Description:

Job Summary:
The role of VP, Associate General Counsel is responsible for handling the general legal banking affairs and operations of Banc of California. This role provides legal advice to multiple areas of the Bank. The role entails a broad, generalized understanding of banking law, together with swift and efficient identification of issues, and following an action plan through to completion. The person within this role must possess good business judgment and have the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with a diverse workload.

This role will provide legal advice on: bank operations, deposits, payments and funds transfers, digital banking, banking as a service/open banking (including APIs), treasury management sales and services (including foreign exchange), product management, risk management, legal process, bank regulatory and compliance (including BSA/AML) activities, and reviewing and drafting documents, including banking forms and vendor contracts.

Responsibilities:

Provide advice regarding regulatory requirements associated with bank operations matters, treasury management, product development, and issues involving the organization's government and regulatory compliance.
Manages legal business matters pertaining to the organization.
Responsible for management of assigned day to day legal operations.
Provide support to the Retail Bank, which may include checking and savings products, marketing, operations, payments and fraud support.
Answer complex legal questions that arise, including with respect to federal consumer banking laws and state laws impacting consumer deposit accounts.
Reviews legal data and, at times, advises on appropriate legal action to be taken.
Provide ad hoc support to internal stakeholders across all payment services and platforms, including checks, ACH, wire transfers, and digital payments.
Regularly attend seminars and conferences to increase knowledge of emerging trends in banking and compliance.
As requested by senior officers, provide support, review and analysis of Bank-related policies for compliance with California law to ensure compliance with current laws and applicable regulations.
Maintains a duty to bring issues of import to the appropriate executive responsible for the department.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Advise and support treasury management and operations personnel in areas including payments and funds transfers, trusts and trust accounts, POAs, CUTMA, POD accounts, IOLTA, Articles 3, 4, and 4A (Division 11) matters, and Regulation E issues.
Assist with bankruptcy-related account issues, including Chapter 11 DIP account transfers to UST-approved depositories.
Reviews operations-related vendor contracts.
Support new digital and banking-as-a-service products and services.
Support members of the technology and operations teams on privacy and security-related legal matters, including areas related to partnerships, integrations, and other business development opportunities.
Advise clients regarding compliance with primarily domestic data privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), Colorado Privacy Act (CPA).
Field questions or engage outside counsel to collaborate with bank personnel for issues relating to all aspects of the banking operations functions, checking, savings, and online banking, including issues of account structuring, BSA/AML, account irregularities, fraud incidents, operational losses, probate, compliance and regulatory concerns.
As needed, review responses to DFPI and CFPB complaints, regulatory inquiries and general consumer complaints.
Provide practical and operational guidance on how to harmonize relevant laws, regulations, and guidance into uniform policies, procedures, and practices.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of federal and California laws and regulations pertaining to bank operations.
Ability to coordinate a team effort to achieve departmental and Bank objectives.
Excellent writing skills and the ability to cogently distill and communicate complex legal issues to upper management concisely, accurately, and cognizably,
Excellent problem-solving abilities and effective verbal and written skills.
Strong contract review skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines.
Flexibility and ability to work well within the legal team and cross-functional teams.
Strong business sense and ability to exercise good business judgment.
Expert knowledge in general corporate matters, including corporate organization, securities compliance, drafting transactional documents, license agreements, employment law, immigration law regulatory matters, and risk management.
Review and be knowledgeable of departmental and bank-wide policies & procedures.
Required: Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school required.
Active member of the State Bar of California admitted to practice law in California.
5 - 8 years as in-house counsel at a bank or practicing in a law firm providing legal advice for financial institutions.
Demonstrated experience in analyzing, interpreting and communicating strategies and requirements, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into concise advice.
Experience with managing confidential information and documents with discretion.
Experience working in or for the financial services industry.
Preferred: Compliance certifications regarding banking law.