General Counsel

Pagos Consultants; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Performance bonus

Equity options

Hybrid or remote work flexibility

Job summary

A leading fintech company is seeking an experienced General Counsel to join its leadership team. This role is pivotal for shaping the company's legal and compliance framework as it scales. Responsibilities include advising on regulatory compliance, managing legal risks, and establishing legal policies. The ideal candidate should have a JD from a top law school, over 10 years of legal experience, and expertise in fintech regulations. The position offers a competitive compensation package along with hybrid or remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of legal experience, with a mix of law firm and in-house roles preferred.
• Solid understanding of regulatory frameworks such as CFPB, OCC, data privacy, etc.
• Experience advising high-growth technology companies on compliance strategies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief legal advisor across corporate and regulatory matters.
• Build and lead the in-house legal function.
• Oversee compliance across payments, lending, and data privacy.
• Advise on corporate governance and strategic transactions.

Skills

Legal experience

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Transactional experience

Education

JD from a top accredited law school

Job description

About the Company

We are a fast-growing fintech company founded in the mid-2010s with the mission to modernize access to credit and financial services through data-driven technology. Our platform helps both consumers and businesses make better financial decisions by combining real-time payments infrastructure with proprietary risk analytics.

The company has raised over $200M in venture funding from top investors, doubled revenue in the past 18 months, and currently serves tens of thousands of customers across the US. With a team of 300+ employees and offices in New York and San Francisco, we operate at the intersection of fintech, data science, and compliance while building products that are both customer-friendly and regulatorily sound.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced General Counsel to join our leadership team as the first in-house legal hire. This is a critical role that will shape our legal, compliance, and risk framework as we continue to scale. Reporting directly to the CEO, the General Counsel will serve as a strategic partner to the executive team, board of directors, and senior leadership, ensuring that the company can grow quickly while staying compliant and protected.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the company’s chief legal advisor across corporate, regulatory, product, and commercial matters
• Build and lead the in-house legal function, including hiring and managing outside counsel where needed
• Oversee regulatory compliance across payments, lending, data privacy, and consumer protection
• Advise on corporate governance, board matters, fundraising, and strategic transactions such as M&A, partnerships, and joint ventures
• Partner with product and engineering teams to evaluate new features and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including vendor, partner, and enterprise customer contracts
• Establish risk management policies and collaborate with compliance to build scalable processes for monitoring and reporting
• Support HR with employment law matters, equity plans, and workplace compliance issues
• Serve as the point of contact for regulators, auditors, and industry associations
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team on strategic decisions with legal impact

About You

• JD from a top accredited law school; member in good standing of at least one US state bar
• 10+ years of legal experience, with a mix of law firm and in-house roles (fintech, payments, or financial services preferred)
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks such as CFPB, OCC, state lending laws, BSA/AML, and data privacy regimes
• Solid transactional experience including M&A, financings, and commercial negotiations
• Experience advising high-growth technology companies on risk management and compliance strategies
• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to balance legal rigor with practical solutions
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally at all levels
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities

Why Join Us

• High-impact role with direct access to the CEO and Board
• Opportunity to build the legal function from the ground up at a scaling fintech
• Competitive compensation package including base salary, performance bonus, and equity
• Hybrid or remote flexibility with offices in major fintech hubs
• A mission-driven culture focused on financial inclusion, customer trust, and innovation

Application Process

• Submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your fintech and regulatory experience
• First-round interview with our Head of People
• Executive panel with CEO, CFO, and Head of Risk
• Case study on a regulatory or commercial scenario
• Final informal discussion with members of the leadership team