Senior Payments Legal & Regulatory Counsel BHFS

Overview

This role supports regulatory legal matters related to payments and financial services for the US and Americas region. The position partners with business, technology, risk, compliance, finance, and public affairs stakeholders to help develop, launch, and enable a world-class payments operation.

Responsibilities

• Support regulatory legal matters related to payments and financial services in the US and Americas region, including:
  • Licensing and money transmission
  • BSA compliance and related matters
• Serve as a trusted advisor in shaping strategy and decisions as a key member of the US management team.
• Work cross-functionally daily with senior leadership, technology, risk, compliance, finance teams, and other stakeholders.
• Advise on legal questions related to regulatory strategy, product development, and user experience within global payments regulatory contexts.
• Provide timely, practical, and actionable legal advice on regulated financial and payments products and services, using legal judgment and commercial acumen to assess US legal risk.
• Actively manage outside counsel to obtain clear, tailored advice on payments-related regulatory initiatives and products.
• Identify, monitor, and advise on emerging payments and financial services regulatory issues affecting the US business, anticipating changes that may impact strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with public affairs on matters impacting payments and financial services regulation.
• Help develop a comprehensive, long-term approach to relationships with key partners across payments operations in the US.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant legal experience practicing law, with a mix of in-house and reputable law firm experience preferred.
• Law degree from a top-tier law school, with excellent academic credentials.
• Significant experience advising on regulatory matters in financial services or payments, including strong knowledge of laws and regulations governing a money services business and entities with money transmission licenses (MTL), or similar payments/financial services regulatory experience advising regulated entities.
• Experience and demonstrated success advising on regulatory submissions and filings.
• Strong understanding of the broader US regulatory environment, including familiarity with US legislation and experience advising on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional (state and international) regulatory issues.
• Understanding of legal principles applicable to payments and the payments ecosystem (e.g., role of acquiring and issuing banks, card networks, payment processors, gateways, risk vendors), including regulatory implications (e.g., stored value, money transmission, and other payments) and consumer protection laws.
• Experience advising on all aspects of payments, new product development, and product delivery channels, including working closely with product designers, engineers, and product management.
• Broad experience with government agencies and regulators, specifically state MTL regulators, FinCen, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; ideally including direct engagement with state or federal regulators.
• Experience with data privacy, security, consumer protection issues in the digital environment, platform liability, marketing and advertising law, and information policy.
• Excellent business judgment, communication, and interpersonal skills, with ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a global team environment as well as independently.
• Integrity and intellectual curiosity; ability to tolerate change and ambiguity.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and structuring international commercial transactions with a wide range of counterparties.
• Strong problem-solving skills; ability to handle multiple assignments and conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong writing, communication (verbal and written), and organizational skills.
• Comfortable navigating complicated and nuanced issues; eager to learn new technologies and ideas.
• Previous experience working within a technology and digital legal environment is desirable.
• Willingness to travel.
• Bar admission in good standing in a US state.
  • Preference for admission in New York or eligibility to be registered as an in-house attorney in New York (allowed for attorneys admitted in some states).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience dealing with major payment networks.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range (Connecticut and NYC-metro area): $224,600–$274,600.
• Eligible for an annual bonus and equity grant.
• Comprehensive benefits program, including competitive health and wellness benefits, plus additional perks for eligible employees such as tuition reimbursement, fitness reimbursement, discounts, and more.

Location

• Connecticut and the NYC-metro area.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunity in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The employer welcomes job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities.