Job Summary:
Associate Legal Counsel reporting to General Counsel and working with Associate General Counsel, and advising executive and senior management on legal and compliance risks associated with operation of consumer finance company doing business in numerous states. Responsible for managing legal functions of the company, including compliance with consumer and the relevant state and federal laws, ensuring current company licensing and permits, collection policies, advising on relevant changes in the law, managing legal components of company’s commercial finance, managing litigation and company outside counsel.
Job Functions:
- Under direction of General Counsel manage day-to-day operations Prestige Financial Services legal department, including budget matters, establishment and maintenance of appropriate competencies and professionalism.
- Advise management on legal and compliance risks related to company products, collection policies and general corporate strategy.
- Advise Directors of Collections and Underwriting concerning legal matters related to collection and underwriting practices and policies to ensure state-by-state compliance.
- Manage and ensure company compliance with consumer finance laws and regulations, including compliance of the company standard retail installment sales contracts.
- Monitor and review relevant legal trends and changes in the law, including consumer protection, consumer finance, finance company licensing requirements and collection laws.
- Assist General Counsel and Associate General Counsel to manage the company’s contract relations, including dealer contracts and vendor contracts.
- Facilitate all legal documentation related to company’s commercial financings including securitizations and other debt vehicles. Also, manage compliance with related debt and securitization covenants and any amendments and modifications to related documentation.
- Assist the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel to manage company litigation, including where appropriate representing the company in collection, small claims and other litigation matters, and compiling documents and other information responding to legal discovery requests. Prepare regular litigation reports and case summaries and other duties as assigned.
- Develop, review, maintain and revise policies and procedures designed to assure compliance and to minimize risk of unlawful or improper conduct.
- Oversee all corporate governance and compliance matters, including participating in executive management meetings and taking minutes.
- Receive and investigate all Attorney General and Better Business Bureau Complaints against the company, and prepare responses to such complaints.
- Attend first meeting of creditors in bankruptcy matters as assigned by the Director of Collections.
- In conjunction with the Associate General Counsel investigate sexual harassment and discrimination claims and respond to any formal charges filed with the EEOC or its state equivalent.
Required Education and Experience:
Juris Doctorate and no less than 5 years experience in large law firm or corporate legal department or equivalent experience. Detailed experience with corporate governance, commercial finance required. Experience with consumer finance and related regulatory matters preferred. The successful candidate should also understand litigation procedures and processes and contract law.
Required Skills:
- Successful experience in supervising other’s work both inside the company and outside advisors.
- Superior analytical skills and ability to perform work of a specialized or technical nature.
- Superior oral and written communication skills.
- Very high level of interpersonal skills and flexibility to work with many people.
- Ability to work independently and make decisions independently.
- Professional appearance and demeanor.
- Solution oriented with outstanding judgment and ability to arrive at recommendations and make difficult decisions.
- Ability to travel out of state occasionally on work-related assignments.
- Knowledge of general accounting fundamentals and finance company business practices.