Corporate Governance Professional/Senior Paralegal

Application Deadline:

Address:

320 S Canal Street

Job Family Group:

Legal

Provides services in support of legal counsel. Participates in the implementation of improvement opportunities to contribute to the effective and efficient operations of the business. Builds productive relationships with legal counsel, Board and Committee members and staff, and delivers exceptional administrative service through responsive, accurate and knowledgeable support.

Act as Secretary or Assistant for various BMO Financial Group subsidiaries and affiliates (BFG); prepare meeting agendas, disseminate meeting materials via email and online board portal and draft minutes for operating companies, including regulated entities.

• Assist in coordinating BFG materials for Board and committee meetings.  Be responsible as needed for disseminating information to directors and management, coordinating meeting dates, arranging audio-visual, transportation, catering and making other arrangements for the meetings.  Ability to handle director payments; monitor and track attendance; circulate and follow up on various questionnaires.
• Independently handle time sensitive redactions of board and committee meeting materials and minutes.
• Responsible for annual FRY-6 filings and other bank regulatory filings.
• Manage regulatory compliance and risk program for the U.S. team including, but not limited to, maintaining regulatory inventory, conducting monitoring and testing of program, distributing quarterly attestation reports and compiling results, and tracking issues.

Other corporate governance and paralegal work may include:

• Maintaining and updating database of information on identified subsidiaries and affiliates.  
• Preparing incumbency and other certificates for signing authority of officers. Cataloging and storing corporate records (for example, acquisition closing documents, purchase and sale agreements, settlement agreements, Board meeting minutes).
• Handling state corporate filings (annual reports, qualifications to do business, etc.) for BMO Financial Corp.’s U.S. subsidiaries.
• Working independently on special projects relating to legal, corporate governance and corporate secretarial matters.
• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
• Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
• Plans, attends and executes allocated Board and Board Committee meetings, including review and coordination of agendas with various stakeholders, coordination of the allocated Board and Board Committee meeting material mailing process, meeting minutes scribing, follow-up trackers.
• Prepares correspondence, reports and other documents as required.
• Develops and maintains filing systems; ensures business/ operational reports, forms and other documentation, paper or electronic, are readily available.
• Maintains and certifies accuracy of portfolio information in Global Entity Management System (GEMS).
• Certifies completion of compliance procedures, legal documents, and documentation to support various transactions.
• Coordinates internal funding transactions.
• Provides insider reporting information, including ensuring insider filing requirements and controls, and monitors the exercising of stock options as required.
• Supports the management of projects and transactions by monitoring progress against key milestones and monitoring project expenses to ensure on budget.
• Handles sensitive/ confidential Bank information while minimizing risk.
• Operates effectively in a high stress environment with constantly changing expectations.
• Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders.
• Privy to sensitive and confidential Bank Matters which may impact the Bank’s reputational risk.
• Focus is primarily on business/group within BMO; may have broader, enterprise-wide focus.
• Provides specialized consulting, analytical and technical support.
• Exercises judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within given rules.
• Works independently and regularly handles non-routine situations.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications:

• 7-15 years experience and a Paralegal Certificate or equivalent training on the job.  Bachelor’s degree and large law firm or in-house experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and be able to interact with all levels of management, both inside the bank and with external directors.
• Superior organizational skills and strong writing abilities are critical.
• Knowledge of the business and regulatory environm