This role sits within the Legal and Governance team.  The team provides commercial and pragmatic advice to the Group within a dynamic and fast-moving environment.    

The team consists of qualified legal professionals covering Products (savings / mortgages), Corporate, Employment, Litigation, Data Protection, Technology, Contracts and Capital Markets.  Qualified governance professionals cover Board and Committee support, Corporate Governance and Shareholder Services.  

We believe that your career and how you progress is as unique as your individual personality. We continually support our people so they can become the best version of themselves. The team is passionate about personal development.

The OSB Group is a FTSE 250 specialist mortgage lender, primarily focused on carefully selected segments of the mortgage market.

Our specialist lending is supported by our Kent Reliance and Charter Savings Bank retail savings franchises. Diversification of funding is provided by sophisticated securitisation platforms. OSB’s unique cost-efficient operating model is supported by our wholly-owned subsidiary OSBIndia.

Alongside passion for our products and customers, we're passionate about our people and want to continue building a collaborative and engaging environment.  Being dedicated to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we encourage differences and recognise that individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences can bring valuable insights and enhance the way we work.  This is supported by our Diversity, Community and Environment Employee Engagement Networks and our commitment to the Women in Finance Charter and Women in Leadership Programme. 

As a Legal Counsel – Mortgages & Contracts, you will have the opportunity to act as one of the primary legal advisers to the Group on all on legal and regulatory matters relating to retail and commercial mortgages, conveyancing, and other aspects of procurement and commercial operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Legal adviser to the Group on all aspects of Residential, Buy-to-let and 2^nd Charge Mortgages law and regulation, lending operations and mortgage servicing, conveyancing and other legal aspects of secured lending

• Assist with the provision of advice, assistance and training for stakeholders in the Group in relation to contracts and outsourcing policies, procedures and processes

• Proactively identifying and reactively troubleshooting legal-related issues, processes and policies within the front-line of the business and working closely with the business to implement practical and legally compliant solutions
• Able to develop and maintain self-help resources for business including training sessions, Legal intranet and other self-help resources, and processes/checklists
• Assisting the Legal team in ensuring the Group is effectively informed and advised on changes in legislation.

• Identifying and troubleshooting legal-related issues, processes and policies in the front-line banking operations of the business

This Legal Counsel position is being offered on 12months FTC and salary being offered is £70,000 - £75,000

• Enhanced family-focused benefits
• Hybrid-working (minimum 3 out of 5 days in the office)
• Annual bonus opportunity 

Please use this link to see the fantastic benefits available at OSB:

https://www.osb.co.uk/careers/overview

We are looking for talented Legal Counsel professional who has the experience and knowledge set out below:

• 3 years’ PQE gained in-house or in private practice in one or more of: commercial/IT contracts, retail banking, banking regulatory, property/real estate, mortgages and mortgage security
• Detailed knowledge of the law and regulation/regulatory guidance around retail mortgage lending
• Detailed knowledge of property conveyancing, particularly in relation to mortgage lending, and real estate
• Qualified Solicitor of England and Wales with at least 3 years’ PQE and holds current SRA Practising Certificate

If this sounds like you, please apply now! For internal applications please visit the internal careers page to apply.

Alternatively, if you wish to have an informal and confidential chat please get in touch. Contact details can be found on our careers page.

If shortlisted from your initial application we operate a personalised recruitment process. Interviews are a two way street, we aim for them to be relevant and conversational to get the best out of you!

OSB Group are dedicated to diversity in the workplace and committed to treating all our employees and job applicants equally.  We embrace equal opportunities and are opposed to discrimination on any grounds.

As part of our public commitment to the Women in Finance Charter, we have introduced our own initiatives to attract, develop and advance senior women in our sector. We don’t stop there though, we have broadened our approach to encourage diversity and inclusion at all levels and in all roles. Our leadership and Executive Committee are right behind us, to the extent that our Diversity Champions sit at Board level and on a monthly basis receive updates on our progress. 

Whilst we are an organisation that values face-to-face interaction to build and nourish our culture, we also acknowledge that people are not just productive in an office and tied to the 9 to 5.  Flexible-working opportunities are important for establishing a healthy work-life balance so if you see a role of interest we are happy to be asked about flexibility and explore together if we can make it work.

All applicants must have rights to work in the UK and be willing to undertake the relevant pre-employment screening checks should your application be successful.

INDHP