Head of Legal & Company Secretary

About NCGCL

The National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGCL) has been incorporated as a public company limited by shares, with the subscribed shareholding of the Government of Pakistan – Ministry of Finance (44%) and Karandaaz Pakistan (56%). The initial capital has been made available by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under its Financial Inclusion Program. NCGCL is incorporated as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), regulated by the SECP, and holds an Investment Finance Services (IFS) License.

As a highly specialised institution, NCGCL designs and structures guarantee products that de-risk SME financing, helping financial institutions expand access to capital. The company facilitates the allocation of capital towards areas with a higher economic, employment, and impact multiplier, with the primary objective of catalysing economic growth by targeting a largely underserved segment.

Job Overview

The Head of Legal & Company Secretary is responsible for leading and managing the Company’s legal affairs, corporate governance framework, and statutory compliance obligations. The role acts as the principal legal advisor to the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, ensures the Company’s operations and guarantee/risk-sharing transactions are conducted in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and serves as the Company Secretary responsible for Board administration, statutory filings, and regulatory liaison with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and other relevant authorities.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Affairs

• Provide sound, timely, and practical legal advice to the CEO, Board, and senior management on all corporate, commercial, regulatory, and operational matters.
• Draft, review, vet, and negotiate contracts, agreements, MOUs, guarantee/risk-sharing agreements, partnership agreements with financial institutions, and other legal instruments to safeguard the Company’s interests.
• Manage, supervise, and coordinate all litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution matters, including engagement and oversight of external legal counsel.
• Identify, assess, and advise on legal risks associated with new products, guarantee schemes, and business initiatives, recommending appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Ensure recovery and enforcement actions (where applicable, arising from guarantee claims) are pursued in accordance with law and Company policy.
• Maintain an up-to-date repository of laws, regulations, and judicial developments relevant to the Company’s business and credit guarantee operations.
• Draft and review internal policies, SOPs, and Board/Management approved documents to ensure legal soundness.

Company Secretarial & Corporate Governance

• Act as Company Secretary as required under the Companies Act, 2017, and ensure full compliance with SECP regulations, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, and applicable Codes of Corporate Governance.
• Organize, convene, and manage meetings of the Board of Directors, Board Committees, and General Meetings (AGM/EGM), including preparation of agendas, notices, and Board packs in coordination with the CEO and Chairman.
• Prepare accurate minutes of Board and Committee meetings and ensure timely circulation, execution, and follow-up of decisions and action items.
• Maintain statutory books and registers, including registers of members, directors, charges, and other records required under the Companies Act, 2017.
• Ensure timely filing of statutory returns, forms, and disclosures with SECP, SBP, and other regulators, and act as the primary liaison for regulatory correspondence.
• Advise the Board on corporate governance best practices, directors’ duties, conflicts of interest, and compliance with fit-and-proper criteria.
• Coordinate director induction, training, and evaluation processes, and maintain the Company’s governance framework and policies (e.g., Board Charter, Code of Conduct).

Compliance & Regulatory Liaison

• Monitor changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements (Companies Act 2017, SECP regulations, SBP prudential regulations, and other relevant frameworks) and assess their impact on the Company.
• Ensure the Company’s guarantee schemes, contracts, and operations remain compliant with regulatory approvals and licensing conditions.
• Serve as the key point of contact with SECP, SBP, and other government/regulatory bodies on legal and governance matters.
• Support internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and due diligence exercises from a legal and governance standpoint.

Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and build capacity within the Legal & Company Secretariat function, including recruitment, performance management, and development of staff.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, ensuring cost-effective and quality legal support.
• Represent the Legal function in senior management forums and contribute to strategic decision-making of the Company.
• Prepare periodic reports to the Board/CEO on legal, compliance, and governance matters

Eligibility Criteria

Education & Experience

• LL.B. (Hons) from a recognized university; a Master’s degree in Law (LL.M.) is preferred.
• Qualified/enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court (Advocate of the Supreme Court preferred); membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., ICSP – Institute of Corporate Secretaries of Pakistan, or equivalent Company Secretary qualification) is highly desirable.
• Minimum 05-10 years of relevant post-qualification experience, including at least 5 years in a senior legal/company secretarial role, preferably within a bank, DFI, NBFI, credit guarantee institution, or other regulated financial services organization.
• Demonstrated experience acting as Company Secretary of a public/unquoted company, with direct exposure to Board and SECP/SBP interactions.
• Strong working knowledge of the Companies Act, 2017, SECP regulations, corporate governance codes, and financial sector regulatory frameworks.

Skills Required

• Excellent legal drafting, negotiation, and contract management skills.
• Strong knowledge of corporate, commercial, banking, and regulatory law applicable to credit guarantee/financial institutions.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Strong Board-level communication, minute-writing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with strong attention to detail.
• Strong leadership, people management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines.

Preferred Profile

• Customer service-oriented attitude with a commitment to professionalism.
• Well-organised, proactive, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Punctual, dependable, and presentable with strong multitasking ability.
• Comfortable operating in a dual-role capacity across general administration and executive support.

Technical & Behavioural Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and discretion at all times.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, senior leadership environment.

Key Relationships

• Internal: CEO, Board of Directors and Board Committees, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Heads of Business/Operations, Internal Audit and Compliance.
• External: SECP, State Bank of Pakistan, external legal counsel, courts/tribunals, regulatory bodies, partner financial institutions, and auditors.

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required, and the Company reserves the right to amend it from time to time in line with business needs.

Collecting applications till Wednesday, 14th October 2026.