Associate General Counsel & U.S. Corporate Secretary

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BMO’s Enterprise Board Governance team is accountable for Board governance across BMO and related legal advice. The Associate General Counsel and U.S. Corporate Secretary is accountable for leading the Enterprise Board Governance function in the U.S.  playing a key role in ensuring that BMO’s high standards for corporate governance are met. The successful candidate will draw on their expert knowledge of corporate governance legal and regulatory requirements and best practices, be passionate about continuous improvement and be a skilled and effective communicator. 

In this role, the candidate will get the opportunity to:

• Lead the U.S. Board Governance team, overseeing the corporate governance and corporate secretary function for all of BMO’s U.S. subsidiaries.
• Oversee and facilitate  Board and Committee meetings, including preparation of Board and Committee meeting materials and records. The candidate will also manage the U.S. legal entity governance and maintenance function and lead the preparation of corporate organizational and governance documents and regulatory filings.
• Provide leadership and expertise to the Enterprise Board Governance function.
• Serve as a liaison for communication between the U.S. Boards and U.S. Senior Management.
• Provide legal and regulatory advice on the design, development, implementation and maintenance of best practices for corporate governance, keeping abreast of proposed and existing U.S. legislation and regulations and corporate governance practices applicable to foreign and U.S. financial institutions.
• Provide U.S. legal support on cross-border and intercompany financings and other transactional work, which may include strategic corporate transactions.

Job Description:

Provides and manages the delivery of legal and regulatory advice on products, initiatives, strategies, policies and developments for and on behalf of BMO Financial Group. Provides legal advice based on knowledge of legal principals, practices and procedures, and knowledge of the financial services industry and its environment. Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives. Works to achieve organizational goals while minimizing legal risk.

• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
• Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
• Regularly connects work to BMO’s purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through.
• Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders.
• Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.
• Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance. Uses multiple perspectives, imagines alternatives, and addresses potential outcomes for various courses of action to devise strategy, make recommendations and minimizes legal issues.
• Proactively identifies legal issues and potential problems and communicates appropriately to stakeholders.
• Oversees and delivers legal advice from internal/ external counsel, ensures compliance with internal policies & procedures, and provides advice/ rulings as necessary for complex functions/ activities.
• Designs and oversees legal advice strategies & approaches for the unit activity.
• Devises legal strategy, makes recommendations to minimize legal issues by applying multiple perspectives and alternatives, and addressing potential outcomes for various courses of action.
• Acts as the prime contact for internal/external stakeholder relationships, which may include regulators.
• Exercises judgement on complex, confidential and sensitive matters.
• Oversees or drives the resolution of complex or sensitive financial and/ or non-financial issues.
• Delivers legal advice, instructs external counsel and ensures compliance with internal policies & procedures for a single or small number of function(s).
• Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant laws, regulations and policies.
• Resolves daily issues and/or escalates with appropriate analysis and/or recommendations.
• Identifies risks and implements appropriate actions to mitigate them.
• Implements areas of improvement to ensure consistency with market place.
• Builds effective relationships with internal/ external stakeholders.
• Geographic scope: up to global.
• Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a senior specialist resource across BMO.
• Influences how teams/groups work together.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to multiple, interdependent, complex problems.
• Communicates abstract concepts in simple terms.
• Fosters strong internal and external networks and works with and across multiple teams to achieve business objectives.
• Anticipates trends and responds by implementing appropriate changes.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of legal practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with a reputable law firm and/or in house corporate secretary function required. Meaningful experience in financial institutions preferred.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of corporate law in relation to corporate governance, and related best practices required.
• Degree in law and license to practice law in relevant jurisdiction.
• Advanced knowledge in legal field, typically with a functional or business line specialization.
• Knowledge of business and regulatory environment in which BMO Financial Group operates.
• Technical/ expert resource for business group(s) and other legal professionals.
• Advanced knowledge of legal & regulatory requirements relating to corporate governance.
• Negotiation skills - in depth.
• Seasoned expert with extensive industry knowledge.
• Technical leader viewed as a thought leader for innovation.
• Verbal & written communication skills - Expert.
• Analytical and problem solving skills - Expert.
• Influence skills - Expert.
• Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - Expert.
• Able to manage ambiguity.
• Data driven decision making - Expert.

Salary:

Pay Type:

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

We’re here to help

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact.  We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers.  We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. BMO is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.