Head of Legal

anext bank; Singapore; On-site; SGD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

anext bank in Singapore, a MAS-regulated digital wholesale bank, is seeking a commercially minded, hands-on Head of Legal to lead the legal function through this next phase of growth. You will act as a trusted adviser to the Board and senior management, a strategic partner to the business as new products are built and launched, and the guardian of the Bank's governance framework.

This role reports to Head of LCAP and will lead and develop the Bank's in-house legal team, coordinating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Law.
• Minimum 15 years' post-qualification experience (PQE), with substantial regional experience across APAC.
• Qualified to practise in Singapore (qualification in other Commonwealth jurisdictions will be considered).
• Strong legal training combined with significant experience in a top-tier law firm and/or in-house at a commercial or wholesale bank.
• Proven, hands-on track record leading or advising on financing transactions, with deep familiarity across transaction formats and security packages.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Bank's legal team, setting priorities and building capability to support a fast-scaling digital banking business.
• Provide strategic, commercial legal counsel that directly shapes the Bank's growth trajectory and risk profile.
• Play a central role in shaping and de-risking new products — from ideation through structuring, documentation and go-to-market — bringing legal into the room early rather than as a final checkpoint.
• Operate comfortably amid ambiguity, rapid iteration and evolving regulatory expectations typical of a digital-first, high-growth bank.
• Deliver sound, timely and commercially-minded legal advice to senior management, the Board, and other key stakeholders.
• Instruct, brief and manage external counsel efficiently, balancing cost, speed and risk.
• Identify, upscale and help resolve legal and regulatory risks before they become business problems.
• Provide expert legal advice on wholesale and SME digital banking and lending products.
• Lead structuring and documentation of financing transactions across a full range of formats and security packages, ensuring enforceability and alignment with the Bank's risk appetite.
• Lead legal input on digital customer journeys, embedded financing solutions, mobile applications, online platforms, chat/messaging-based servicing, and other digital initiatives.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Risk and Compliance to embed legal considerations into product design from day one.
• Lead legal input into the Bank's risk management framework, including internal controls, policies, procedures and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure the legal function's frameworks keep pace with the Bank's growth and evolving regulatory landscape.
• Act as primary legal liaison with the Board, shareholders and senior management on all corporate governance matters.
• Serve as Company Secretary (or oversee this function), working closely with Group Corporate Governance, Regulatory Compliance, and any external corporate secretarial provider.
• Manage board and committee meeting cycles, minutes, resolutions, and director/staff governance training.
• Ensure all statutory, regulatory and governance requirements are met accurately and on time.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law

Job description

We’re on a mission to make financial services accessible and effortless for SMEs. As one of Singapore’s latest digital wholesale banks fully regulated by MAS, we’re committed to continuous innovation to bring about simpler, safer and more rewarding financial services. #bringingaboutwhatsnext

We are looking for a commercially-minded, hands‑on Head of Legal to lead our legal function through this next phase of growth. You will act as a trusted advisor to the Board and senior management, a strategic partner to the business as new products are built and launched, and the guardian of the Bank's governance framework. You'll need to be equally comfortable in the boardroom, in a term sheet negotiation, and in a product sprint review.

This role reports to Head of LCAP and will lead and develop the Bank's in-house legal team.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Commercial Legal Leadership

• Lead the Bank's legal team, setting priorities and building capability to support a fast-scaling digital banking business.
• Provide strategic, commercial legal counsel that directly shapes the Bank's growth trajectory and risk profile.
• Play a central role in shaping and de-risking new products — from ideation through structuring, documentation and go-to-market — bringing legal into the room early rather than as a final checkpoint.
• Operate comfortably amid ambiguity, rapid iteration and evolving regulatory expectations typical of a digital-first, high-growth bank.

Board, Stakeholder & Advisory Support

• Deliver sound, timely and commercially-minded legal advice to senior management, the Board, and other key stakeholders.
• Instruct, brief and manage external counsel efficiently, balancing cost, speed and risk.
• Identify, upscale and help resolve legal and regulatory risks before they become business problems.

Wholesale & SME Banking / Lending

• Provide expert legal advice on wholesale and SME digital banking and lending products.
• Lead structuring and documentation of financing transactions across a full range of formats and security packages, ensuring enforceability and alignment with the Bank's risk appetite.

Digital Product & Platform Legal Support

• Lead legal input on digital customer journeys, embedded financing solutions, mobile applications, online platforms, chat/messaging-based servicing, and other digital initiatives.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Risk and Compliance to embed legal considerations into product design from day one.

Risk Management & Governance Framework

• Lead legal input into the Bank's risk management framework, including internal controls, policies, procedures and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure the legal function's frameworks keep pace with the Bank's growth and evolving regulatory landscape.

Corporate Governance & Company Secretarial

• Act as primary legal liaison with the Board, shareholders and senior management on all corporate governance matters.
• Serve as Company Secretary (or oversee this function), working closely with Group Corporate Governance, Regulatory Compliance, and any external corporate secretarial provider.
• Manage board and committee meeting cycles, minutes, resolutions, and director/staff governance training.
• Ensure all statutory, regulatory and governance requirements are met accurately and on time.

Experience & Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Law.
• Minimum 15 years' post-qualification experience (PQE), with substantial regional experience across APAC.
• Qualified to practise in Singapore (qualification in other Commonwealth jurisdictions will be considered).
• Strong legal training combined with significant experience in a top-tier law firm and/or in-house at a commercial or wholesale bank.
• Proven, hands-on track record leading or advising on financing transactions, with deep familiarity across transaction formats and security packages.

Preferred

• Direct legal experience in banking, finance or fintech, particularly at a digital bank or similarly fast-moving financial institution.
• Experience in corporate governance, company secretarial work, and data privacy.
• Strong regional Asia experience and networks.
• Excellent English communication skills, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders and Board members. Mandarin Chinese proficiency is advantageous for certain stakeholder relationships.
• Strong regulatory and compliance knowledge relevant to banking and fintech, including licensing regimes across Asian markets.
• Background in data privacy law is a strong advantage.