Associate Director, Legal and Transaction Management - C&I Leveraged Finance

About the role

OakNorth is looking for a driven and ambitious In-House Legal Transaction Execution Associate Director to join our US Team as we take our lending business across the Atlantic. This is an amazing opportunity to be at the forefront of our US expansion and directly contribute to our growth and success.

Responsibilities

• Instruct and manage external counsel on the drafting of finance documents to accurately reflect Credit approvals on all US transactions.
• Manage a number of transactions simultaneously and facilitate all conditions precedent to be satisfied taking a risk-based approach.
• Manage paralegals and juniors to facilitate the execution of transactions simultaneously.
• Cook with borrowers, sponsors, co-lenders and external third parties to deliver an execution product that delights customers.
• Work closely with Business Development, Credit, Operations, and Portfolio teams to structure and finalise deals, ensuring consistency with credit terms.
• Be proficient at transaction management to ensure that all standard operating procedures are complied with.
• Work with prospective borrowers to agree deal structures and advise the Business Development and Credit teams to ensure structures of deals comply with the terms of the credit sanction.
• Manage internal stakeholders to align with business targets.
• Build strong connections with customers and potential customers to develop lasting personal relationships.
• Ensure that Term Sheets are agreed in a time efficient manner for transactions to be commenced quickly.
• Advise as to US lending customs and practices, particularly in the context of sponsor finance and lower to middle market cash flow transactions.
• Assist with expanding the US lending platform per OakNorth's conveyed strategy.
• Leverage GenAI tools to increase productivity and enhance decision-making processes within the role.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have significant experience working on sponsor finance and cash flow lending transactions in the lower middle and middle markets while also having broader C&I lending experience. The candidate will be able to work within tight timelines and will align with the OakNorth values of working as one team with the ambition to deliver a high-quality product to our customers.

Qualifications

• Attorney or loan closing experience with 5+ years of experience closing C&I transactions, with a strong focus on sponsor finance and cash flow lending in the lower middle to true middle market.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build trusted relationships with: ExCo and senior stakeholders in the US and UK businesses, Debt Finance originators, wider teams including the Operations, Portfolio Management, Customer Due Diligence, Credit and Finance teams.
• Passionate about delivering excellence in service and quality.
• High level attention to detail, project management and organisational ability.
• Outstanding legal and commercial banking expertise across multiple areas of finance (C&I, sponsor finance and structured products).
• Ability to understand and process information quickly and effectively.
• Ability to work outside of comfort zone and develop new areas of proficiency.
• Proactive and personal drive, results driven, team player and ability to be flexible across products and deals.
• Ability to succeed in a culture where change and speed are part of daily work.

Skills

• Proficiency in transaction management.
• Experience with drafting finance documents.
• Knowledge of US lending customs and practices, particularly in the context of sponsor finance and lower to middle market cash flow transactions.
• Ability to leverage GenAI tools for productivity and decision-making.

Benefits

• 401k plan with Principal (OakNorth match up to 4%)
• Medical Care (managed through Insperity) — employees can add their family to their plan if needed
• Dental & Vision bundle
• Insperity Health Savings Account Programme — a tax-advantaged employee benefit which can help manage health care costs by allowing employees to set aside some of their current earnings on a pretax basis for reimbursement of qualified health care expenses during the plan year
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• 20 days Holiday

Pay

$200k - $250k based on experience

Schedule

N/A