Head of Legal

PQE Partners; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Job summary

PQE Partners Pty in Sydney is seeking a Head of Legal to lead the legal function and manage a small team, while working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation.

You will develop and implement legal strategies aligned with business goals, ensure compliance with Australian regulatory requirements, and oversee key commercial contracts and disputes. This is a hands-on leadership role in a high-growth financial services environment with hybrid working in Sydney.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years PQE gained in private practice or in-house, with financial services regulatory experience.
• Strong knowledge of lending, NCCP, consumer credit and AML/CTF.
• Understanding of Australian regulatory frameworks, ideally within lending or financial services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with business goals and growth.
• Ensure compliance with Australian regulatory requirements including the Corporations Act, ASIC regulations and NCCP.
• Support treasury transactions, funding arrangements and securitisation matters, coordinating with external counsel.
• Oversee drafting, review and negotiation of loan agreements, vendor agreements and other commercial contracts.
• Provide advice on legal risk, governance and internal policies.
• Manage disputes and engage external counsel as needed.
• Lead and develop two direct reports within the legal team.
• Act as trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the business.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Commercial acumen

Lending regulatory knowledge (NCCP/AML

Education

8+ years PQE

Job description

PQE Partners are exclusively representing a high-growth financial services business in their search for a Head of Legal. This is a hands-on leadership role that will see you lead the legal function and manage a small team, while working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation.

The business has experienced significant growth over the past few years, bringing greater scale, regulatory complexity and an evolving product offering. This is an opportunity to join at an interesting point in its journey, with plenty of complex and meaningful work ahead.

As Head of Legal, you will:

• Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with business goals and continued growth.
• Ensure compliance with Australian regulatory requirements, including the Corporations Act, ASIC regulations and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act.
• Support treasury transactions, funding arrangements and securitisation matters, including coordination with external counsel.
• Oversee the drafting, review and negotiation of loan agreements, vendor agreements and other commercial contracts.
• Provide advice on legal and regulatory risk, corporate governance and internal policies.
• Manage disputes and external dispute resolution processes, engaging external counsel where required.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the business, providing pragmatic advice and constructively challenging where required.
• Lead, develop and support two direct reports within the legal team.

About You:

• A minimum of 8 years PQE gained in private practice or in-house, with solid financial services regulatory experience.
• Strong knowledge of lending, NCCP, consumer credit and AML/CTF.
• A strong understanding of Australian regulatory frameworks, ideally gained within lending or a related financial services environment.
• Commercially minded and capable of balancing legal and regulatory risk with the commercial objectives of the business.
• A confident and engaging stakeholder manager who is comfortable navigating differing views, challenging where necessary and establishing credibility with senior stakeholders.
• Proactive, resilient and solutions-focused, with a genuine ‘can-do’ approach.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where you will be expected to take ownership, make decisions and continue developing the legal function.

What’s on Offer:

• A senior leadership appointment with significant visibility and influence across the business.
• Management of two direct reports, providing a balance between team leadership and remaining close to the legal work.
• The opportunity to join a business that has experienced significant growth, with new products, increasing regulatory complexity and plenty of interesting work ahead.
• A role that will stretch and develop you, providing highly sought-after experience across legal leadership, financial services regulation, funding and broader commercial matters.
• The opportunity to build on a legal function that has established strong credibility within the business and continue shaping its role as the organisation evolves.
• Full-time, permanent role based in Sydney (hybrid).