HSBC Group

Some careers have more impact than others.

At HSBC we exist with the purpose of Opening up a World of Opportunity. We use our unique expertise, capabilities, breadth and perspectives to provide opportunities for our customers and colleagues through global connectivity. We bring together the people, ideas and capital that nurture progress and growth, helping to create a better world – for our customers, our people, our investors, our communities and the planet we all share.

As an HSBC employee in Australia, you’ll have access to tailored professional development opportunities, competitive pay, an embedded flexible working culture and a range of employee benefits. These include market-leading subsidised private health cover, enhanced parental pay and support when returning to work, subsidised banking products and services, bonus leave days and wellness programmes including discounted gym memberships.

HSBC provides you with the opportunity to develop and apply a diverse range of legal skills across a range of businesses and functions in Australia and working within our global, regional and local management structure.  The Legal team plays an important role in providing comprehensive legal advice to senior management in Australia and regionally. The team also advises on, and is actively involved in, all business and operational strategies and initiatives, from legislative and regulatory matters to the setting of policies, standards and procedures for guarding against and reporting on legal risk and reputational management issues.

Taking on the role of Legal Counsel, you will provide legal advice and guidance primarily to our Wealth and Private Banking businesses. You will also be involved in legal risk compliance management, and regulatory advisory functions while also supporting other bank wide initiatives, projects and programs to ensure that legal and reputational risks are identified, reported and mitigated.

You will work in a collaborative high-performing in-house legal team, having direct contact with our internal stakeholders with autonomous carriage of your matters.  You will also have the opportunity to be involved in regulatory projects with the potential to develop experience interacting with regulators.

If you have solid experience as an in-house legal counsel in retail banking ideally specialising in wealth or private banking or as a private practice Banking and Finance Associate, supporting wealth, private banking or retail banking clients in a similar capacity, we would love to hear from you.  Exposure to regulatory matters would be an advantage but not essential.

Responsibilities:

• Providing legal advice, guidance and support relating on wealth, private bank and retail banking products, including advising on issues arising under a wide range of laws and regulations such as the Banking Code of Practice, the Corporations Act, ASIC Act and unfair contracts laws.
• Involved with the reporting of legal risk internally at HSBC, as well as championing legal risk management in the Legal Team.
• Building strong stakeholder relationships achieved through acting as a trusted adviser, ensuring that commercially sensitive, practical legal support and advice is provided in a cost-effective manner.
• Ensuring that matters arising from legal issues are promptly identified to Legal management and assisting in the management of such issues.  
  Initiating and implementing change, exploring the use of legal design and legal technology to continuously improve the service offered to our internal and external clients.
• Involvement and contribution to regulatory projects.
• Living organisational values through behaviour and performance outcomes.
• Contribution to the ongoing success of the legal team through sharing knowledge and ideas for continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Solid experience as an In-house Legal Counsel or Associate level private practice lawyer, admitted to practice law in Australia.
• Knowledge and experience of the law in relation to wealth, private banking and / or retail banking, providing a solid understanding of the legal regime in the Australian banking and financial services industry.
• Experience in the drafting and negotiation of a broad range of commercial contracts such as customer facing terms and conditions, product disclosure statements (PDS) and third-party supplier contracts.
• Exposure to regulatory matters and investigations would be an advantage.
• Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships through quality collaboration with various teams across the business as a trusted advisor.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, coupled with strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced commercial culture, managing a wide range of matters under deadline pressure.
• A genuine client service focus with the ability to see things from a customer’s perspective.
• Demonstrated commitment to living company values and contribute knowledge and ideas to continuous improvement.

Preference will be given to candidates who hold Australian PR/Citizenship or New Zealand Citizenship, or who can demonstrate current unrestricted work rights in Australia without limitations.

We value difference through seeking out different perspectives, we succeed together, collaborating across boundaries, we take responsibility, holding ourselves accountable to get things done. Through these values, HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are appreciated and respected and where opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working and opportunities to grow in an inclusive environment. Applications from First Nations peoples are encouraged.

Learn more about careers at HSBC Australia –  https://www.hsbc.com/careers/where-we-hire/australia

Personal data held by the Bank relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website. Issued by HSBC Bank Australia Limited.  Please note that HSBC will we never communicate to applicants via non HSBC channels such as SMS, WhatsApp or Facebook so please be careful if anyone attempts to contact you via these channels.  . #LI-HSBCMH