Director, US Regulatory Payments Counsel

Are you a high caliber, experienced and energetic attorney, with experience in financial services regulation and technology? Are you interested in joining a globally diverse organization where our unique contributions are recognized and celebrated, allowing each of us to thrive? Join Western Union as Director, US Consumer Protection Counsel.

In a rapidly evolving and challenging international regulatory and macropolitical environment, we seek an energetic team player with a positive and balanced outlook ready to make an impact, who can take the initiative to help colleagues make swift, effective risk-based decisions regarding regulatory risks and requirements.

This US Regulatory Counsel will work closely with stakeholders across the company to analyze, assess risk and ensure compliance with US regulations, play a key role in managing regulatory risks, and support licensing initiatives, product launches and service enhancements improving our customers’ experience. The legal advice provided by this role will be potentially critical to effective risk-based decision-making by teams and functions addressing regulatory compliance matters, licensing applications and product and service launches/enhancements

Role Responsibilities 

• Oversee regulatory requirements research, analysis / interpretation and advisory / matter handling, including engaging with outside counsel.

• Collaborate with a customer and strategic focus with other functions, especially Compliance and Ops/Product teams, to support the launch of new and improved products and compliance controls.

• Draft formal legal analysis (eg internal memos), responses to regulatory inquiries, notifications, inspection/exams, direct regulatory interaction.

• Monitor and report on legislative trends and developments, supporting the Public Policy team on lobbying efforts and where necessary inputting to public consultations and key industry events.

• Team Development and Department Management inputs

Role Requirements 

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school

• Admitted to at least one US State bar

• 6-8+ years of relevant post-qualification experience, including detailed regulatory legal expertise. Several years in a leading law firm or multinational in-house role focused on payments/fintech, and/or experience gained in US federal governmental bodies or State departments is strongly preferred.

• Deep knowledge of US federal and state regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements applicable to payments companies, including Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), AML/CFT laws and sanctions, EFTA, Dodd-Frank / consumer laws; licensing laws such as crypto, money transmission, wallets and lending / banking as a service

• Excellent analytical, research, and communication skills, able to deliver concise, timely, commercial advice on potentially complex or ambiguous regulatory requirements

• Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple projects simultaneously, providing pragmatic, clear, risk-based advice in a fast-paced environment

• Experience in representing companies in regulatory investigations and hearings at supervisory and enforcement level

• Proficiency in providing regulatory compliance and risk management advice to support product development and customer service enhancements in line with regulatory requirements and risk appetite

• Advanced communication and cross-functional stakeholder management skills in a global, diverse, multicultural work environment

• Proficiency in teamwork and ownership with a customer focus

• Pragmatic, risk-based approach to decision-making

• Comfortable with grey area, able to handle and adapt to change and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment

• Creative mindset and approach to achieving compliance – challenges the status quo

• Ability to interact with internal and external customers daily and influence the delivery of value with the customer and agent experience in mind while acting as a guardian to the company in managing its regulatory obligations

• Regular review and sometime design of processes, policies, and programs related to regulatory compliance

• Working familiarity with the organization, competitors, industry, and commercial environment

• Deep knowledge of US federal and state regulatory frameworks and com