AVP (Associate Counsel), Legal

Job Description

Job Description

Merrick Bank employees share in our mission to delight our customers and empower underserved consumers to achieve their credit goals.

In return, we delight our associates; ensuring they are noticed, heard, appreciated and understand the importance of their role(s).

For over 20 years, our Guiding Principles of; doing the right thing, putting the customer first, and Earn, Learn, Have Fun (aka E.

L.F.), have defined who we are as an Employer of Choice. Give Yourself Credit, Work at Merrick!

The AVP, Associate Counsel, is responsible for a variety of legal matters involving Merrick Bank (the Bank ) and provides legal advice on behalf of the Bank and its related companies.

Expected to have frequent interaction with colleagues in the Legal Organizational Area, across Merrick Bank and be focused on problem solving, interpreting consumer credit laws and regulations, transactional work, contract interpretation and negotiation.

Essential Functions :

• Responsible for managing or supporting a variety of legal work, which could include regulatory compliance, consumer litigation contracts, transactions and corporate matters.
• Interpret and advise on laws and regulations that impact consumer credit and collections.
• Responsible for ensuring that all laws and regulations governing activities in which the Bank is engaged are considered and complied with, and for coordinating with the Bank’s department managers in the creation and adoption of appropriate policies and procedures to ensure compliance by the Bank with such laws and regulations.
• Supports functional areas of the Bank with respect to legal issues.
• Collaborates with other members of the Legal Organizational Area, business leaders and internal departments to accomplish company objectives.
• Ability to explain legal requirements to internal clients having a wide range of experience and skill levels.
• Supports projects and initiatives from the legal perspective to identify and mitigate legal risk.
• Coordinates and communicates with both senior and junior personnel to create awareness of the progress in departmental and organizational activities.
• Supervises the activities of Bank Legal Department employees.
• Assists the President and others with compiling information and materials to be presented at each meeting of the board of directors.
• Responsible for assigned matters of a legal nature involving the Bank and for coordinating with the Bank President and board of directors, as appropriate, in resolving and addressing all such matters.
• All other duties as assigned by authorized Bank or parent company representatives.
• Compliance with Laws & Regulations :
• Responsible for developing, documenting, communicating, maintaining, and enforcing effective control system policies and procedures within your area of oversight.
• Responsible to act in a timely manner to update policies and procedures when changes in operating conditions occur and / or breakdowns or noncompliance with laws and regulations appear.
• Responsible for complying with all the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with all laws and regulations to which the Bank is subject.
• Responsible for communicating problems in operations, noncompliance with the code of conduct, noncompliance with laws and regulations, policy violations, or illegal acts.

Education and Experience :

• Member of the Utah State Bar : licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Utah is required. Additional state bar admissions, such as New York, would be a plus.
• Seven to ten years’ experience in consumer credit (credit card preferred), payments or other financial services is preferred.

Summary of Qualifications :

• Experience handling general corporate or transactional matters.
• Experience handling financial institution regulatory matters.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and amending contracts.
• Knowledge of consumer credit and collections laws.
• Eager to take ownership of projects and to take on additional responsibility.
• Eager to collaborate with others to get things done efficiently.
• Creativity in finding ways to accomplish the Bank’s business objectives in a manner that complies with applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to strategically evaluate situations, troubleshoot causes and effects, and implement any challenges either independently or with a team of experts.
• Ability to apply new and unfamiliar laws / regulations in an efficient and timely manner and advise clients under uncertain conditions.
• Execute all tasks timely with appropriate attention to detail and accuracy.

We offer a total rewards package comprised of a competitive base rate of pay, variable pay incentive programs based on the role, and a comprehensive benefit suite.

Offered rates of pay are determined based on job-related knowledge, relevant experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

Our benefits offerings include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, paid vacation time, sick time, as well as other benefits and programs to meet the needs of our employees.

Further details will be shared during the interview or offer process, as appropriate and applicable.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic.

We will conduct a thorough background check for all hires in compliance with applicable law which includes (but may not be limited to) a review of factors including drug testing and employment / personal references.

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