Senior Legal Counsel, Securities Finance & Collateral

Start Date: June 2026

Duration: Permanent

Utilization:: 80–100% (full-time preferred)

Location(s): Zurich, Switzerland (Hybrid)

THE ROLE

We are retained on a Senior Legal Counsel mandate for a leading Swiss financial institution in Zurich. The role sits within the securities lending and collateral function, supporting a specialist desk on collateral management, securities financing, and the Swiss regulatory framework that governs them. Working within an internationally connected legal team, the successful candidate will act as a trusted adviser to the business: translating complex regulatory requirements into clear legal processes, delivering actionable guidance to senior stakeholders, and operating with a high degree of autonomy. Fluency in English and German is essential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage day-to-day legal matters relating to collateral trading and management, including the drafting and negotiation of master agreements for Securities Financing Transactions (SFTs), triparty collateral agreements, trade confirmations, security agreements, and bespoke collateral arrangements
• Provide legal counsel on capital markets, securities, asset management, treasury, and balance-sheet-related matters
• Advise on financial markets regulation with a particular focus on the Swiss regulatory landscape, including FINMA requirements as they apply to securities lending, collateral activity, regulatory capital, and balance sheet matters, ensuring ongoing compliance with evolving legal and regulatory requirements
• Conduct legal and regulatory risk gap assessments and provide timely, well-reasoned legal opinions on operational and legal risks
• Draft and review legal policies and guidelines, ensuring they reflect current regulatory requirements and best practice
• Collaborate closely with Compliance, Credit Risk, Finance, and Asset Management stakeholders to deliver integrated, commercially sound legal solutions
• Engage with relevant industry and market associations, staying ahead of developments in securities lending and collateral
• Provide periodic updates to Senior Management, Internal Audit, and relevant Committees on legal developments and risk matters
• Coordinate with the governance team on regulatory filings and reporting obligations
• Lead and support group-wide internal legal projects and contribute to broader Legal & Compliance initiatives

YOUR PROFILE

• Swiss-qualified lawyer admitted to practice (strong preference); an additional US or UK qualification is an advantage
• Significant senior-level experience, typically 12+ years post-qualification, in securities lending, repo, collateral management, and ideally derivatives, gained at a leading financial services institution and/or a top-tier law firm
• Working knowledge of the Swiss regulatory framework as it applies to securities lending and collateral, including FINMA requirements
• Proven expertise in drafting and negotiating financial market agreements, including GMRA, GMSLA, CSA, and related documentation
• Strong experience managing complex, multi-jurisdictional matters and competing priorities, delivering high-quality advice under pressure
• Fluency in English and German, written and spoken, enabling effective communication with internal and external stakeholders
• In-house counsel experience preferred; a background in securities lending and collateral gained on the banking side is particularly relevant
• A hands-on, pragmatic, and self-sufficient working style, comfortable embedding with business teams and operating with a measured appetite for risk
• Ability to take full ownership of matters and operate independently from the outset
• Desirable: experience liaising with financial regulators, exposure to relevant industry and market associations, and a track record of leading cross-functional legal projects and presenting to senior leadersh