Head of Legal / Sole Counsel

Head of Legal - Consumer Credit & Financial Services

Merseyside (4 days per week office based)

An established, highly successful UK financial services business is seeking an experienced in-house lawyer to lead legal support for a growing division serving thousands of SME customers.

This is a broad, commercially focused leadership role offering significant autonomy, direct exposure to senior executives and the opportunity to shape legal strategy within a business undergoing an exciting period of growth and transformation.

You will act as the principal lawyer for a sizeable business unit, partnering closely with operational, commercial and regulatory stakeholders.

The role

You'll provide pragmatic, hands-on legal advice across a diverse range of commercial and regulatory matters, including:

• Advising on regulated and unregulated consumer credit products
• Supporting FCA-regulated businesses operating within consumer finance markets
• Drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements
• Advising on financial promotions, Consumer Duty and customer communications
• Supporting the launch and development of new products and services
• Providing day-to-day legal support to senior management teams and boards
• Leading data protection matters and acting as Data Protection Officer
• Managing external counsel where required

This is a genuinely varied role suited to someone who enjoys operating as a trusted adviser embedded within the business.

About you

We're keen to speak to lawyers who have:

• 5+ years' PQE (guideline only)
• Strong in-house legal experience
• Cconsumer credit experience, including exposure to the Consumer Credit Act
• Experience advising FCA-regulated businesses
• Excellent commercial contracts drafting and negotiation skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to advise senior executives
• A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach

Experience within payments, merchant services, lending, equipment finance, financial services or fintech environments would be particularly valuable.