Senior Legal Counsel

About the role

This is an exciting new role to lead and build an internal (banking) legal capability that is going to be crucial in supporting Oxbury as we continue to scale our lending book.

With a strong legal background balanced with a commercial mindset, you will be the in-house banking legal subject matter expert, helping the business understand and manage its legal risks within the lending business.

You will need to establish systems and processes to support the relationship and operational teams, as well as the wider credit team with all legal aspects of the loan management lifecycle.

Role Responsibilities

• Own and manage all legal risks associated within the Bank’s lending business, from day to day deal specific queries, reviews and advice, through to supporting the growth agenda of the Bank with regards to legal policy evolution, new product development and management of the Bank’s legal panel.

• Advising on a range of banking and finance transactions across the Oxbury product range, identifying legal and regulatory risks and delivering practical solutions.

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating facility agreements, security documents, guarantees, intercreditor agreements and ancillary finance documentation.

• Supporting transactions from instruction through to completion, including funding and drawdown arrangements, identifying and managing any legal and regulatory risks.

• Providing commercially focused legal advice to business stakeholders across the Relationship, Operation and Credit teams, specifically working with the Underwriting and Collections, Turnaround & Recovery teams.

• Support the development and implementation of the Collateral Management Policy, owning the Bank’s suite of standard loan and security documentation used by the Bank’s teams and by panel firms. Ensure the Bank’s document suite remains fit for purpose through regular proactive reviews as well as through reviews in reaction to changing market standards or precedents.

• Monitoring legal and regulatory developments, providing training and guidance to colleagues and stakeholders.

• Support the implementation of the credit lending strategy of the Bank in line with the Board’s risk appetite, credit risk policies, and corporate governance, ensuring the Board’s expectations for levels of professional conduct and integrity and ethical values are respected throughout Credit Risk, promote good behaviour and setting an example in this regard.

• Help to maintain robust lending standards and practice, including compliance with industry guidelines and statutory regulations requirements such as customer affordability, PRA/FCA’s Statements of Principles, treating customers fairly, anti-money laundering and data protection.

• Work with colleagues to implement Credit Risk, Board and Committee decisions whilst making valuable individual contributions as a member of the Oxbury team.

• Participate in ongoing personal development to deliver on business/personal objectives

Required skills/experience

• A qualified solicitor with significant relevant post-qualification experience and the ability to operate at Senior Legal Counsel level, gained either in-house within a bank or specialist lender, or within a banking practice at a commercial law firm.

• An understanding of how lending relationships work across Oxbury’s product range (ideally with knowledge of the agricultural sector), from asset finance transactions, working capital and term loan propositions within the commercial and corporate markets.

• The ability to understand the commerciality of a lending deal and clearly articulate the legal risks and trade offs to mandate holders and stakeholders.

• A self-starter who is motivated, enthusiastic, curious and proactive with a strong work ethic and a flexible attitude.

• Detail focused, and an ability to work within risk appetite and risk management frameworks, experienced at managing multiple complex matters while maintaining exceptional standards of accuracy and service delivery.

• A team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders.

• Experience working with UK compliance and banking regulations including Conduct Risk and how to deliver fair customer outcomes.

• Good Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel and reporting skills.

Desirable skills/experience

• Inspires respect, trust and commitment to business objectives.

• Ability to develop working relationships with Oxbury colleagues.

• Demonstrates sound business/professional judgement, risk awareness, and common sense.

• Organised with an attention to detail; works well under pressure, to tight deadlines; can prioritise.

• Good analytical skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Good influencing skills and the ability to package and present ideas and gain agreement from peers.

Why join Oxbury?

We are Oxbury: The only UK bank dedicated to British agriculture. Founded by farmers, bankers, and technologists, we have combined the worlds of financial services, technology, and agriculture to provide bespoke financial products to support the rural economy.

Our mission is to create and grow a sustainable, customer-focused, and innovative bank that supports and champions the financial health of the rural economy.

Alongside this we can offer you

• 25 days holiday, plus 8 days bank holiday (this increases with service).
• Oxbury Bonus scheme.
• Free gym and Personal Training session every week.
• Private Medical Healthcare.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life Insurance.
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave.
• Employee referral scheme.