Associate General Counsel, Billease Bank, Inc.
Billease Bank Inc. (A Rural Bank) (formerly Rural Bank of Santa Maria (Ilocos Sur) Inc. and referred to herein as the Bank) is a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-supervised rural bank operating under the Billease brand as the banking arm of the Billease Group.
The Bank operates alongside its affiliate First Digital Finance Corporation (FDFC) the SEC-registered financing company and BSP-registered Operator of Payment System that operates the Billease Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and consumer-finance platform to extend regulated deposit-taking lending and other banking services to Billeases underserved customer base. The Billease Group is backed by an experienced leadership team and by institutional equity backing that includes TPGs The Rise Fund. The Banks growth strategy centers on complementing FDFCs consumer finance platform with regulated deposit and credit products advancing the Groups financial-inclusion mission in a market where over 90% of the population remains underbanked.
Reports To: the President Billease Bank Inc. under the general supervisory authority of the General Counsel Billease Group
Location: Hybrid; report onsite once a week and as needed (office in Makati City)
Job Summary:
The Associate General Counsel (AGC) will perform full-time legal regulatory and corporate legal services on behalf of Billease Bank Inc. (A Rural Bank) supporting the Banks compliance with applicable banking corporate and consumer-protection laws and regulations as well as the Banks corporate secretarial and general housekeeping matters including the monitoring of its reportorial obligations with regulators. Reporting jointly to the Banks President and the General Counsel of the Billease Group the AGC will work closely with the Group Legal team to align the Banks legal and regulatory posture with that of FDFC including with respect to intra-group related-party transactions outsourcing arrangements and data-sharing matters and will play a central legal role in the Banks ongoing transition into a digital-centric rural bank.
Key Responsibilities:
Regulatory Compliance and Bank Governance
Advise the Banks management and Board of Directors on compliance with the MORB the Rural Banks Act the General Banking Law and applicable BSP issuances governing rural banks.
Support the Banks corporate governance framework including board and board-committee documentation fit-and-proper standards for directors and officers and the Banks compliance program risk management framework and internal audit charter required under BSP supervisory standards.
Support regulatory filings and notifications to BSP and SEC including with respect to the Banks ongoing digital-centric conversion.
Contract Negotiation and Management
Draft review and negotiate the Banks commercial agreements including deposit and loan documentation vendor and outsourcing contracts technology agreements and service agreements in line with the Groups legal and risk management framework.
Establish and maintain contract management processes and proper documentation standards for the Bank to minimize risks associated with contractual obligations.
Corporate Secretarial and Housekeeping Matters
Provide corporate secretarial services to the Bank including preparing notices agenda and minutes for meetings of the Board of Directors Board committees and stockholders and maintaining the Banks corporate and statutory records (including its stock and transfer book minutes book and stock certificates).
Maintain the Banks regulatory compliance calendar and monitor its reportorial obligations and deadlines with BSP SEC PDIC AMLC and other applicable regulators ensuring the timely preparation and submission of required reports disclosures and license or registration renewals.
Attend to other corporate housekeeping matters including updating the Banks corporate records registers and government filings.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Manage litigation labor administrative and dispute resolution matters involving the Bank working with and supervising external counsel as necessary to ensure cost-effective and high-quality representation.
AML/CFT and Consumer Protection
Support the Banks compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Act and its implementing rules including KYC suspicious transaction reporting and beneficial-ownership requirements.
Support compliance with the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (Republic Act No. 11765) and BSP Circular No. 1160 including maintenance of the Banks Consumer Assistance Mechanism.
Corporate Transactions and Capital Matters
Provide legal support for the Banks corporate transactions including capital infusions stockholder and board actions and changes in ownership or control requiring prior BSP approval under applicable law.
Assist in the preparation and execution of corporate documentation including amendments to the Banks Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and related SEC filings.
Risk Management
Collaborate with the Banks Compliance Risk Management and Internal Audit functions to proactively identify and manage legal and regulatory risks across the Banks operations.
Support maintenance of the Banks required AML Manual Business Continuity Plan/Disaster Recovery Plan IT Risk Management Plan and RPT Policy among other standing BSP regulatory requirements.
Qualifications
Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from a reputable institution; member of the Philippine Bar in good standing.
Three (3) to four (4) years of experience in corporate law practice with a reputable law firm preferably with extensive experience in the banking and/or financial services sector.
Working knowledge of Philippine banking corporate and financial regulatory law including the MORB the General Banking Law the Rural Banks Act the Anti-Money Laundering Act the Data Privacy Act and the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating legal and regulatory risks.
Proven experience in contract drafting review and negotiation and in managing regulatory compliance matters.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to convey complex legal and regulatory matters to non-legal stakeholders and to engage directly with BSP and SEC among other regulatory agencies.
Ability to work collaboratively across the Billease Groups legal compliance and business teams and to manage multiple concurrent regulatory work streams with limited supervision.
Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1