Assistant Group Manager - Legal & Compliance

Metro Global Solution Center (MGSC) is internal solution partner for METRO, a €31 Billion international wholesaler with operations in more than 30 countries. The store network comprises a total of 623 stores in 21 countries, of which 522 offer out-of-store delivery (OOS), and 94 dedicated depots. In 12 countries, METRO runs only the delivery business by its delivery companies (Food Service Distribution, FSD). 

HoReCa and Traders are core customer groups of METRO. The HoReCa section includes hotels, restaurants, catering companies as well as bars, cafés and canteen operators. The Traders section includes small grocery stores and kiosks. The majority of all customer groups are small and medium-sized enterprises as well as sole traders. METRO helps them manage their business challenges more effectively. 

MGSC, location wise is present in Pune (India), Düsseldorf (Germany) and Szczecin (Poland). We provide HR, Finance, IT & Business operations support to 31 countries, speak 24+ languages and process over 18,000 transactions a day. We are setting tomorrow’s standards for customer focus, digital solutions, and sustainable business models. For over 10 years, we have been providing services and solutions from our two locations in Pune and Szczecin. This has allowed us to gain extensive experience in how we can best serve our internal customers with high quality and passion. We believe that we can add value, drive efficiency, and satisfy our customers.

Sub-unit you will be working for –

As part of the Enablement vertical of MGSC, India, you will lead the Compliance And Legal Function and be responsible for providing regulatory, legal, secretarial, compliance, data protection and corporate advisory support.

As a department, you will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure stakeholder requirements and organizational strategies are aligned with external regulatory requirements and internal Metro Group Policies.

You will lead the Corporate Legal, Compliance and Secretarial Function and your main charters/areas of responsibilities include:

●   COMPLIANCE

• Lead and manage the Compliance activities that are integral to the development, implementation and execution of Metro’s compliance program in line with Global Compliance Strategy.
• Designing and delivering online and in-person compliance training on compliance risk, Code of Conduct and key policies and procedures.
• Conduct risk assessments, vendor due diligence, review the code or policies, establish systems or processes, launching communication campaigns, facilitating ethics workshops etc..
• Lead compliance investigations, prepare board alignment reports and enforce corrective measures.
• Closely collaborate with the Human Resources, Admin, Finance as well as with other functions and business divisions.

●   CORPORATE LEGAL:

• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and settling legal and transactional documents & agreements (including vendor agreements, intra group agreements, NDAs etc..)
• Monitoring and tracking of agreements, regulatory registrations and compliances.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations as well as adherence to internal group policies and procedures.
• Providing timely solutions to general legal queries of all internal stakeholder and assisting in replying to queries raised by external Statutory/Government Authorities
• Liaison with auditors, external lawyers, tax advisers, bankers, subsidiaries within the Company’s Group, service providers, external legal advisers, and government agencies
• Legal review and assistance with revamp of organization policies and rollouts.
• Assistance in designing and delivering online and in-person trainings for Workplace Harassment and POSH.

●   CORPORATE SECRETARIAL AND CSR

• Ensuring overall compliance and completion of all regulatory requirements under the Company Law and FEMA.
• Preparing and conducting the Board Meetings, CSR Meetings, shareholders meeting and the all the related documentations
• Maintenance of all statutory Records and Registers as required under the provisions of Companies Act, 2013, and other applicable laws and ensuring compliance of the applicable secretarial standards to the Company.
• Timely Filing of Statutory Forms/Returns/Returns with ROC including DIN Applications, DIN KYC, Change of Key Management of Company, Financials of the companies etc.
• Leading and ensuring effective implementation of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) charter of the Company (including NGO identification and onboarding, NGO documentation and payments, employee volunteering activities, CSR payments and social media awareness) in accordance with the CSR policy and CSR Rules.
• Assisting Statutory Auditors and Internal Auditors for smooth audit process

●   DATA PROTECTION AND INTERNAL CONTROL FINANCE(ICF)

• Implementing the data protection framework in complying with the local applicable data protection laws and the Corporate Data Protection Guideline and internal regulations of METRO.
• Monitoring the compliance with the applicable data protection regulation as well creating personnel awareness and training, assisting related audits etc..
• Assistance with data protection queries and drafting consents/declaration for function /stakeholder specific requirements
• Working closely with the IT security teams, Corporate Data protection teams and other functional departments for setting up the data protection framework.
• Supervising and supporting the ICF Officer with setting up, implementing, and maintaining the ICF controls in accordance with the Corporate Governance Framework.
• Ensuring maintenance of effective ICF framework and governance

Required Educational Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor of Law from a reputed College/University
• CS qualification  / membership of ICSI would be an added advantage.
• 8 – 10 years of Post -Qualification Experience with at least 2-3 years compliance experience preferably with a GSC or ITES Company.
• Prior experience in GDPR regulations and internal audit would be preferred.
• Robust knowledge of Company Law, Contract Law and Labour laws.

Skills that give you an edge

• High interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate internally(board of directors, employees, cross functional teams) and externally (lawyers, regulators, auditors) at all levels.
• Excellent analytical skills and business acumen with the ability to challenge business and provide practical solutions.
• Strong work ethic and sense of integrity, trustworthiness, and ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize assignments and work effectively under time pressure with attention to details.
• Proficient in MS Suite – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams etc.