Senior Regulatory Counsel

Job Description

Let’s transform banking forever

ClearBank is built on the belief that banking infrastructure shouldn’t slow down progress. Quite the opposite. Speed it up and that’s when you unlock potential. When you really start to innovate.

That spirit and ‘can-do’ attitude is why our clients – from FinTech's and crypto platforms, to banks and credit unions – choose to use our API to power their banking infrastructure.

But it’s our people who are the stars here. They power that innovation, push harder to break boundaries. They make coming to work (or working from home) fun. They’re the ones we trust to catapult our clients to success. Just as they trust us to build a business that’s always striding forward.

What you can expect:

ClearBank is a place where you can do things differently and challenge the status quo. We will give you a high level of autonomy and transparency, and we trust you to make the right decisions for the bank.

Your Mission:

You’ll be joining the Group legal team as Senior Regulatory Counsel. Reporting to the Senior Regulatory Counsel, you’ll be a part of a fast-growing business that is challenging the market and doing things differently.

In this role there is a focus on advising on new product design and readiness, new business structures and models, as well the Group’s expansion into new jurisdictions. For example, we are developing a digital asset in the UK and, after that, in Europe. We’re looking at broadening our embedded banking product. We’re considering how to expand further in Europe as well as our global expansion strategy thereafter. You’ll be supporting work like this. You’ll also be supporting on broader matters of strategy and product development in the global growth plans of ClearBank, as well as helping Group provide oversight across its UK and EU legal teams.

You’ll help to ensure that ClearBank’s arrangements with customers, partners, and suppliers, meet legal and regulatory requirements. You’ll work closely with a range of teams across ClearBank including product teams and technical experts to ensure that ClearBank’s innovative and expanding products are designed and operate in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. You’ll advise on commercial and regulatory issues affecting the business, as well as drafting, advising, and negotiating contracts.

What we're looking for:

The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with deep experience advising on banking and payments regulation. A breadth of experience will complement the broad nature of work in this role although direct experience in banking and/or payments and a clear understanding of the regulations is preferred. A working knowledge of UK and other payment systems is beneficial but not necessary.

To be successful within the legal team candidates must be able to work independently whilst liaising effectively and building relationships with stakeholders. In terms of culture, we are looking for a motivated individual with great people skills. Someone who is delivery focused and confident in suggesting solutions and enhancements. You’ll need to enjoy working through complex, novel situations as well as problem-solving. You’ll also need to be comfortable reprioritising and adapting to change.

Technical knowledge

You’ll have previous experience in, and good knowledge of:

• banking, payments, and e‐money regulatory regimes, and applying such matters to business decisions, product design, and customer, supplier and product terms

• the regulatory perimeter and financial services permissions requirements, as well as familiarity in advising on licence applications

• financial services business models, particularly embedded banking models

• developing customer agreements

Other experience; not required but would be advantageous:

• Experience in a high‐growth or scale up environment

• Experience of product development

• Experience of advising on the development of digital assets products, their operations and current regulation

• Experience of advising on issues such as outsourcing, correspondent banking, the APP scam regime, Consumer Duty

• Experience of advising on intra-group issues, including matters relating to governance

• Awareness of payment systems and their rules

• Experience in reviewing legal business processes and providing recommendations

• Experience of advising on prudential matters e.g. leverage ratio and large exposure considerations

What we offer in return:

• We're flexible – We support a culture of flexibility which allows our employees to achieve a strong work-life balance.

• Discretionary Bonus (performance-based)

• Holiday – 27 days of annual leave per year, plus bank holidays.

• Work abroad – You have the flexibility to work outside of the UK for up to 30 days in a rolling 12-month period.

• Wellbeing – 24/7 employee assistance programme including mental health support, life assurance and income protection.

• Bigger than ClearBank – Take a couple of days per year to do something that matters to you.

• Healthy living – Private healthcare and discounted dental cover, with employee perks and discounts.

• Family – Enhanced family-friendly leave.

• Personal development – We offer personal development budgets, opportunities to take part in role-related training and unlimited LinkedIn Learning.

And not forgetting the biggest benefit of all. The opportunity to be part of an incredible team that’s building a tech-bank fit for the future.

A little bit more about us!

ClearBank is Where You Can belong:

At ClearBank we think about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) a lot. Not because we think we should. But because we know we should – how else can we build a happy workforce and be successful as a business. We’re committed to making sure our teams reflect society. And we put energy and effort into making this a place where everyone feels at home, where they’re given the trust and encouragement to do their very best work. Here are some of the things we’re most proud of:

• 42% of our senior management roles are held by women

• Our enhanced family leave policies

• Launching our partnership with Code First Girls

• Increasing awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace through our partnership with the Inclusive Group

Our hiring process and what you can expect:

Application: a member of our talent acquisition team will review your application against the key requirements for the role and let you know within two weeks whether you’re moving forward to the next stage;

Screening: You’ll spend 30-45 minutes speaking to one of our recruiters learning more about the role and ClearBank, and we’ll get it know more about you, your experience and how your skills align with the role (this will be via phone or Teams video call). You can expect to hear back from us within seven days following this meeting (if things are taking longer than expected, we’ll let you know that too);

First Interview: You’ll spend one hour with a member of our hiring team focusing on your skills, competencies and your ways of working at the same time we’ll give you time to ask more questions about the role, the team and learn more about the ClearBank culture. This will be via Teams.

Second Interview: This will be a competency-based interview with one or more members of our team.

Final Stage: You will have a final meeting with the Head of Department. This will be around 45-60 minutes.

Offer: Congratulations! Get ready for transform banking forever!

Our commitment to you as a candidate:

We will always try our best to get back to you within seven days of your interview whether you’ve been successful or not and provide you with feedback. Sometimes things take a little longer, so we may not have a decision to share but we will get it touch to let you know we need a little more time.

We’re unable to provide specific individual feedback at the application or screening stage but know that your application was reviewed and considered carefully.

We wish you the best of luck with your application and maybe we’ll be celebrating your new role at ClearBank soon!

Equal Opportunities

ClearBank is committed to ensuring equal opportunities throughout every stage of the recruitment process. ClearBank recognises that diversity is vital to the long-term success of the business in the communities and markets in which it operates. ClearBank is also a firm believer that an inclusive culture fosters greater employee engagement and collaboration.

ClearBank strives for diversity and inclusion of all forms, including (but not limited to): gender, age, educational and professional background, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

As part of the Company’s commitment to equal employment opportunity, we provide reasonable adjustments, to candidates during the recruitment process, including to individuals with disabilities. We want to create a safe space that welcomes everyone so please let us know how we can accommodate you. In case you have any accessibility requirements you can share that with our Talent Acquisition team prior to your interview stage, if applicable.

The legal bit

By submitting your CV to ClearBank Limited you are providing your consent for us to use the information you provide for recruitment purposes. For more information on how we manage your data go and check out our Candidate Privacy Notice on the ClearBank website to see how we process, manage and look after your data. You are also allowing us to communicate with you by email and telephone for recruitment purposes.