Assistant General Counsel

About the role

The Citizens Bank is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented attorney to serve as Counsel supporting the Wealth Management Division of the Citizens Consumer Bank. The Counsel will report to the Senior Associate General Counsel, Head of Wealth Legal and will support our wealth management and fiduciary businesses.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to wealth management, trust, fiduciary, investment advisory, and brokerage businesses, including:
• Interpretation and application of fiduciary principles and duties
• Advice on advisory and brokerage service models and related regulatory requirements
• Review and drafting of policies, procedures, and client documentation
• Advisory on regulatory requirements applicable to fiduciary and investment activities, including: 12 CFR Part 9 (OCC fiduciary activities), Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and applicable broker-dealer regulations
• Support compliance and risk management initiatives related to fiduciary operations, advisory programs, and brokerage offerings
• Assist in responding to regulatory examinations, audits, and inquiries, including those involving OCC, SEC, and FINRA
• Review and negotiate agreements related to: Investment advisory services, brokerage and custody arrangements, fiduciary services and third-party providers
• Partner with internal stakeholders (compliance, risk, operations, and business teams) to identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks
• Monitor and analyze legal and regulatory developments impacting wealth management, fiduciary services, and retail and institutional investment products
• Contribute to training and guidance for business personnel on legal and regulatory obligations, including fiduciary, advisory, and brokerage standards; and
• As needed, provide support related to Legal due diligence of potential Wealth Management acquisition targets.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of legal experience with demonstrated experience in the RIA, Broker-Dealer, and/or Trust and Fiduciary space, preferably at a law firm or larger financial institution.
• Familiarity with the federal securities laws, including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, relevant portions of ERISA and its parallel provisions under the Internal Revenue Code, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and applicable FINRA rules and 12 CFR Part 9.
• Ability to support and prioritize work related to multiple high-profile projects, strong attention to detail, willingness to dig in and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• AJD or equivalent, strong academic credentials
• Admission to at least one U.S. bar required.

Skills

• Strong technical legal skills with practical business judgment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to see past the immediate question and understand the broader implication and wider strategy
• Collaborative approach in devising pragmatic and creative solutions across a variety of issues in a growth environment

Benefits

Pay range: $176,000 - $230,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the budget, work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more.

Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States.

For an overview of our benefits, visit here.