Senior Legal Counsel

ROLE OVERVIEW

This role plays a key part in delivering high-quality legal support to CMC Markets' CFD and Stockbroking businesses across Australia and New Zealand, with opportunity to work with colleagues across the CMC Markets Group.

Working closely with the Head of Legal ANZ the position offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, business-critical initiatives while providing pragmatic legal advice that helps manage risk and protect CMC Markets' reputation and commercial interests. The role also provides scope to lead, mentor and support members of the legal team, fostering capability and driving high performance.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical legal expertise within financial services with sound commercial judgement, exceptional stakeholder management skills, and the confidence to navigate complex and evolving business challenges. They will be a trusted adviser who can build effective relationships across the organisation and influence outcomes at all levels.  Experience in regulated financial services industries including derivative products, securities trading and wealth, desirable.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities and competencies  

• Report to and maintain a close working relationship with the Head of Legal, ANZ, acting as a trusted adviser and key support across a broad range of legal, regulatory and commercial matters. Demonstrate strong judgement and initiative in identifying and addressing issues, driving matters through to resolution, and applying a pragmatic, forward-thinking approach to problem-solving.  Ensure effective communication and timely escalation of key risks and issues to support sound decision-making.

• Experience leading and developing legal professionals, including supervising legal work, mentoring and coaching team members, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture. Ability to effectively leverage and coordinate legal resources to deliver high-quality outcomes and support the wider APAC Senior Management team in achieving the region's objectives.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships, influence decision-making and navigate competing priorities across all levels of the organisation.

• Experience in engagement of external legal firms.  
• Strong legal skills in a general commercial contract review and complex negotiation. 
• Legal advice on a range of matters including operational and product related transactions in regulated financial services (specific expertise in OTC derivatives and/or securities trading / wealth products will be looked upon favourably), transactions and M&A, regulatory compliance, disputes and data privacy.

• Drafting expertise in retail client financial product disclosures and terms and conditions.
• Demonstrated awareness of corporate governance and risk management principles, with the judgement to navigate complex issues, support robust decision-making and ensure matters are managed through appropriate governance channels.

• Strong and clear communicator of legal advice to a range of audiences, including to APAC Senior Management.  

• Provide training (including delivering presentations) and support to staff on legal issues as required. 

• Provide legal input as required into Global or APAC policies and procedures, as required from time to time.  

• Provide legal advice to other areas of the business including marketing, HR and IT. 

General

• Maintain personal/professional development to meet the changing demands of the role, including all relevant regulatory and legislative training.

• When dealing with all customers, clients or colleagues ensure that we provide a clear, fair and consistent high-quality service that presents a professional and positive image of CMC Markets.

• Take all reasonable steps to ensure appropriate confidentiality.

• Undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this role.

• Read and comply with CMC policies and procedures as they relate to your employment.

• Complete all mandatory compliance training.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential 

• Practising solicitor with an unrestricted licence with at least 10 PQE.  A mix of solid in-house and private practice experience.  

• Experience in and knowledge of the Corporations Act and other equivalent legislation.  

Desirable 

• Experience of the Australian or New Zealand financial services industry. 

• CFD and/or stockbroking product knowledge. 

Special requirements 

• Current Practising Certificate (or eligible to hold a Practising Certificate). 

KEY OBJECTIVES/KPIS

• As per performance review.