Associate General Counsel, U.S. Wealth Management, Trusts & Estates

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The Associate General Counsel (AGC), Trust & Estate Administration, manages the legal team that delivers legal and regulatory advice on trust and estate administration products, initiatives, strategies, policies and developments for and on behalf of BMO Financial Group's U.S. Wealth Management business, which consists of several interrelated companies that offer banking, investment, and fiduciary services to wealthy individuals and families.  Provides legal advice based on knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures, and knowledge of the financial services industry and its environment. Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives. Advises boards, committees, and senior executives.  Works to achieve organizational goals while minimizing legal risk. Works to deliver legal advice (60%), provide legal oversight (20%) and issues management (20%).

• 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 marketplace.

• Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders.

• Geographic scope: national.

• 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:

• Typically 10+ years of legal practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Degree in law (LLB or JD) and license to practice law in relevant jurisdiction.

• Typically 10+ years of legal practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Private practice or in-house experience delivering legal advice to business/group, or experience at regulatory body relating to the regulation of business/group activities.

• Advanced knowledge in legal field, typically with a functional or business line specialization.

• Knowledge of business and regulatory environment in which BMO Financial Group, and more particularly the BMO U.S. Wealth management business, operates.

• Technical/ expert resource for business group(s) and other legal professionals.

• Advanced knowledge of legal & regulatory requirements and the operations of single and multiple complex business group(s).

• 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

About Us

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 proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to BMOCareers.Support@bmo.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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.