Associate General Counsel & MD, Enterprise Board Governance & Assistant Corporate Secretary

BMO•Toronto, ON

4d•CA$190,000 - CA$230,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role oversees all matters related to Enterprise Board Governance, including subsidiary boards. This role provides a high standard of legal advice, guidance and direction relating to board governance on a range of complex legal issues, initiatives, and transactions across BMO Financial Group. Provides key specialized and broad-based legal advice and services, with significant organizational or major line of business implications, for matters in which BMO Financial Group may be engaged to achieve organizational goals and/or minimize legal risk. Draws upon in-depth knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of the law and governing legislation. Provides leadership and development of a team of legal professionals responsible for providing board governance legal services and functions across BMO Financial Group. The role draws upon in-depth knowledge of the Bank, the financial services industry, and the regulatory environment for BMO Financial Group. Supports the Corporate Secretary on all matters related to Enterprise Board Governance, including subsidiary boards. Provides legal advice and counsel to senior management/executive and the Bank and subsidiary boards. Manages legal services and leads a group of legal professionals for the Bank board and subsidiary governance function across BMO Financial Group. Applies key specialized and/or broad-based legal knowledge, including knowledge of governing legislation, with Bank-wide or otherwise significant scope. Manages relationships at senior executive levels of the organization and/or law department leadership and/or acts as a peer review and internal resource to other legal professionals, including senior practitioners, within the legal department. Oversees, exercises judgement on and resolves significant, complex legal issues with significant organizational implications for the Bank board and subsidiary governance function across BMO Financial Group. Directs significant legal matters in which the organization is involved, directly or through external counsel, including oversight of external counsel. Intervenes in more broadly impacting or sensitive legal issues. Recommends and/or approves policy, procedures and performance standards regarding law department or its mandate. Manages legal or regulatory risk with significant potential exposure or Bank-wide implications. Manages internal and external relationships (i.e., senior executive levels, external counsel, significant regulatory bodies). Manages file-specific legal expenses on complex legal issues. Within the mandate of this role, promotes and supports the Bank’s risk culture including ensuring employees understand their accountabilities for risk-taking activities, promoting an environment of open communication and effective challenge, and establishing the “tone from the top” through leading by example. Complies with the Bank’s Risk Appetite framework and ensures risk-taking activities remain within agreed limits and comply with all regulatory requirements. Role models driving simplicity and productivity enhancements for optimization across groups driving continuous improvement on key measures Activates our winning culture, aligned with Purpose. Ignites engagement by aligning our culture to our strategy and fueling exceptional execution Fosters diversity, equity and inclusion and creates an inclusive environment for all employees by eliminating barriers to inclusion Develops leaders, plans for succession, and fosters a high-performance culture Drives top talent acquisition and retention, developing organizational capabilities to drive competitive advantage Leads and mentors a team with diverse risk and business experience, skills, and orientation Leads, promotes, and reinforces the Bank’s Ambition; personally, role models One Bank leadership; drives sustainable improvements in customer loyalty and business growth; adheres and supports enterprise customer experience and brand standards

Requirements

Minimum requirements are a degree in law (LLB) and license to practice law, preferably in Canada.
10 plus years call from the bar.
Advanced, highly specialized, or broad-based level of knowledge in legal field including knowledge of governing legislation.
Strong knowledge of the financial services business.
Experienced people manager/demonstrated leadership capabilities, including mentoring skills.
Is viewed as a key legal resource for the Law Department.
Strong research skill/able to proactively provide ideas, advice, and solutions relative to legal issues.
Ability to synthesize large, complex volumes of information.
High level of judgement.
Strong analytical capability.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Strong negotiations skills.
Strong relationship management skills/able to relate at all levels.
Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
Ability to lead a team of senior legal professionals.
Ability to work in team environment and to balance conflicting requirements with limited resources.

Responsibilities

Oversees all matters related to Enterprise Board Governance, including subsidiary boards.
Provides a high standard of legal advice, guidance and direction relating to board governance on a range of complex legal issues, initiatives, and transactions across BMO Financial Group.
Provides key specialized and broad-based legal advice and services, with significant organizational or major line of business implications, for matters in which BMO Financial Group may be engaged to achieve organizational goals and/or minimize legal risk.
Provides leadership and development of a team of legal professionals responsible for providing board governance legal services and functions across BMO Financial Group.
Supports the Corporate Secretary on all matters related to Enterprise Board Governance, including subsidiary boards.
Provides legal advice and counsel to senior management/executive and the Bank and subsidiary boards.
Manages legal services and leads a group of legal professionals for the Bank board and subsidiary governance function across BMO Financial Group.
Manages relationships at senior executive levels of the organization and/or law department leadership and/or acts as a peer review and internal resource to other legal professionals, including senior practitioners, within the legal department.
Oversees, exercises judgement on and resolves significant, complex legal issues with significant organizational implications for the Bank board and subsidiary governance function across BMO Financial Group.
Directs significant legal matters in which the organization is involved, directly or through external counsel, including oversight of external counsel.
Intervenes in more broadly impacting or sensitive legal issues.
Recommends and/or approves policy, procedures and performance standards regarding law department or its mandate.
Manages legal or regulatory risk with significant potential exposure or Bank-wide implications.
Manages internal and external relationships (i.e., senior executive levels, external counsel, significant regulatory bodies).
Manages file-specific legal expenses on complex legal issues.
Promotes and supports the Bank’s risk culture including ensuring employees understand their accountabilities for risk-taking activities, promoting an environment of open communication and effective challenge, and establishing the “tone from the top” through leading by example.
Complies with the Bank’s Risk Appetite framework and ensures risk-taking activities remain within agreed limits and comply with all regulatory requirements.
Role models driving simplicity and productivity enhancements for optimization across groups driving continuous improvement on key measures.
Activates our winning culture, aligned with Purpose.
Ignites engagement by aligning our culture to our strategy and fueling exceptional execution.
Fosters diversity, equity and inclusion and creates an inclusive environment for all employees by eliminating barriers to inclusion.
Develops leaders, plans for succession, and fosters a high-performance culture.
Drives top talent acquisition and retention, developing organizational capabilities to drive competitive advantage.
Leads and mentors a team with diverse risk and business experience, skills, and orientation.
Leads, promotes, and reinforces the Bank’s Ambition; personally, role models One Bank leadership; drives sustainable improvements in customer loyalty and business growth; adheres and supports enterprise customer experience and brand standards.