Counsel, Business Conduct Compliance

CIRO / OCRI; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 124,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Health benefits and spending account

Defined contribution pension plan with

Paid flex days and sick days

Maternity/Paternity leave top up

Job summary

CIRO is seeking a Counsel, Business Conduct Compliance to help assess emerging regulatory risks and evolving dealer practices. The role focuses on translating complex regulatory questions into actionable guidance for examination teams, management, and stakeholders across Canada.

You will work at the intersection of regulation, innovation, and investor protection, supporting consistency in examination approaches and decision-making in a dynamic regulatory environment.

Qualifications

• Law degree, legal training, or equivalent experience in securities regulation or related field.
• Strong ability to analyze complex business models and regulatory issues.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead assessment of emerging dealer conduct issues and new technologies.
• Develop clear, practical recommendations for BCC management.
• Support consistent approaches across firms, regions, and teams.
• Identify issues for escalation to Policy for interpretation or rule development.
• Prepare briefing notes, issue summaries, and practical guidance.

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical thinking

Written and verbal communication

Presentation skills

Education

Law degree

Job description

40 Temperance Street
Suite 2600
Toronto, ON M5H0B4, CAN

Description

About Us

As a self-regulatory organization, our mission is to promote healthy capital markets by regulating fairly and effectively so that investors are protected and confident investing in their futures. At the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) , we are committed to setting high regulatory standards for the investment industry, safeguarding investors, and supporting the integrity of Canada’s capital markets. Join a growing team and contribute to the dynamic and complex world of Canadian capital markets.

About Business Conduct Compliance

Business Conduct Compliance, BCC, conducts examinations of investment dealers and mutual fund dealers to assess whether firms have appropriate controls to supervise their business conduct activities. BCC also reviews firm compliance with CIRO’s investor protection, sales conduct, supervision, complaint handling, conflicts of interest, know-your-client, suitability, and related business conduct requirements.

BCC plays an important role in identifying current and emerging risks across the investment industry and supporting consistent, practical, and risk-based supervisory approaches.

About this Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of securities regulation, innovation, dealer supervision, and investor protection. In this role, you will assess evolving business models, new technologies, digital engagement practices, artificial intelligence, crypto-related activities, order execution only platforms, prediction markets, social media, third-party technology arrangements, and other novel dealer practices.

As Counsel, Business Conduct Compliance, you will help BCC understand these developments and evaluate how existing regulatory requirements apply in practice. Your analysis and recommendations will support effective supervision, investor protection, and consistent decision-making across BCC. You will help BCC assess emerging risks, support consistent examination approaches across firms and regions, and identify issues that may require escalation to Policy for further consideration, interpretation, guidance, or rule development.

This role is embedded within BCC and is designed to provide practical regulatory support to examination teams, management, and internal stakeholders on complex and emerging business conduct issues. It will appeal to someone who enjoys working through regulatory questions where the answer is not always clear, connecting legal and policy concepts to real-world dealer practices, and developing practical recommendations that support consistent regulatory outcomes

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the assessment of complex and emerging dealer conduct issues, including new business models, technologies, products, partnerships, digital engagement practices, and other novel activities.
• Analyze facts, applicable rules, guidance, and regulatory concepts to develop clear, practical recommendations for BCC management and examination teams.
• Support consistent BCC approaches across firms, regions, and examination teams on emerging business conduct matters.
• Identify issues that may require escalation to Policy for interpretation, guidance, or rule development.
• Prepare briefing notes, issue summaries, decision-support materials, and practical guidance on complex or emerging regulatory issues.
• Identify trends, recurring issues, and emerging risks across dealers, examinations, and business models.
• Work closely with the BCC Senior Counsel to support alignment, knowledge transfer, and continuity of specialized regulatory expertise.
• Support updates to examination approaches, findings language, procedures, tools, and training where new issues emerge.
• Prepare and deliver presentations on emerging regulatory and business conduct topics for internal and external audiences.

What You Bring

Must-have

• Law degree, legal training, or equivalent experience in securities regulation, dealer compliance, policy, or regulatory analysis or a related area.
• Significant experience in private practice, in-house, regulatory, compliance, examination, or policy roles involving securities regulation or dealer conduct.
• Strong knowledge of dealer operations, supervision, compliance, and the Canadian securities regulatory framework.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex business models, regulatory issues, and fact patterns where formal rules, guidance, or precedents may be limited.
• Excellent judgment, problem-solving, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to translate legal, policy, or regulatory issues into practical guidance for examination teams and management.
• Ability to navigate escalations and high-risk matters in a regulatory environment.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to explain complex topics clearly to different audiences.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience with emerging areas such as digital assets, artificial intelligence, OEO platforms, prediction markets, digital engagement practices, social media, or platform-based business models.
• Experience preparing briefing notes, issue summaries, policy analysis, regulatory guidance, or decision-support materials.
• Experience developing training, tools, procedures, or internal guidance for regulatory, compliance, or examination teams.
• Knowledge of relevant foreign regulatory systems, regulators, rules, or legislation.

What we offer:

• Competitive base salary in alignment with market
• Performance based bonus *
• Hybrid work environment
• Employer paid Health Benefits and Spending Account that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs as of day one
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment *
• Paid flex days and sick days *
• Maternity Leave Of Absence/Paternity Leave Of Absence top up *
• Paid continuous learning and continuing development including designations

*Asterisked offerings are not applicable to contracts

Why the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO):

Our purpose and our impact:

With offices across Canada - from Vancouver to Montreal, our mission is to promote healthy capital markets by regulating fairly and effectively so that investors are protected and confident investing in their futures. As regulators, we understand that we are all investors, and therefore a career with us is a purposeful career: protecting our future.

Culture and Working Environment:

Life at CIRO is purpose and performance- driven. We foster an inclusive culture where teamwork, a forward-thinking attitude, and integrity are at the core of everything we do. This creates an environment where employees thrive, grow, and are empowered to learn and contribute their best.

Joining CIRO means becoming part of a dynamic and transparent organization that values accountability and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of regulatory oversight in the financial industry.

Looking for a career where you can safeguard the integrity of Canadian markets? Join CIRO and be part of the team that secures our financial future.

At CIRO, you’ll be part of an organization driven by Pride in Excellence , a strong Focus on Well ‑ being , and A Shared Purpose that connects our people to meaningful work. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where you can grow and make an impact. Learn more about what it’s like to build your career at CIRO by exploring our Careers page: https://www.ciro.ca/about-ciro/careers

Our Commitment:

CIRO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment accommodationin accordance withthe Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). CIRO will provide accommodation to job applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.Should you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process across Canada. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals andare dedicated to providingaccommodations upon request for candidatesparticipatingin all aspects of the recruitment process,in accordance withapplicable human rights and accessibility legislation.

OurRecruitment Process:

• This posting reflects an active vacancy on our team
• We use automated (AI) tools toassistwith candidate sourcing and communications. Applications are reviewed by our hiring team and hiring decisions are made by people.
• This role has a hiring range of $124,000 - $152,000 with the placement and offered salary being based on knowledge, skills, education/training and experience, as well as external market conditions and internal equity.

While we appreciate receiving applications, only those applicants who closely meet the position requirements will be contacted.#LI-HYBRID#Hiring