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Associate Counsel

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American Express

21d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Mid & Senior Level
  • Government & Politics
    Legal
  • London

AI generated summary

  • You should be a qualified UK lawyer with financial services regulation experience, strong drafting and analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while building solid relationships.
  • You will assist senior lawyers with regulatory monitoring, compliance advice, licensing, cross-border structures, lobbying efforts, managing breaches, and delivering training on financial service regulations.

Requirements

  • Qualified to practice law in the UK with experience advising on regulatory matters in the UK and EU.
  • Professional experience ideally in financial services regulation matters in a law firm, regulator or in-house.
  • Familiarity with one or more of the following areas would be ideal - payment services, payment schemes, e-money, AML, FSMA. Willingness to learn and become an expert in these fields.
  • Fluency in English.
  • Solid drafting, research and negotiation/influencing skills.
  • Solid analytical skills and high attention to detail.
  • Applications are also welcome from experienced career paralegals with substantial financial services regulatory background.
  • High engagement – passionate about payments and regulatory matters.
  • Skilled at prioritisation - able to manage and prioritise a wide variety of matters and client contacts at once, and comfortable working autonomously.
  • Commercial awareness – able to interpret and apply regulation in a pragmatic manner.
  • Communication skills – personable, able to communicate clearly, concisely, effectively and persuasively with clients, all levels of business, legal management and external regulators.
  • Comfortable with speaking up in meetings and briefing stakeholders orally and in writing.
  • Process-management skills - strong knowledge-management and organisational skills, and willingness to help identify and implement improvements in work process to enhance efficiency and productivity.
  • Adaptable and collaborative - able and willing to work both as part of a team and independently, under supervision of more senior lawyers where appropriate.
  • Willingness to learn and grow - willing to learn business sectors relevant to American Express as well as the applicable regulatory environment and to leverage experience gained in this position to expand skill set for future career growth at American Express.
  • Strong relationship focus - able to build solid working relationships with clients, colleagues and external parties. Enjoys getting to know people.
  • Commitment to integrity and American Express values, with high personal work standards.
  • Strategic thinker with good analytical skills, attention to detail even under time pressure.
  • Intellectually strong - rapid grasp of key issues.

Responsibilities

  • Supporting senior lawyers in the team on regulatory change management process by monitoring regulatory developments at UK, EU and global level relating to financial services, payment services, payment schemes and financial crimes through internal, external and desktop resources and reporting these developments internally.
  • Advising on and supporting compliance with the requirements of key financial services legislation including UK payment services regulations, EU PSD2 and PSD3/PSR1, Interchange Fee Regulation, legislation related to financial crimes, digital currencies, cryptoassets and environmental, social and governance, and helping to shape future lobbying strategy in these areas.
  • Supporting senior lawyers in advising on licensing, prudential regulation, ongoing governance and conduct regulation under the regimes established by PSD2/PSD3. This include playing a role on licensing matters such as advising on license applications, passporting submissions and appointment of agents.
  • Supporting senior lawyers in advising on cross-border structures, passporting and arrangements with third parties (group companies and external partners), including outsourcing and agency arrangements.
  • Advising on FCA authorisation and supervision generally, assisting with relevant UK/EU regulatory reviews and inspections and responding to requests for information.
  • Assisting lobbying efforts in the UK and EU as well as potentially other regions globally to ensure regulation is proportionately tailored according to different business models. Assisting in the development of American Express strategy in response to and anticipation of regulatory developments in the payments industry.
  • Supporting senior lawyers in advising on management of potential regulatory breaches or compliance failures.
  • Supporting regulatory aspects and overall strategy on re-organisation projects, structuring considerations, new product launches and new market entry.
  • Briefing colleagues and clients on significant developments and projects. This will include preparing and supporting the delivery of trainings or presentations as appropriate.
  • Supporting senior lawyers in instructing and finalising legal opinions/advice from outside counsel as needed.
  • Attending relevant training courses.
  • Supporting the work of the Global Payments Systems Regulation Centre of Excellence, as required.

FAQs

What is the job title for this position?

The job title is Associate Counsel (Financial Services Regulatory).

Where is the position located?

The position is based in London.

What department will the Associate Counsel be part of?

The Associate Counsel will be part of the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO), specifically within the Global Legal Policy & Strategy team.

What areas of law and policy will the Associate Counsel focus on?

The Associate Counsel will focus on areas related to payments regulation, data/digital policy, strong customer authentication requirements, open banking/finance, e-commerce, money transfers, digital currencies, cryptoassets, and financial crimes.

What kind of experience is preferred for applicants?

Preferred experience includes being qualified to practice law in the UK, with experience advising on regulatory matters in the UK and EU, particularly in financial services regulation.

Are there specific personal attributes that are valued for this role?

Yes, attributes such as high engagement, prioritization skills, commercial awareness, strong communication skills, adaptability, willingness to learn, relationship focus, commitment to integrity, and strategic thinking are valued.

What type of responsibilities will the Associate Counsel have?

Responsibilities include supporting regulatory change management, advising on compliance with financial services legislation, assisting with licensing matters, managing regulatory breaches, and supporting lobbying efforts.

What benefits does American Express offer to its employees?

American Express offers competitive base salaries, bonus incentives, comprehensive medical and dental benefits, a flexible working model, paid parental leave policies, access to wellness centers, counseling support, and career development opportunities.

Is there an opportunity for career growth in this position?

Yes, the role offers opportunities for learning and growth within American Express, allowing the Associate Counsel to expand their skill set for future career advancement.

Does American Express conduct background verification checks for employment?

Yes, the offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

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American Express

Finance
Industry
10,001+
Employees
1850
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

At American Express, we know that with the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. Whether we’re supporting our customers’ financial confidence to move ahead, taking commerce to new heights, or encouraging people to explore the world, our colleagues are constantly striving to uphold our powerful backing promise to our customers and each other every day. These beliefs have been our North Star for 170 years as our business transformed – from helping evacuate travelers during World Wars, to ensuring the safety of our customers’ funds during the Great Depression in the U.S., to creating the Shop Small® movement to help small businesses recover from the Financial Crisis, to providing aid to communities impacted by many natural disasters and so much more. For generations, the key to our success has been the determination and resilience of our American Express colleagues. Now, as a globally integrated payments company, we work together to provide customers with access to products, insights and world-class experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Join us and let’s lead the way together.

Culture & Values

  • We Back Our Customers

    Relationships are at the heart of our business. We strive to be essential to our customers by delivering exceptional products, services and experiences every day – and promise to have their backs in everything we do.

  • We Make It Great

    We deliver an unparalleled standard of excellence in everything we do, staying focused on the biggest opportunities to be meaningful to our customers. From our innovative products to our world-class customer service, our customers expect the best—and our teams are proud to deliver it.

  • We Do What’s Right

    Customers choose us because they trust our brand and people. We earn that trust by ensuring everything we do is reliable, consistent, and with the highest level of integrity.

  • We Respect People

    We trust and respect one another for who we are and what we contribute. We are accountable to one another and empower every voice through open, courageous dialogue so others feel heard.

  • We Embrace Diversity

    We see diversity of people and experiences as fuel for the creativity and innovation we need to be and deliver our best.

  • We Stand for Inclusion

    We all have biases. However, we do not tolerate bias that excludes or minimizes anyone – all people belong. We’re committed to ensuring that we have a welcoming and inclusive culture where everyone’s voice matters and where people of all races, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, religions, disabilities and viewpoints can thrive.

  • We Win As a Team

    We view each other as colleagues—part of the same team, striving to deliver the brand promise to our customers and each other every day. Individual performance is essential and valued, but never at the expense of the team.

  • We Support Our Communities

    We respect our communities and are committed to working together so they can thrive and make a meaningful difference in the world.