Senior Regulatory Counsel

Job Description

Senior Regulatory Counsel

About us:

ClearBank was built on the belief that banking infrastructure would no longer slow down progress. Instead, it’s the catalyst that unlocks the potential to innovate. That’s why our clients — from fintechs and crypto platforms, banks and credit unions, to household names who want to add embedding banking to their services use our API and banking services to power their innovation

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.

If that excites you, how about joining our Legal function as Senior Regulatory Counsel.

About the role:

• The position will be an energizing mix of banking, payments and crypto regulatory advisory with the opportunity to get directly involved in product development and commercial negotiations.

• This role also gives the opportunity to experience wider areas such as competition, litigation and data protection, working with internal and external counsel where appropriate.

• We would like to speak to experienced lawyers who have relevant experience with fintechs or banks, either in-house or advising from private practice.

• The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they bring a high-performance, commercial and pragmatic mindset to novel and complex legal challenges. They will have a ‘can-do’ attitude to everyday legal tasks that help the bank succeed.

• With us, you’ll be a part of a fast-growing business that is challenging the market and doing things differently, underlined by risk management and compliance rigour.

• In the UK Legal team there is a focus on advising on new product design and readiness, new business structures and models.

• We need lawyers who are agile, fast and committed to good commercial and risk management outcomes, and in their work can demonstrate knowledge, logic and sound judgement. As someone who likes to take ownership, you’ll help to ensure that ClearBank’s arrangements with customers and partners meet legal and regulatory requirements.

• Cross departmental relationships are essential, and you will 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.

What we're looking for:

The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with at least 5 years PQE leading on commercial negotiations and employing your knowledge of banking and payments regulation as you go. A breadth of experience will complement the broad nature of work in this role. Direct experience of the areas highlighted in the above section is preferred. Our PQE statement is offered as a guide and we will consider candidates at all levels who can demonstrate the relevant experience.

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:

• advising on matters related to banking and payments including primary legislation, PSRs and EMRs, and the PRA and FCA rulebooks, as well as adjacent requirements such as payment and card scheme rules

• emerging regulation around crypto, and other novel forms of financial services, especially in a digital context

• partnering with clients to structure new regulated products and services and advise on impact of changing regulation on existing products and services

• partnering with our commercial counsel to amend / draft and developing new customer agreements from ‘bare bones’

• applying that advice in a practical way to business decisions, product design, and customer, supplier and product terms

• financial services business and operating models in the UK, ideally those that include embedded banking, white-labelling and/or outsourcing

Bonus/ Advantageous experience:

• Experience in a high‐growth or scale up environment

• Advising banks on regulatory capital matters, and/or advising EMIs and other fintechs on matters such as safeguarding.

• Experience of other regulatory regimes such as data protection, and wider areas of law such as competition law.

• Knowledge of embedded banking business models and outsourcing regulations

This presents an opportunity to really partner with the business to help deliver outcomes, which will include using a wide range of legal and business skills. You’ll advise on commercial and regulatory issues affecting the business, as well as supporting our commercial lawyers with drafting and negotiating template and client contracts. If this sounds like your idea of the perfect in-house role – complex, thoughtful and close enough to the business to really be able get hands-on, then don’t hang about. Drop us a line.

*Regretfully we are not able to sponsor applicants for immigration purposes at the current time.

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 to 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.