Team/Role Overview

Citi’s Legal Department in Belfast is a team of approximately 120 staff, covering a range of products and services across Citi’s Europe, UK, Middle East and Africa Cluster. The Belfast Legal Department provides a range of services, support and advice to many business areas; incorporating transaction negotiation, master agreement negotiation, and oversight of compliance and regulatory requirements. The role will involve an active engagement with the business, principally out of Belfast, but there will also be daily interaction with the rest of the cluster.

The Custody Legal Counsel is a key role in the Belfast Securities Services Legal team, working closely with the product desks across Europe, UK, Middle East and Africa and acting as an important partner to provide advice and assistance at all stages of the product lifecycle.

What you’ll do

Advise the Custody business, on all aspects of legal risk as it pertains to their business – with respect to (i) negotiations with key platinum clients; (ii) risk issues which materialize in the business; and (iii) regulatory change implementation and associated issues relating to key regulations relevant to the Custody business.

• Review and negotiate a wide variety of custody legal documentation with internal and external customers to reach agreement on the contents of same, through telephonic or electronic negotiation, and in line with the Securities Services negotiation guidelines as applicable.

• Maintain accurate status reports on negotiation developments within the team and exercise best practice in documentation management, negotiation and execution.

• Understand the various legal and regulatory requirements of the Custody business and providing legal support in respect of same.

• Manage day-to-day legal activities, serving as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide advisory services to business partners.

• Build relationships with various internal stakeholders such as local legal counsels, product, risk, relationship managers and implementation contacts. Partnering with the said internal stakeholders to assess and implement new regulatory requirements, new initiatives/product offerings including assistance with the product approval process.

• Coordinate external counsel and provide assistance in budgeting.

• Facilitate legal guidance and expertise to the Custody Services business lines throughout Europe, UK, Middle East and Africa on relevant Custody product and product development matters  including general advice and negotiation and drafting of transaction documentation, contracts and development of relevant templates,

What we’ll need from you

• Experience working in a fast-paced corporate legal department, law firm, financial services or related industry.

• Proven analytical and organisational skills.

• Exceptional attention to detail and high levels of accuracy.

• Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication skills, as well as has the ability to seek and understand instructions from the relevant business stakeholder.

• Comprehensive knowledge of applicable laws and practices relevant to the product areas and banking/ financial services industry.

• Exhibit confidence and agility in challenging times, and can effectively manage a busy workload comprising work from different financial product areas.

• Ability to efficiently manage time and competing priorities.

• You must have a high-quality academic record including a Bachelors/ University degree qualification in the relevant discipline of law or equivalent. Post Qualification experience will be advantageous.

What we can offer you

You will be expected to develop a strong understanding of Citi’s Custody products, services and client base. You will be instrumental in providing legal support and gaining experience in a wide range of product documentation in Custody across a multitude of jurisdictions.

We work hard to have a positive financial and social impact on the communities we serve. In turn, we put our employees first and provide the best-in-class benefits they need to be well, live well and save well.

By joining Citi Belfast, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as: 

• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure

• A discretional annual performance related bonus 

• Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances

• Employee Assistance Program  

• Pension Plan 

• Paid Parental Leave 

• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends 

• Access to an array of learning and development resources 

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day.  We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive. 

Sounds like Citi has everything you need? Then apply to discover the true extent of your capabilities.