Legal Counsel

OnHires; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Electronic Money Institution in London seeks an experienced Finance Officer to supervise financial operations across regions. The role encompasses regulatory compliance, financial licensing, and contract management. Ideal candidates will possess a strong legal background and experience in regulated environments, particularly with UK and EU licenses.

Benefits

Annual budget for professional growth

Monthly investment in English language development

Flexible, people-first culture

Paid vacation, sick leave, and local holidays

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience as Legal Counsel or similar in regulated companies.
• Proven track record of acquiring EU/UK EMI licenses.
• Experience managing audits and banking operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial licensing processes across regions.
• Manage compliance programs and regulatory reporting.
• Oversee governance policies and crisis response.

Skills

Understanding of international corporate law

Contract drafting

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Communication with regulators

Education

Master's degree in Law

Job description

Time zones: UTC+1 / UTC+2 / UTC+3
Fluent proficiency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Our client is a leading Electronic Money Institution (EMI), authorized by the FCA (UK), FINTRAC (Canada), and MFSA (Malta), operating across 140 countries and over 25 industries. They offer multicurrency IBANs, merchant solutions, and mass payment options — all accessible through a single platform and contract. This makes them a preferred partner for both local and international payments.

Following their recent Maltese license, they’re excited to expand into new markets and are looking for an experienced and strategic Finance Officer to lead and oversee all financial operations in Malta and globally.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading financial licensing processes across the EU, UK, and other regions
• Managing the opening and maintenance of correspondent and operational bank accounts
• Handling complex legal inquiries and RFIs from banks and authorities
• Staying updated on all relevant financial regulations — including banking, EMI, PI, PASEP, AML, KYC, and data protection — and implementing necessary changes
• Updating compliance programs in line with regulator requirements
• Managing regulatory reporting, AML, and other audits
• Overseeing company governance policies and regulatory compliance
• Driving licensing processes for expansion into new markets
• Maintaining accurate record-keeping and company documentation
• Developing and implementing corporate compliance and governance programs across the group
• Improving company policies related to KYB, AML, anti-fraud, and compliance functions
• Drafting contracts such as NDA, MSA, Employment, Outsourcing, Loan, and Outstaffing agreements
• Serving as the primary liaison with local law firms, auditors, and regulators
• Conducting pre-engagement audits for third-party vendors, financial providers, banks, payment systems, and partners
• Reporting regularly to the CEO and Head of Operations on regulatory matters and proposals
• Leading crisis response to ensure business continuity and minimize risks

What we’re looking for:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience as Legal Counsel, Legal Advisor, or Lawyer within regulated companies, with a proven track record of acquiring and maintaining EU/UK EMI, banking, payment institution, or PI licenses
• Strong understanding of international corporate law, general tax principles, corporate due diligence, and EU licensing and compliance frameworks
• Experience enhancing company compliance in regulated environments, ideally having supported organizations scaling from startup to established enterprises
• Proven ability to open and manage international and correspondent bank accounts, with regulator communication experience
• Solid contract drafting skills (NDA, MSA, Employment Agreements, etc.)
• Hands-on experience managing audits and banking operations
• Fluent English language skills
• Master’s degree in Law

Bonus points for:

Knowledge of Malta’s regulatory framework and experience working with MFSA

Familiarity with legal aspects of digital payments, anti-fraud practices, and transaction monitoring

Proficiency in Ukrainian language — a strong advantage

What’s in it for you:

Monthly investment in your English language development

Annual budget for professional growth and certifications

Clear career path: potential to move into Lead roles within 1 year, Head roles in 2 years, and C-level positions within 4 years based on performance

KPI-driven performance reviews ensuring merit-based recognition

Opportunity to contribute to unique projects and earn exceptional bonuses through the company’s Ideas Hub

Flexible, people-first culture with paid vacation, sick leave, and additional local holidays

Multiple payment options, including Private Entrepreneurship accounts and popular e-wallets

Company values:

At our client’s company, ownership and initiative are core to their culture — specialists are empowered to make an impact. Collaboration and open communication drive their success.