Senior Legal Counsel

Finnfund; Helsinki; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Health care

Hybrid work

Commuting allowance

Job summary

Finnfund is seeking a (Senior) Legal Counsel to join our Helsinki-based team. You will act as a member of project teams, identify, assess, and manage legal risks related to large investments, and oversee project documentation and compliance.

You will coordinate external counsel, support responsible taxation, and help develop legal templates and guidelines while staying current with regulations. You will join a ten-person Legal Affairs team led by the Director of Legal Affairs.

Qualifications

• Master of Laws degree (Finnish or English) or equivalent legal degree and a minimum of 5 years of applicable professional experience from either a law firm or a financial institution.
• Experience in debt financing; cross-border transactions, equity investments and/or project finance are assets.
• Proactive, strong teamwork, ownership of work, ability to work independently under time pressure.
• Excellent IT skills are essential in today’s hybrid working environment; and
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English – fluency in other languages is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Act as a member of project teams and identify, assess, and manage legal risks related to projects.
• Oversee project documentation and legal matters, coordinate external legal assignments, and provide support on responsible taxation.
• Assist with internal decision-making processes, and maintain and develop the legal function by keeping up to date with regulations and communicating changes to project teams.
• Drafting and updating templates and guidelines and other development work of Finnfund’s operations.
• Join a ten-person Legal Affairs team and report to the Director of Legal Affairs.

Skills

Debt financing

Cross-border transactions

Equity investments

Project finance

IT skills

English writing

Education

Master of Laws

Job description

Hey lawyer!

Would you like to contribute to shaping a more sustainable future? Would you like to help drive sustainable growth and create opportunities through investments in developing countries?

We are now looking for a (Senior) Legal Counsel to join Finnfund’s team. This is a full-time, permanent position based in Helsinki.

Finnfund is a Finnish development financier and impact investor. Finnfund builds a sustainable future and generates lasting impact by investing in businesses that solve global development challenges with Finnish added value. Each year, Finnfund invests 200–250 million euros in 20–30 companies in developing countries. Finnfund’s focus is particularly on digital infrastructure and solutions, clean energy, forestry, agriculture, and on providing funding for small and medium-sized enterprises through financial institutions. Today, Finnfund’s investments, commitments, and investment decisions total about 1.2 billion euros. Finnfund has about 100 employees based in Helsinki and Nairobi. For more information, please visit the company’s website.

Finnfund is mandated to provide long-term financing for economically feasible private sector projects in emerging markets. Finnfund’s financing is channelled either as debt, equity, or mezzanine instruments and they also invest through private equity funds.

As a (Senior) Legal Counsel, you willact as a member of project teams and identify, assess, and manage legal risks related to projects. You will oversee project documentation and legal matters, coordinate external legal assignments, and provide support on responsible taxation.

You will also assist with other legal matters, including internal decision-making processes and approval levels. You will maintain and develop the legal function by, amongst other things, keeping up to date with regulations related to project work and communicating new or revised regulations to project teams and, when needed, by participating in implementing such regulations into Finnfund’s processes. You will also participate in drafting and updating templates and guidelines and other development work of Finnfund’s operations.

The role offers opportunities to contribute to diverse projects and legal matters beyond the core responsibilities outlined above. You will join a ten-person Legal Affairs team and report to the Director of Legal Affairs.

This position is a great fit for a lawyer who:

• has a Master of Laws degree (preferably Finnish or English) or an equivalent legal degree and a minimum of 5 years of applicable professional experience from either a law firm or a financial institution. Please note that applicants must already have the legal right to live and work in Helsinki (Finland). Due to time constraints, Finnfund is unable to sponsor work permits or support relocation-related immigration processes for this role;
• has experience in debt financing - expertise in complex restructuring situations would be considered an advantage. Experience in cross-border transactions, equity investments and/or project finance would also be an asset;
• is proactive, has excellent teamwork skills, takes full ownership of their work, and can work independently under time pressure;
• has excellent IT skills, which are essential in today’s hybrid working environment; and
• has excellent writing and communication skills in English – fluency in other languages and international experience are considered assets.

What Finnfund offers you:

Work that makes a difference

Finnfund’s mission is to build a sustainable future and generate lasting impact by investing in businesses that solve global development challenges with Finnish added value. Their vision is that people and the Planet are at the core of every investment decision.

Challenging yet rewarding role:

You’ll step into a role where you’ll contribute to exciting and challenging international projects as part of a multinational team.

A modern office space in Helsinki

The office has been designed in collaboration with Finnfund’s employees. While everyone has their own desk at the office, the hybrid working model allows employees to work from home 1–2 days a week.

Benefits to support your wellbeing:

Finnfund promotes employees’ well-being, work-life balance, and job satisfaction by offering flexible working hours, extensive occupational health care services, and recreational activities. Finnfund also motivates its employees to take care of their well-being and health by supporting their sports and cultural activities. Employees can also benefit from an employer-subsidised commuter benefit.

If you have a disability and require assistance during the recruiting process, please get in touch with the contact person mentioned above. When needed, Finnfund can adjust the process according to your need for support.

We encourage applications from qualified individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. Finnfund is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences, and abilities.