Head of Corporate Legal

Penta; Paris; Sur place; EUR 80 000 - 100 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading fintech company in Paris is looking for a Head of Corporate Legal to manage governance and compliance as it transitions to a licensed bank. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of corporate law experience, adeptness in M&A transactions, and the ability to lead a team while directly collaborating with the Board and investors. This position offers an inclusive work environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.

Prestations

Dynamic career track

Inclusive work environment

Meal vouchers

Public transportation reimbursement

Comprehensive health insurance

Qualifications

• 10+ years of corporate law experience in law firms and in-house.
• Hands-on experience managing board meetings and governance.
• Experience leading M&A transactions including due diligence.

Responsabilités

• Manage corporate governance and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Prepare and organize board meetings and corporate documents.
• Lead and manage M&A transactions and strategic operations.

Connaissances

Corporate law expertise

M&A knowledge

Team leadership

Governance management

Stakeholder communication

Description du poste

Overview

Our mission: Creating the freedom for SMEs to succeed in business and beyond, by delivering Europe’s leading finance workspace. We combine business-class tools (seamless invoicing, spend management, and pre-accounting) with attentive 24/7 support. Our journey: founded in July 2017, Qonto serves over 600,000 customers with a team of 1,600+ Qontoers. Our values: Customer focus; Ownership; Teamwork; Mastery; Integrity. Our beliefs: We’re committed to a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive, evaluating applicants based on skills and potential, with a diverse team across regions.

Role

Head of Corporate Legal at Qonto – lead our corporate legal function as we transition from a payment service provider to a licensed bank. You’ll manage governance, M&A, and compliance matters, reduce reliance on external counsel, and mentor 2 team members. You’ll partner directly with our Board of Directors, investors, and Executive team to ensure Qonto’s corporate structure supports our growth goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate governance and compliance: ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements across relevant jurisdictions; maintain and update corporate documents (articles of association, delegation of authority, internal regulations); manage our corporate structure during the transition to a licensed bank.
• Prepare and organize board meetings and committees: lead the preparation of corporate files and draft minutes for Board of Directors meetings, Board Committees, and General Shareholders’ Meetings, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Manage M&A transactions and strategic operations: lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects including due diligence, structuring, negotiation, and closing; support major financing rounds; oversee BSPCE programs.
• Coordinate external legal support: oversee relationships with external lawyers and advisors, acting as the primary point of contact while managing costs and reducing reliance on outside counsel.
• Partner with investors and stakeholders: liaise with international investors and shareholders on corporate matters, gather and integrate legal inputs from cross-functional teams, and ensure transparency and timely information flow across the organization.
• What you can expect

What you can expect

• Timing & Context: joining as Qonto transitions from a PSP to a licensed bank; work on high-stakes projects including banking transition documentation, governance restructuring, and strategic M&A deals.
• Team & Autonomy: manage 2 junior legal professionals; senior role with significant autonomy and direct access to the Board, investors, and Executive team.
• Collaboration: legal as a true business partner; collaborate with Finance, the Executive team, Board members, and international investors; value structured thinking and pragmatic legal advice balancing risk with business objectives.
• About your future manager: Head of
• Reporting to our VP Legal, who is on maternity leave for a few months; during this time, your direct manager will lead onboarding and day-to-day collaboration.
• About her: deep expertise in scaling legal functions within fast-growing fintechs; has built Qonto’s legal team and oversees all legal, compliance, and regulatory matters; values pragmatism and clear communication.

About You

• Law firm + in-house experience: 10+ years of corporate law, combining top-tier experience with in-house business partnership.
• Board meeting and governance expertise: hands-on experience preparing board materials, drafting minutes, organizing meetings, and managing governance frameworks; comfortable with C-levels, board members, and investors.
• M&A and transaction management: led or played a significant role in deals including due diligence, structuring, negotiation, and closing; experience managing BSPCE/stock options or equity compensation.
• Team leadership and mentorship: managed and mentored junior lawyers or paralegals; ability to build scalable processes and develop talent.
• Strategic stakeholder management: strong collaboration skills, high emotional intelligence, ability to gather inputs from multiple teams, influence without authority, and communicate complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders; experience with international investors is valuable.

Perks

• A tailor-made and dynamic career track; an inclusive work environment; opportunities to grow.
• Offices in Paris, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona, and Belgrade.
• Competitive salary package; meal vouchers; public transportation reimbursement; comprehensive health insurance (country dependent).
• Employee well-being initiatives and access to mental health and wellness programs.
• Disability and parental benefits with selected partners; childcare benefits; monthly team events.

Our Hiring Process

• Interviews with your Talent Acquisition Manager and future managers; remote or live skills exercise to demonstrate your abilities.
• Process typically lasts about 20 working days; final offers usually follow within 48 hours.

Data & Privacy

We may use AI tools to support parts of the hiring process. Tools assist the recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by humans. If you’d like more information about how your data is processed or to request deletion, please contact us.