Commercial Legal Counsel

Santander USA; Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider in the UK is seeking a Commercial Legal Counsel to provide legal and regulatory advice and ensure compliance within the business. This permanent position will require at least three days a week in the Redhill office. Responsibilities include drafting commercial contracts, managing legal risks, and supporting corporate governance matters. The ideal candidate will be a UK qualified solicitor with relevant experience and strong analytical and communication skills, joining a vibrant team committed to diversity and professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

30 days holiday

Annual bonus

Car allowance

Private medical cover

Generous pension contributions

Employee assistance programme

Gym passes at a reduced rate

Qualifications

• UK Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or FCILEX with 2-5 years post-qualification experience.
• Experience in drafting and reviewing commercial contracts.
• Knowledge of legal compliance, including GDPR and anti-bribery.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to the business.
• Review and implement new legislative requirements.
• Draft and review commercial agreements in compliance with legal standards.

Skills

UK qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Attorney/FCILEX

Reviewing and drafting commercial contracts

Legal compliance matters including GDPR

Analytical and communication skills

Digital and ecommerce legal knowledge

Excellent verbal and written communication

Report writing and IT skills

Corporate Governance experience

Education

UK Qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Attorney/FCILEX - 2-5 years PQE

Job description

SCUK Commercial Legal Counsel Country: United Kingdom

Santander Consumer Finance UK (SCUK) is based in Redhill, Surrey and provides motor finance to a network of car dealerships throughout the United Kingdom.

We are pleased to share that we are looking for a Commercial Legal Counsel to join us on a permanent basis providing support to the Head of Legal. The role will require you to provide accurate and timely legal, regulatory and corporate governance advice to all areas of the business and ensure that strategic and business objectives are delivered with legal risks monitored and controlled.

As part of this important role, you will ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements with a ‘Think Customer’ approach. You will anticipate, review and implement new legislative requirements affecting SCUK, and ensure legal risk management remains a priority within the business. The role will also require the provision of support on corporate/internal governance matters, the review of commercial agreements and the general operation of the internal legal function.

Please note this role is a hybrid role with at least 3 days a week in the Redhill office. Remote workers will not be considered.

Responsibilities

• Acting as a point of contact for the business on legal matters and provide advice
• Reviewing relevant laws and regulation and actively collaborate with other functions and stakeholders on the timely implementation of requirements or changes
• Advice on interpretation and impact of relevant laws/regulation affecting the Company
• Drafting/reviewing commercial contracts, partner arrangements, supplier agreements, and other documentation (from inception) and transact accordingly in a legally compliant manner in accordance with Company policies and business requirements and keep appropriate records
• Assist in regulatory landscape horizon scanning.
• Assist the Head of Legal in running and delivery of legal projects
• Provide support to project initiatives and programmes, including reviewing requirements documentation and making recommendations from a legal advisory perspective
• Raise the profile of legal services and risk management within the business by utilising various channels
• Attend meetings / industry forums as directed by the Head of Legal
• Manage and coordinate relevant external legal support
• Dealing with/escalating identified risks in relation to SCUK risk policies and/or legislative and regulatory guidelines in accordance with the Santander UK group risk framework
• Assist the Head of Legal, the Legal & Compliance Director & Compliance team in ensuring effective governance is in place, such as reviewing and drafting policies, procedures, committee terms of references, drafting relevant committee documents and minutes
• Assist the Head of Legal, the Legal & Compliance Director or the Compliance team with any relevant corporate/internal governance matters

Qualifications & Experience

• Is a UK Qualified Solicitor/Barrister/Attorney/FCILEX-2-5yrs PQE with relevant experience working for an in-house legal department of a large organisation or law firm
• Has experience in reviewing and drafting commercial contracts including procurement, supplier and intermediary relationships
• Has experience advising on legal compliance matters including GDPR, competition, anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions and money laundering regulations
• Has the ability to analyse, evaluate and communicate issues
• Has digital and ecommerce legal and regulatory knowledge/experience
• Has excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build relationships internally (including senior stakeholders) as well as externally
• Has well-developed report writing and I.T. skills
• Has Corporate Governance experience

Benefits

• A Competitive salary (dependent on skills & experience)
• 30 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays
• Annual bonus based on personal and company performance
• Car allowance
• Private medical cover
• Generous pension contributions
• Employee assistance programme
• Sharesave scheme
• Gym passes at a reduced rate for 3,000 gyms, leisure centres etc

Other things you need to know

• The working hours for this role are 09:00-17:00, across Monday - Friday

Inclusion

At Santander we’re creating a thriving workplace where all colleagues feel they belong and are supported to succeed. We all help to make Santander a workplace that celebrates diversity and attracts, retains and develops the most talented and committed people through living our values of Simple, Personal, and Fair.

At Santander Consumer Finance we have a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, harassment (including sexual) or victimisation of any kind.

Should you want to be considered for part time hours, please let us know and we can assess your requirements.

What are the next steps

If you are interested in this role and believe you have the skills, experience, and knowledge then we’d love to hear from you. Please go ahead and click apply which will take you through some questions and allow you to submit your CV and covering letter.