policy.
Review and approve search results and standardized status reports before issuance, ensuring the accuracy of entity particulars and consistency in the format, quality and reliability of reports issued across the Bank.
Ensure timely turnaround on all corporate search requests and manage service level expectations with internal stakeholders.
Provide guidance on search request requirements, applicable tariffs and the interpretation of status report findings, and support on resolving discrepancies in entity records where appropriate.
Develop, maintain, and regularly update the legal search records repository of standard status report templates, procedures and turnaround guidelines.
Coordinate with external legal counsel where necessary on complex search issues or non-digitalized registry arrangements.
Support audits, regulatory inspections, and internal risk reviews concerning corporate search, CAC payment and status report documentation.
Monitor changes in applicable laws and regulations, and in CAC portal procedures and fees, that may impact on the bank’s corporate search and due diligence obligations.

Qualifications and Requirements

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree and Call to the Nigerian Bar (B.L.) required.
2-3 years post NYSC relevant experience.
CAC accreditation is an added advantage.
Experience conducting company searches and obtaining status reports on the CAC online portal.
Excellent legal drafting, analytical and reporting skills.
Solid understanding of the regulatory and legal environment of the Nigerian banking sector.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with legal management software is an advantage.
High ethical standards, sound judgment, and professional integrity.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and meet service-level deadlines.

SKey Competencies

Company search and registrations
Legal research and due diligence
Legal drafting and reporting
Attention to detail
Problem-solving
Time management