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.

This position can either be based in Chatham in Kent or in London

As the Legal Counsel - Mortgages, you will have the opportunity to advise the Group on legal and regulatory matters relating to retail and commercial mortgages, conveyancing, and other aspects of retail and commercial lending operations as well as real estate.

This role includes an element of advising on the broader spectrum of non-banking legal issues supported by the Legal team as a lean in-house team in a rapidly growing business, including retail savings products, commercial / IT contracts, treasury, litigation, and intellectual property.

Your responsibilities will include…

• Being a Legal advisor to the Group on all aspects of Residential, Buy-to-let and 2nd Charge Mortgage laws and regulations as well as lending operations and mortgage servicing, conveyancing and other legal aspects of secured lending
• Advising the Group in relation to general real estate matters and legal issues around security for mortgaged properties and a range of post-completion mortgage enquiries ensuring this is in line with the Group’s strategic priorities
• Assisting with drafting of mortgage and other product terms and conditions and ancillaries
• Working within the Legal team to monitor and report on changes in legislation and regulation that impact upon the business
• 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
• Developing and maintaining self-help resources for business including training sessions, Legal intranet resources, and processes/checklists
• Identifying and troubleshooting legal-related issues, processes and policies in the front-line banking operations of the business
• Providing any other legal assistance that is required by the Group General Counsel & Company Secretary and Group Heads of Legal across a broad range of matters including assessing and reporting to senior management on legal risk across the business

We offer a base salary depending on Post Qualified Experience with a starting salary of £65,000 for a newly qualified Legal Counsel and a competitive benefits package including:

• Discretionary annual bonus opportunity of up to 15%
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Contributory pension (8% employer 5% employee)
• Life Assurance (4x salary) plus Group Income Protection
• Access to Private Medical Insurance and Medical Cash Plan
• Additional benefits such as Hybrid working, Cycle Purchase scheme, Technology Purchase scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Holiday purchase / sell schemes, Employee Perk Portals, Payroll giving and Save as you Earn scheme

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

At OSB Group, we understand how much our people bring to our organisation, which is why we try our best to give back too! Our Purpose is to help our customers, colleagues and communities prosper and we are on a transformation journey to become ‘the bank of the future’.

Our commitment to professional development, flexible working, and employee well-being fosters a dynamic and supportive workplace.

We are looking for talented individuals who have the experience and knowledge set out below:

• Post Qualified Experience gained in an in house or in a private practice in one of more of the following: retail banking, banking regulatory, property/real estate, mortgages and mortgage security
• Detailed knowledge of:
  • The law and regulation/regulatory guidance around retail mortgage lending
  • Property conveyancing, particularly in relation to mortgage lending, and real estate
• Qualified Solicitor of England and Wales between 0 and 5 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.

Still on the fence? Hear from our team or explore our process: OSB Careers

Shortlisted candidates will go through a personalised recruitment process, that is relevant and conversational – inclusive any individual reasonable support required. We want to bring out the best in you!

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Not sure if you meet the spec? Let us decide.

Research tells us that those from marginalised groups feel like they need to meet 100% of the criteria to apply. Here at OSB, we are committed to inclusivity and understand the value different experiences and perspectives can bring, so please don’t feel like you need to check every box to apply for a role internally.

We champion diversity at all levels, with Board-level Diversity Champions tracking our progress. We are proud to be signed up to the Women in Finance Charter to actively support the growth and development of senior women in our sector and are dedicated to treating all our employees and job applicants equally, opposed to discrimination on any grounds.