Real Estate Finance Associate | Hybrid (Cardiff) | £60k + Bonus | High-Value Transactions

QED Legal; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent legal firm in Cardiff is seeking a Real Estate Finance Associate to join their expanding team. Ideal candidates will have over 4 years’ PQE with strong transactional experience in real estate finance. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary of approximately £60k plus bonuses, generous benefits, and clear career progression opportunities within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Private healthcare

Pension contributions

Qualifications

• At least 4 years’ PQE in real estate finance or related transactional work.
• Strong real estate transactional experience with exposure to real estate finance.

Responsibilities

• Advise lenders and borrowers on a wide range of real estate finance transactions.
• Draft and negotiate facility agreements and security documents.
• Manage matters from instruction through to completion.

Skills

Real estate finance expertise

Transactional property experience

Negotiation skills

Job description

Overview

Real Estate Finance Associate | Hybrid (Cardiff) | £60k + Bonus | High-Value Transactions

If you’re a Real Estate Finance Solicitor with at least 4 years’ PQE and strong transactional property experience, this role offers exposure to market-leading work, progression to senior levels, and the chance to join one of the UK’s well-regarded REF teams. This opportunity has come about due increased workflow. You’ll step into a busy, established pipeline, advising both lenders and borrowers on a wide range of real estate finance transactions.

You’ll be part of a firmwide Real Estate Finance team, headed by a Senior Partner, 8 lawyers, with 3 based in Cardiff, and every lawyer has support from either a paralegal, legal assistant, or trainee. Clients include major property finance lenders, investment funds, developers, and corporates across the UK - giving you exposure to complex and high-profile deals. Progression within the team is clearly mapped out, with opportunities to move from Senior Associate through to Director, Partner, and ultimately Lead Partner. This is a hybrid role based in Cardiff, with flexibility built in from the outset.

Ideal candidates will have at least 4 years’ PQE, strong real estate transactional experience, and prior exposure to real estate finance work.

You’ll receive a salary (circa £60k) plus a bonus 7.5%, along with a strong benefits package. This includes generous holiday entitlement, hybrid working, private healthcare, and pension contributions. You’ll also be joining a supportive, ambitious firm with rising revenues and a culture that values growth, innovation, and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Advise lenders and borrowers on a wide range of real estate finance transactions
• Draft and negotiate facility agreements, security documents, and related transactional documentation
• Manage matters from instruction through to completion while supporting senior colleagues on larger, high-value deals
• Collaborate within the Real Estate Finance team and with other firm groups on complex matters

Qualifications

• At least 4 years’ PQE in real estate finance or related real estate transactional work
• Strong real estate transactional experience with exposure to real estate finance