Vice President, Legal - Office of the Secretary

The Office of the Secretary (“OTS”), which sits within the Firm’s Legal function, partners with senior management, control groups, lines of business and corporate units to promote effective governance of the Firm. OTS operates primarily through teams located in New York City, London and Hong Kong. In EMEA, OTS has a presence in London, Dublin, Luxembourg and Frankfurt.

As a Corporate – Legal – Office of the Secretary – Vice President in Legal department you will support the delivery of corporate governance and company secretarial services to the Firm’s subsidiaries that operate within EMEA. You will also act as a strategic business partner to senior stakeholders within EMEA, including boards and other senior executives, providing advice on corporate governance and company secretarial matters that relate to EMEA legal entities and leading on material communications with board directors. You will work closely with other Company Secretary’s within the EMEA OTS team in delivering the strategic and operational objectives of OTS.

Job responsibilities 

• Provide proactive advice to EMEA boards and senior management on corporate governance matters that relate to legal entities that operate within the business.
• Oversee and deliver day-to-day corporate governance and company secretarial services in respect of EMEA legal entities, including board/board committee governance and legal entity management
• Monitor changes in corporate legislation and the financial services regulatory environment and take or recommend action as appropriate.
• Oversee and coordinate information flows to EMEA legal entity boards and board committees, by proactively driving the agenda-setting process with the relevant board or committee Chair and partnering with relevant stakeholders on the preparation of board and committee meeting/briefing materials.
• Lead and deliver against ad hoc projects and/or corporate transactions that may arise, working with multiple stakeholders.
• Act as an effective channel of communication for EMEA legal entity board members, with a particular focus on non-executive directors.
• Oversee and coordinate board member onboarding, induction and ongoing training, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders within EMEA.
• Lead and deliver governance enhancements in relation to OTS managed legal entities, driving governance standards in line with regulatory requirements and internal policies. 
• Develop effective working relationships with others within OTS, demonstrating the Firm’s core values as a colleague.

Required qualifications, skills and capabilities

• Strong degree-level academic background.
• Part/Fully Qualified Company Secretary, Corporate Governance Professional or Corporate Solicitor with relevant work experience.
• Strong experience in regulated financial services, with a focus on management and/or investment banking organisations.
• Track record of supporting corporate governance and company secretarial matters within a high-profile environment.
• Good understanding of corporate governance matters impacted by changing law and regulations in the financial services industry
• Emotional intelligence and gravitas, to develop and maintain effective working relationships with board members and senior management
• Impeccable integrity / Balanced and measured with a good judgement, self-awareness, tact and discretion. 
• Adaptable approach / Self-motivated and goal-oriented with an ability to work independently and work well as a part of a wider team
• Strong written and verbal skills, and an effective communicator with maturity to deal effectively at all levels of the organisation
• Able to prioritise, handle time pressure and manage multiple projects at the same time, with flexibility to adapt to and manage shifting expectations appropriately