Senior Counsel, Payments & Product

Etsy; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 196,000 - 254,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

Annual bonus

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Etsy is seeking a Senior Counsel, Payments & Product to join our global legal team. You will advise on payments strategy, operations and expansion, including product development, commercial transactions and regulatory compliance across markets.

This full‑time role reports to the Director, Assistant General Counsel, Product. You’ll be based in Etsy’s Brooklyn or Dublin offices in person or flex, with an equity package, annual bonus and our benefits as part of the total rewards package.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of global payments regulation and regulatory frameworks relevant to payments and financial services systems globally.
• Experience identifying, understanding, and managing international payments legal and regulatory risks.
• Ability to work in a high-velocity environment and provide clear, practical legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Work with business teams to explore and evaluate new payments opportunities across jurisdictions and advise on regulatory obligations.
• Counsel cross-functional teams on payment laws and regulations and advise on international expansion.
• Provide thought leadership on the evolution of Etsy’s payments strategy.
• Advise on legal issues surrounding structuring of payments-related products from development through launch and beyond.
• Draft customer-facing policies for payments products and advise on disclosures.
• Collaborate with product, engineering and commercial teams to ensure regulatory compliance in new launches and features.
• Manage local outside counsel for launches across markets and monitor regulatory developments.
• Coordinate with global Legal and Compliance to mitigate regulatory risks and ensure compliance across Etsy group marketplaces.

Skills

Global payments regulation

In-house / law-firm experience

Regulatory risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

J.D. or equivalent

Job description

Company Description

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc. employee, whether a team member of Etsy or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

Company Description

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc. employee, whether a team member of Etsy or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

Salary Range

$196,000.00 - $254,000.00

What’s the role?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly talented individual with global payments expertise to join our growing legal team that supports Etsy as a Senior Counsel, Payments & Product.

This global role will support Etsy advising on all aspects of payments strategy, operations and expansion, including product development, commercial transactions and ongoing relationships, and regulatory requirements. You’ll counsel Etsy’s business, product, marketing, operations, compliance and engineering teams on the application of payment laws and regulations, helping us to build products, adopt policies and expand internationally in a way that meets our obligations, as well as the needs of our community. You will be hitting the ground running, answering interesting questions and tackling uncharted Fintech problems.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Director, Assistant General Counsel, Product. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Etsy.

This role requires your presence in Etsy’s Brooklyn or Dublin office in an in‑person or flex capacity. Learn more about our Flex and Office‑based work modes and workplace safety policies here.

What’s this team like at Etsy?

Etsy Legal is a dynamic team of lawyers working on some of the hardest technical, commercial, and regulatory problems around. We work with people throughout the company to help Etsy grow in a manner that complies with payments, financial services, and other regulations across the world.

What does the day-to-day look like?

• Work with business teams to explore and evaluate new business opportunities in the payments space across multiple jurisdictions, to help the teams understand regulatory compliance obligations and to facilitate launch of any new payments‑related products/services.
• Counsel Etsy’s business, product, marketing, operations, compliance and engineering teams on the application of payment laws and regulations, helping us to build products, adopt policies and expand internationally in a way that meets our obligations, as well as the needs of our community.
• Provide thought‑leadership on the evolution of Etsy’s payments strategy.
• Advise the business on legal issues surrounding structuring of new and existing payments‑related products from initial stages of product development through to launch and beyond.
• Draft customer‑facing policies for our payments products and advise on appropriate customer communications and disclosures.
• Be an integral part of the payments product, engineering, and commercial teams; working with them to help design and deliver solutions that are compliant with applicable legislation, such as PSD3.
• Manage local outside counsel to secure and provide tailored advice on the launch of payments products and features across various markets.
• Monitor payments related legal and regulatory developments applicable to the businesses and advise on change management processes related to those developments.
• Coordinate closely with subject matter experts within the global Legal team to ensure comprehensive and consistent legal risk mitigation strategies. Collaborate closely with the Compliance function with identifying and complying with all relevant regulatory compliance obligations that apply to the payment operations of the Etsy group marketplaces, both within the US and internationally.
• Ensure effective risk management practices in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies.
• While payments will be the primary focus, this role may also provide counsel on other product areas as business needs evolve.
• Of course, this is just a sample of the kinds of work this role will require! You should assume that your role will encompass other tasks, too, and that your job duties and responsibilities may change from time to time at Etsy's discretion, or otherwise applicable with local law.

Qualities that will help you thrive in this role are:

• 4+ years experience at both a law firm and/or in-house. JD (or local equivalent), and are admitted to a state bar (preferably NY or CA) or are qualified to work in-house in New York or Dublin.
• In-house experience at a FinTech.
• Deep and broad substantive knowledge of global payments regulation and regulatory frameworks relevant to payments and financial services systems globally.
• Experience identifying, understanding, and managing international payments legal and regulatory risks.
• Ability to work in a high-velocity environment, meet tight deadlines and act decisively.
• Ability to present complex issues in a clear and concise manner and provide succinct, practical and results-driven legal advice. Excellent business judgment, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience being the primary point of contact with clients. Lead in handling the legal side of a project. Background working cross-functionally across legal, compliance, finance, business and engineering functions.
• Experience in a fast paced company, with a history of advising in real-time in meetings, providing accurate guidance and pragmatic solutions.
• Experienced at getting the most from the internal teams you work with, others in legal, and outside counsel, through clear communication and effective project management.
• Effective communicator both verbally and in writing with experience with technical payments specialists and senior business leaders. Excellent presentation skills and a comfort with leading discussions relating to legal and regulatory risk at the executive level are essential.
• You love what you do and could work in many places, but you want to work at Etsy because you recognize that having the chance to contribute impactful work and grow a company with an outstanding mission is a rare opportunity.

Additional Information

Our Promise

At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace furthers relevance, resilience, and longevity. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know. While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skills.