Prodigy Finance - who are we?

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Finance is an international student lender that has helped over 43,000+ international master's students attend the world’s top universities. Our borderless and innovative model enables education loan financing to students from across the globe whilst using predicted post-degree affordability rather than present-day salary. To date, Prodigy has disbursed over $2.3 billion in funding to students from more than 150 countries.

Prodigy Finance is fueled by impact investors and other privately qualified entities who invest in tomorrow's leaders while earning a financial and social return. Prodigy’s borderless lending model enables students to apply for a loan based on their future earning potential and not just their current circumstances and credit history.

What will you do in the role?

We are looking for an experienced and self-motivated paralegal to assist Prodigy Finance’s in-house Legal Team. This person will be fully accountable for proactively managing and coordinating a number of highly important internal administrative and logistical functions.

The role is based in Cape Town, although Prodigy Finance’s Legal Team is spread across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Belfast and London. The candidate will report to the Head of Legal and Senior Legal Counsel (Enforcement). This is a remote working position; however, the successful candidate will be expected to visit the Cape Town office (situated in the city bowl) at least once a week to attend to various administrative and logistical tasks.

What are some of the responsibilities of this role?

• General:
  • Manage the systems that support the Legal Team, including workflow processes, diary systems and management of meetings
  • Manage the document and information systems, including the contract database, document storage systems, electronic archiving and knowledge database

• Global Enforcement:
  • Case identification, preparation, support and management, including the printing, compiling and numbering of pleadings bundles and other litigious documentation and the drafting of certain legal documents
  • Manage communications with various external lawyers around the world, including drafting instructions, collating instruction packs and co-ordinating the certification, notarisation and couriering of documents worldwide
  • Manage communications and enquiries with various service providers around the world, including arbitral forums, couriers, notaries, tracing agents and translation services

• US Licensing:
  • New license applications - Assist the team in collating all information and documents to prepare for the applications and address queries and additional requirements of US state regulators
  • Renewal of licenses - Keep track of when and how renewals should be done, record the requirements for the renewals, assist the team in preparing and submitting the renewal applications, track the approval process and file the renewal certificates and confirmations
  • Reporting - Keep track of when and periodic reporting should be done, record the requirements for each report, including sourcing the relevant forms and assist the team in completing and submitting the reports
  • Examinations - Assist the team in sourcing and collating the information & documents requested by the US state regulators, prepare presentations (when required) and address any follow-up queries
  • Implementation of US state law compliance obligations - assist the team with gap analysis, set up workshops with business partners and monitor implementation of the compliance obligations
  • Manage communications and enquiries with state regulators

What would the ideal candidate be great at?

• Excellent organisational, management and administrative skills with fanatical attention to detail and an ability to understand and identify any potential problems or errors
• Be proactive, be innovative, be able to work independently and be self-motivated
• High levels of confidence and the ability to take initiative and work autonomously in a high-performing, professional and global team
• Manage a variety of tasks and functions concurrently
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with a proven ability to draft exceptional communications
• A strong team player who has a desire to excel, provide consistent feedback and updates on matters and make an impact wherever they can
• Excellent research and analytical skills to digest and summarise legislation and regulations
• Thrive on high-energy work with the ability to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines
• Demonstrate an ability to multitask and quickly adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
• IT proficient with an excellent understanding of Google Docs Editors Suite (Google Docs, Slides and Sheets) and MS Office.

Qualifications and experience

• Tertiary level/post matric qualification is required in the form of a legal secretarial diploma, paralegal qualification, law degree or other suitable qualification
• Fluent in English and with strong verbal and writing skills
• Minimum of 3 years experience as a paralegal or administrative assistant at an established law firm or in-house legal team

Prodigy Finance benefits

• Competitive remuneration package
• Company contribution to healthcare/medical aid scheme
• Remote/hybrid working
• Generous leave policy (24 days annual leave + 1 day for every year worked to a max of 29 days, birthday leave, 6 months’ primary caregiver / 2 months’ secondary caregiver parental leave, 4 weeks sabbatical leave after 5 years of continuous service)