Bowmans – Business Services

To apply, click on the link at the end of the posts and all the best with your applications.

Business Development Coordinator – Corporate Department – Johannesburg, South Africa

The Business Development Coordinator (BDC) – Corporate is responsible for working with the relevant Business Development Manager (BDM) and Corporate Department to support and implement innovative short and long term business development and marketing strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Firm’s legal teams making up the Corporate Department specifically: Competition; M&A; Tax and TMT  (the Practice Groups) and assist in driving the Firm’s overall BD strategy and client relationship programme forward.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed Degree/Diploma with at least 3 years’ experience in business development or a related field within a corporate, legal or professional services environment essential
• LLB/similar with Completed Articles will be advantageous

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Planning and Strategy
• Assist with developing and implementing the business development strategies and initiatives in line with the firm’s and Practice Groups’ objectives and best practice to drive revenue growth and raise market profile across practices and sectors.
• Assist with driving strategic and business planning support to the Practice Groups and client teams.
• Undertake research and analysis (trends and industry developments; competitor activity; and potential opportunities).
• Assist in implementing innovative short- and long-term strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Practice Groups.
• Arrange and coordinate regular meetings as required per Practice Group and prepare and circulate meeting notes with action points and subsequent follow-ups to ensure and maintain momentum.
• Keep the wider BD team updated on business development activities to encourage team cohesion and fully leverage any initiatives.
• Working with BD colleagues to support various Africa-related BD initiatives to promote co-ordinated activities across all offices.
• Collaborate with other Business Services teams to ensure that holistic and integrated business services are delivered.

BD Collateral and Infrastructure

• Ensure regular deal and matter reporting in line with the firm’s BD processes and infrastructure.
• Ensure all relevant BD collateral (credentials, profiles, CVs, case studies etc) necessary to support the BD objectives of the group are developed, maintained and kept up-to-date, and loaded on the firm’s central BD databases.
• Assist with all directory submissions in line with Firm processes (Chambers, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500) for the Practice Groups.

Campaigns/ Initiatives and Projects

• Assist with developing, advising and supporting the implementation of BD initiatives, campaigns and projects in line with the Firm’s and Practice Groups’ strategy and plans.
• Supporting partners in initiatives to raise both internal (identifying cross-sell opportunities, internal training) and external profile of the Practice Groups (e.g. newsflashes, seminars, conferences).
• Working with partners to identify and pursue new client opportunities, market opportunities, and product development opportunities.
• Coordinate and provide comprehensive support for BD trips / conferences, initiatives, events and related BD projects (including managing action items post-event).

Research/Analysis

• Identifying and analysing market trends to provide strategic insights into market developments focused on supporting identified campaigns, initiatives and projects, as well as to inform potential BD opportunities.
• Prepare strategically important client briefing notes.
• Stay up to date on current affairs impacting relevant Practice Groups.
• Briefing and offering guidance to the Research team to analyse internal client data to prepare annual Practice Group (where relevant) trend reports and provide ad hoc assistance to the team as required.

Pitches

• Brief the New Business Team (NBT) and offer specialist support to the NBT and Practice Groups on pitches, capability statements and the like.
• Work with partners and actively participate in strategically important pitches, including messaging, value add, credentials, preparation, rehearsal, follow up.

Client Relationship Management

• Manage and support assigned client teams with the development and execution of client plans.
• Advise and support partners on client engagement best practice (including preparation strategies, meeting structures, client specific strategies).
• Drive cross-selling and client targeting initiatives.
• Encourage the use of InterAction (within the relevant teams – incl. secretaries), beyond simply the maintenance of client contact information (i.e. logging/sharing activities, encouraging the use of working lists etc.)
• Be familiar with the clients and proposed target clients relevant to each of the Practice Groups to be able to help identify opportunities.

COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to implement
• Adaptability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Client focus
• Creativity and innovation
• Initiative
• Interactive communication
• Problem solving
• Relationship building
• Resilience
• Self confidence
• Strategic thinking
• Stress management
• Teamwork
• Writing skills

Bowmans is committed to achieving the objectives set in its transformation charter, and the targets in its employment equity plan.  All recruitment decisions will be taken with due consideration being given to these objectives

Business Development Coordinator – Corporate Department – Cape Town, South Africa

The Business Development Coordinator (BDC) – Corporate is responsible for working with the relevant Business Development Manager (BDM) and Corporate Department to support and implement innovative short and long term business development and marketing strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Firm’s legal teams making up the Corporate Department specifically: Competition; M&A; Tax and TMT  (the Practice Groups) and assist in driving the Firm’s overall BD strategy and client relationship programme forward.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed Degree/Diploma with at least 3 years’ experience in business development or a related field within a corporate, legal or professional services environment essential
• LLB/similar with Completed Articles will be advantageous

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Planning and Strategy
• Assist with developing and implementing the business development strategies and initiatives in line with the firm’s and Practice Groups’ objectives and best practice to drive revenue growth and raise market profile across practices and sectors.
• Assist with driving strategic and business planning support to the Practice Groups and client teams.
• Undertake research and analysis (trends and industry developments; competitor activity; and potential opportunities).
• Assist in implementing innovative short- and long-term strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Practice Groups.
• Arrange and coordinate regular meetings as required per Practice Group and prepare and circulate meeting notes with action points and subsequent follow-ups to ensure and maintain momentum.
• Keep the wider BD team updated on business development activities to encourage team cohesion and fully leverage any initiatives.
• Working with BD colleagues to support various Africa-related BD initiatives to promote co-ordinated activities across all offices.
• Collaborate with other Business Services teams to ensure that holistic and integrated business services are delivered.

BD Collateral and Infrastructure

• Ensure regular deal and matter reporting in line with the firm’s BD processes and infrastructure.
• Ensure all relevant BD collateral (credentials, profiles, CVs, case studies etc) necessary to support the BD objectives of the group are developed, maintained and kept up-to-date, and loaded on the firm’s central BD databases.
• Assist with all directory submissions in line with Firm processes (Chambers, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500) for the Practice Groups.

Campaigns/ Initiatives and Projects

• Assist with developing, advising and supporting the implementation of BD initiatives, campaigns and projects in line with the Firm’s and Practice Groups’ strategy and plans.
• Supporting partners in initiatives to raise both internal (identifying cross-sell opportunities, internal training) and external profile of the Practice Groups (e.g. newsflashes, seminars, conferences).
• Working with partners to identify and pursue new client opportunities, market opportunities, and product development opportunities.
• Coordinate and provide comprehensive support for BD trips / conferences, initiatives, events and related BD projects (including managing action items post-event).

Research/Analysis

• Identifying and analysing market trends to provide strategic insights into market developments focused on supporting identified campaigns, initiatives and projects, as well as to inform potential BD opportunities.
• Prepare strategically important client briefing notes.
• Stay up to date on current affairs impacting relevant Practice Groups.
• Briefing and offering guidance to the Research team to analyse internal client data to prepare annual Practice Group (where relevant) trend reports and provide ad hoc assistance to the team as required.

Pitches

• Brief the New Business Team (NBT) and offer specialist support to the NBT and Practice Groups on pitches, capability statements and the like.
• Work with partners and actively participate in strategically important pitches, including messaging, value add, credentials, preparation, rehearsal, follow up.

Client Relationship Management

• Manage and support assigned client teams with the development and execution of client plans.
• Advise and support partners on client engagement best practice (including preparation strategies, meeting structures, client specific strategies).
• Drive cross-selling and client targeting initiatives.
• Encourage the use of InterAction (within the relevant teams – incl. secretaries), beyond simply the maintenance of client contact information (i.e. logging/sharing activities, encouraging the use of working lists etc.)
• Be familiar with the clients and proposed target clients relevant to each of the Practice Groups to be able to help identify opportunities.

COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to implement
• Adaptability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Client focus
• Creativity and innovation
• Initiative
• Interactive communication
• Problem solving
• Relationship building
• Resilience
• Self confidence
• Strategic thinking
• Stress management
• Teamwork
• Writing skills

Bowmans is committed to achieving the objectives set in its transformation charter, and the targets in its employment equity plan.  All recruitment decisions will be taken with due consideration being given to these objectives

Events Co-ordinator – Business Development – Cape Town, South Africa

Purpose:

Responsible for planning, implementing, and managing events that align with the firm’s business development and marketing strategy and providing on-the-ground support in Cape Town on behalf of Reputation team.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Events Planning or Marketing Degree/ Diploma/ Equivalent qualification
• 7-10 years’ work experience, with solid experience in a professional services environment

Key Accountabilities

Events Management:

• Work closely with Events Manager, BDMs and internal stakeholders regarding the selection and planning of events mainly in Cape Town, but also in Durban.
• Work closely with events team to ensure the successful delivery of selected, identified internal and all external events.
• Create and maintain a list of suitable external venues and restaurants.
• Prepare and manage detailed project plans and budgets for events.
• Liaise with stakeholders on the guest lists for events and compile these using the firm’s CRM system.
• Prepare and send invitations. Ensure these are aligned to the Bowmans style guide.
• Manage RSVPs on the client relationship management system and track manual RSVPs (when necessary) and print name tags.
• Work with stakeholders and the brand team to ensure there is appropriate marketing collateral available for each event.
• Work with the digital communications team to ensure that events and speaking opportunities are profiled appropriately on social media.
• Undertake general events management and deal with unforeseen events and issues as they arise.
• Update the CRM system with information on events attendance.
• Compile events reports and input on monthly reports on events held.

Publish events reports and photographs on the firm’s intranet and recordings on the firm’s website.

Branding and Promotional Gifts Management:          

• Identify appropriate corporate gifts (either to be kept in stock or for specific events) and branded stationery, including business cards needed for CPT events.
• Ensure that flowers and gift baskets ordered by the events team for clients on request by partners meet the standard required.

Supplier Management:

• Work with the facilities and broader events team to source and assess potential new suppliers, including venues, ensuring that they comply with the firm’s BEE requirements.
• Manage suppliers’ output and service delivery.
• Ensure that relevant contracts are sent to the Events Manger for approval and ensure suppliers’ payments are up to date.

Finance Management, Administration and Reporting:

• Process supplier invoices for payment.
• FICA new suppliers when needed.
• Ensure suppliers’ payments are up to date.
• Administer and track costs relating to the events budget.
• Provide input into post event reports and budget recons.

Marketing & Communications Support:

• Arrange professional photoshoots and or take employee photographs as needed.
• Format and distribute internal and external newsflashes and newsletters using the firm’s email distribution system, Tikit if necessary.
• Assist with the drafting and uploading of events related social media posts

Relationship Building:

• Develop and maintain relationships with Bowmans employees as a trusted advisor.
• Maintain strong working relationships with and have open and transparent communication among all members of the Business Development.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external vendors to ensure service delivery of a high quality.

Competencies:

• Achievement Orientation
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Client Focus
• Stress Management
• Teamwork
• Writing Skills
• Business Perspective
• Legislation, Policies, Procedures and Standards

Bowmans is committed to achieving the objectives set in its transformation charter, and the targets in its employment equity plan.  All recruitment decisions will be taken with due consideration being given to these objectives.

Secretary – Competition Department – Johannesburg, South Africa

Purpose:

Responsible for and performing administrative, legal secretarial and related duties and offering skilled legal assistance to head of practice group and/or their team.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Senior Certificate
• Paralegal Diploma or short legal courses advantageous/or qualified by experience
• 5 to 10 years legal secretarial experience specifically in Corporate advantageous
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office package
• Experience in a legal accounting package essential.

Key Accountabilities

Key Activities:

Act as first point of contact

• Liaise with people both inside and outside the firm, supporting the executive in his/her duties and responsibilities.
• Acts with a high level of confidentiality and discretion.

Connecting people

Professional and effective communication internally/externally

• Screening of all calls to ensure that calls are handled or directed to correctly.
• Manage all forms of communication efficiently to ensure that correct message gets across effectively and is dealt with accordingly.
• Possess well developed interpersonal and communication skills and good telephone manner to ensure that all staff members, colleagues and clients are treated professionally.

Diary Management

Scheduling and maintaining of calendars

• Organise and manage the executive’s diary and make appointments.
• Updating executive on diary entries and ensuring that he/she is appropriately prepared prior to meetings/ events/presentations.
• Ensure that the correct people are invited and available to attend; booking boardroom for meetings and conference calls (VC), booking catering if necessary, making sure enough time is allocated for travel for offsite meetings.
• May act as team coordinator.

Document Generation

• Produce specialized and general documentation and presentations necessary for clients.
• Ensure the documents produced are of the highest standard through accurate typing paying special attention to detail and ensuring good spelling/grammar/punctuation.
• Adhere to ‘in-house’ document style guide to maintain standardisation of documentation.
• Amend documents using track changes and cross referencing, requiring advanced computer and software skills.
• Carry out dictaphone and manuscript changes to various documents.

Office administration/management

• Plays a pro-active role in ensuring that the department runs smoothly and requires a fair knowledge of legal terminology, processes, procedures and protocols to relieve workload of professionals wherever possible by providing support on various projects.
• Maintain complex filing systems to track large volumes of legal filing deadlines, providing professionals with easy access to files and precedents.
• Manage e-mail, respond or delegate where appropriate.
• Arrange and coordinate team and inter-office planning/strategy sessions.
• Effective office management
• General duties include preparing documents for internal meetings, copying, distribution and delivery of documents.
• May supervise junior staff and provide guidance mentoring and support to new staff members.
• Collect and collate monthly department information from Practice Group Heads for inclusion in Management Board Report.
• May be responsible for maintaining specialist databases.

Travel Arrangements

• Make all travel arrangements understanding preferences and ensuring cost effectiveness.
• Arrange relevant meetings, set up a travel itinerary and prepare documentation.
• Research travel and immigration requirements. Ensure that they are all met and Visa applications are processed timeously.
• Manage unforeseen travel changes.

Meeting Support

• Conduct background research where required.
• Prepare necessary documentation and brief executive for meetings and engagements.
• Action post meeting deliverables and follow-up

Finance Administration

• Assist with departmental budget process, checking input, tracking spend, reconciling on a monthly basis to ensure budget and spend are aligned, liaising with finance team as and when necessary to ensure alignment.
• Ensure the timeous and accurate time recording of hours worked by fee earners and producing final bills to clients for services rendered
• Compile covering letters and send out final bills to clients timeously and assist Credit Controllers with debt collecting
• Processing reimbursement requisitions

Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain relationships with all levels of staff as a trusted resource.
• Maintain strong working relationships with and have open and transparent communication between all members of the team
• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors to ensure quality of service delivery

Competencies

• Adaptability
• Attention to Detail
• Interactive Communication
• Initiative
• Problem solving
• Resilience
• Writing Skills

Bowmans is committed to achieving the objectives set in its transformation charter, and the targets in its employment equity plan.  All recruitment decisions will be taken with due consideration being given to these objectives.

Legal Secretary (Senior) – Technology, Media and Telecommunications Department – Johannesburg, South Africa

Purpose:

To provide a range of legal and routine administrative support services to a team of legal professionals (comprising of Partners, Senior Associates, Associates and 3 Candidate Attorneys). Ensure that all work generated by the team is processed, administered and filed in an efficient and orderly manner. Advanced functional knowledge and application of the firms document management and accounting systems. Adhere to internal accounting policies and procedures as well as statutory and regulatory rules applicable to the legal industry. Ensure brand awareness. Ensure the smooth flow of the area and act as a central hub of the department. Maintain synergy and good relationships between the various business units to ensure effective execution of day-to-day responsibilities. This role has access to confidential information and requires absolute discretion at all times.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Matric/Grade 12
• 5 to 7 years experience as secretary / legal secretary in a legal/professional services environment
• Computer literacy – MS Office (Intermediate proficiency)

Key Accountabilities   

Legal Administration

• Ensure compliance with New Business Intake (NBI) process and Know Your Client (KYC) requirements
• Draft engagement letters
• Ensure compliance with SARS requirements
• Independently review and respond to all written and telephonic correspondence / queries with minimal disruption to fee earners
• Dictaphone typing
• Transaction pre-closing and post-closing attendances
• Assist with access and managing the virtual data rooms for due diligences (KIRA)
• Prepare PowerPoint presentations
• Notarial attendances
• Prepare documents for Authentication by the High Court of South Africa
• Conduct company searches using SA Company, Who Owns Who etc
• Maintain an up-to-date repository of templates and precedents relevant to the department
• Ensure that the practice group clients are kept up to date on Interaction
• Follow up with relevant service providers to ensure prompt resolution of problems
• Operate as a super user i.e. provide functional support and coaching to other staff

Diary Management/ Scheduling and maintaining of calendars:

• Proactively organise and manage diaries and make appointments
• Ensure that the correct people are invited and available to attend; book boardrooms for meetings and conference calls (VC), book catering if necessary, making sure enough time is allocated for travel for offsite meetings
• Provide partner with relevant information and documentation to ensure preparedness for meetings

Document Generation:

• Copy typing
• Draft amend and format general correspondence and documents, paying attention to detail, and ensuring good spelling/grammar/punctuation
• Draft amend and format legal correspondence and documents, paying attention to detail and ensuring good spelling/grammar/punctuation
• Prepare presentations and reports as required by the partner or department
• Knowledge of and adherence to ‘in-house’ and external styles to maintain standardization, consistency, and compliance with prescribed formats, if applicable

General Administration

• Filing and maintaining filing systems
• General office management and administration (faxing, photocopying, scanning)
• Arrange and coordinate functions to launch and promote Private Equity initiatives
• Opening and closing of client files
• Archiving of records on an annual basis
• Ordering of stationery
• Seeking ways to pro-actively improve efficiency and administration within the team
• Ability to assess and prioritise workload
• Inspect and arrange for the maintenance and repair of equipment and other services
• Maintain safe custody of documents for clients ensuring that the correct signing and verification procedures are followed
• Prepare outgoing packages for dispatch in line with national and/or international postage and courier requirements
• Ensure items held for collection are kept secure and safely and delivered as instructed
• Co-ordinate the leave schedule
• Ensure that internal personal are promptly notified of guest / client arrivals
• Overseeing the maintenance of a clean and organized workspace
• Attend to ad hoc personal matters on behalf of the partners

Travel Arrangements:

• Make all travel arrangements
• Proactively manage and communicate changes to travel and make alternative arrangements where necessary
• Research travel and immigration requirements. Ensure that they are all met, and Visa applications are processed timeously

Business Development Support

• Provide administrative support service to the BD team by focusing on efficient co-ordination of conferences and events which include registering delegates, booking accommodation and flights, VISA applications, arranging travel insurance, noting dietary requirements and related attendances in line with the firms policies
• Tracking costs
• Assist with pitch and tenders and credential statements

Relationship Building:

• Develop and maintain relationships with all levels of staff as a trusted resource
• Maintain strong working relationships with and have open and transparent communication between all members of the team
• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors to ensure the quality-of-service delivery
• Assistance with the development and support of all team members

Special firm wide projects

• Assist the Legal Service Improvement team with projects to ensure that the firms systems and processes is structured in such that it provides the required cost and profitability by product / process / practice across the firm
• Assist with the development and optimization of systems
• Operate as a test user for service improvement initiatives

Finance Administration:

• Account management which includes capture of time, generate pro forma’s; process amendments and applicable discounts; finalise invoices, prepare itemized billing narratives, keep supporting documents such as disbursement invoices  
• Assist with general financial management relating to the department (e.g. credit notes, general financial queries, creation of vendors, write offs etc)
• Record and note terms and conditions governing fee arrangements for clients
• Record and note e-billing requirements
• Peruse, verify and capture creditors invoices for payment
• Handle creditor queries and resolve any discrepancies both internally and externally
• Verify statement of accounts and invoices for accuracy
• Liaise directly with client in respect of queries
• Create purchase order numbers for sponsorships and process support department requisitions
• Process client entertainment, business / client travel, and general reimbursement claims
• Age Analysis – follow up directly with clients twice a month in respect of accounts receivable and provide the accounts team and fee earners with an update
• Manage work in progress (WIP) fees and ensure timeous billing
• Assist with clearing up WIP – suggest write off’s of minor soft  costs and fee amounts in matters where the WIP is over 120 days or no longer proceeding etc
• Prepare financial reports for the Partners for Partner Contribution purposes, financial year end reporting and BEE purposes
• Escrow attendances which include collation of the escrow agreement, supporting documentation and KYC documents, prepare the unallocated trust monies, trust transfer and trust disbursement requisitions, obtain proof of payment and forward to beneficiaries
• Investment of monies – knowledge of accounting criteria and parameters to correctly allocate and process deposits, withdrawals and payments to third parties
• Assist in management and monitoring of the team budget

Competencies

• Adaptability
• Attention to Detail
• Continuous Learning
• Interactive Communication
• Initiative
• Pro- active
• Problem-solving
• Resilience
• Writing Skills
• Highly organized
• Strong administrative skills

Bowmans is committed to achieving the objectives set in its transformation charter, and the targets in its employment equity plan.  All recruitment decisions will be taken with due consideration being given to these objectives

Click here to apply

All the best with your applications