Lead Counsel 1 - Country - Assistant Vice President

Citigroup Inc.; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global bank is looking for an Assistant Vice President, Lead Counsel 1 in Singapore. This role requires providing legal counsel while navigating local laws and regulations. The ideal candidate will have 5-8 years of experience in financial services, hold a valid Singapore law license, and demonstrate strong leadership and negotiation skills. You will support business initiatives and liaise with local regulators to ensure compliance and mitigate risks. This position is hybrid, offering opportunities for growth and development.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of relevant industry experience in financial services.
• Valid bar license to practice law in Singapore.
• Comprehensive knowledge of international, multi-jurisdictional laws.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.
• Membership of local Bar/Lawyers Association.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support on legal matters in Singapore.
• Draft and review legal documentation including agreements and NDAs.
• Supervise external counsel and resolve complex issues.
• Support business initiatives with legal insights and guidance.
• Maintain relationships with local regulators and compliance bodies.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Relationship management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

LLB, Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree

Job description

Whether you’re at the start of your career or looking to discover your next adventure, your story begins here. At Citi, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your skills and make a difference at one of the world’s most global banks. We’re fully committed to supporting your growth and development from the start with extensive on-the-job training and exposure to senior leaders, as well as more traditional learning. You’ll also have the chance to give back and make a positive impact where we live and work through volunteerism.

Shape your Career with Citi

Citi’s Global Legal Affairs and Compliance (GLAC)

empowers and protects Citi by providing legal, compliance, investigative, and security services to our firm. We manage compliance risk, provide legal analysis and advice, protect Citi’s people and businesses, advocate for legal and regulatory outcomes that benefit our firm and our clients, and ultimately promote behavior that is consistent with Citi’s mission and culture.

Assistant Vice President, Lead Counsel 1 – Country - Hybrid

Based in Singapore, this intermediate level position provides legal counsel and support to aligned countries/geographies of responsibility. The overall objective of this role is to provide legal support, advice, and guidance across a broad range of practice areas, with respect to the local laws and regulations of the country or countries for which the Country General Counsel Group Manager is responsible.

This role is responsible for providing guidance, support, and legal advice on Citi's businesses and functions in Singapore. This requires a thorough understanding of the business needs and expectations, combined with a solid conceptual / practical grounding in the laws and regulations of the geographies in which we operate. The role provides input into strategic decisions, exercising sound legal judgement to develop proactive, risk-appropriate, and commercially practical business-oriented solutions.

In this role, you’re expected to:

• In coordination with the Country Counsel team, provide legal advice and support to Country Business Management on legal, control function and regulatory matters associated with Citi’s business activities and legal entities in the countries covered; ensure that Citi is appropriately addressing legal, regulatory, franchise and reputational risks in these countries.
• Draft, review, and advise on legal documentation, including facility and loan agreements/letters, security documents, board resolutions, legal opinions, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Request for Proposals (RFPs), indemnities and DISCLAIMERS, term sheets, publicity material, client communications.
• Supervise external counsel and resolve moderately complex issues.
• Support strategic initiatives of the businesses and functions in countries covered by providing Citi Country Officers with guidance and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, and advising business management on legal matters impacting the business.
• Coordinate provision of internal and external legal support to Citi’s local businesses in Singapore, working closely with the relevant Regional Product Counsel (or his or her designee) to ensure that Citi’s legal needs are met in a cost-effective manner.
• Develop a broad understanding of Citi’s businesses in Singapore and of the major legal and regulatory risks facing those businesses.
• Collaborate across internal lines of business, control/support functions and/or external counsel to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters of common interest, coordinating closely with Legal team members, as appropriate.
• Partner with Citi Country Officers and country management to support Citi’s maintaining of good relations with local regulators and all other local regulatory bodies that are relevant to Citi business activities.
• Support efforts to ensure key legal and regulatory developments that may affect or otherwise be relevant to Citi’s businesses in the country, including those involving other financial institutions, are appropriately monitored and that country management is apprised of significant developments.
• Participate in any relevant country‑level governance committees as assigned, e.g., coordinating committee, business risk & controls committee, legal & compliance committee, legal vehicle management committee; act as lawyer providing support to the country in any matter.
• Manage day‑to‑day legal activities as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide senior advisory services to business partners.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.
• Provide legal advice / support to the Citi Corporate Bank and Banking businesses, including advice on Singapore franchise and regulatory related matters.
• Work with regional product counsels, for each of the relevant businesses, and constant engagement with the business, product partners, Compliance and other control functions within the bank.

As a successful candidate, you’d ideally have the following skills and exposure:

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of relevant industry experience, preferably in financial services.
• Valid bar licence to practice law in Singapore.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, organizational and relationship management skills.
• Excellent command of local languages.
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously in a demanding, fast‑paced environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of international, multi‑jurisdictional laws and practices while staying abreast of regulatory and legal environment, internal policies and industry trends that impact the business.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to maintain trusted relationships.
• Membership of local Bar/Lawyers Association.

Education

• LLB, Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree.

Working at Citi is far more than just a job. A career with us means joining a family of more than 230,000 dedicated people from around the globe. At Citi, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career, give back to your community and make a real impact.

Take the next step in your career, apply for this role at Citi today

https://jobs.citi.com/dei

This job description provides a high‑level review of the types of work performed. Other job‑related duties may be assigned as required.

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