GENERAL COUNSEL

General CounselAt Sunrise Banks we are committed to a culture of trust and transparency that welcomes all.Position SummaryThe General Counsel serves as the top legal advisor to the Bank and its fintech payments business, providing strategic, pragmatic counsel on all legal, regulatory, and risk matters. This role acts as a trusted partner to executive leadership, safeguarding the organization while enabling responsible growth aligned with its CDFI mission.The General Counsel is a hands-on role that oversees all legal operations, including banking, fintech payments and partnerships, contracts, regulatory compliance, and litigation, and is responsible for managing a few staff and external counsel.This role is critical to enabling the Bank's dual mission: delivering inclusive financial services as a CDFI while scaling innovative fintech and payments capabilities responsibly. The General Counsel ensures the organization can grow confidently within a complex and highly regulated environment.Essential FunctionsStrategic Legal LeadershipServe as primary legal advisor to the Executive Team and Board on banking, payments, and corporate mattersAdvise on enterprise risk management from a legal perspective. Providing proactive, solution-oriented legal guidance that balances risk with business objectivesDesign legal strategies that align with the Bank's CDFI mission and regulatory obligations in order to minimize legal exposure and resolve matters efficientlySelect, engage, and manage outside counsel across specialty areas controlling spend and setting expectations for responsiveness and outcomesEstablish scalable contract standards and governance practicesLead and develop a small, high-performing legal team (one attorney and one paralegal)Foster a collaborative, pragmatic, and service-oriented legal functionRegulatory & Compliance AdvisoryIn coordination with Chief Risk Officer and risk teams, provide legal interpretation and guidance on regulatory requirements, emerging rule changes, and new or evolving productsAdvise on regulatory "gray areas" and complex compliance, payments, and regulatory issues (BSA/AML, fair lending, UCC, etc.)Support response to regulatory inquiries, complaints, and potential enforcement or litigation exposureProvide legal guidance in high-risk events, including security incidents, data breaches, and regulatory notification requirementsPartner closely with risk and compliance teams to mitigate legal and regulatory exposureContracts & OversightLead negotiation, structuring, and review of complex agreements, including:Fintech partner agreementsCommercial agreementsPayments processing and program management contractsVendor and technology agreements, often partnering with ProcurementProvide counsel on contract risk, enforceability, and dispute resolutionServe as lead legal advisor for fintech and payments business lines, ensuring compliance with evolving industry requirementsAdvise on BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service), sponsorship models, and partner oversight frameworksSupport product development with clear, practical legal guidanceKey CollaboratorsIntegrator and Executive Team, Board, external counsel, procurement manager, relationship banking, fintech payments and partnerships, risk and complianceSupervisory ResponsibilitiesThis position supervises Paralegal. Responsible for the hiring, performance management and development of these employees.CompetenciesAlignment w/Sunrise Core ValuesContributor CompetenciesBusiness AcumenCoachingCompliance ManagementConflict ManagementEmployee DevelopmentLeadershipPlanning/DelegationProblem SolvingProject ManagementResource ManagementRelationship ManagementEducation & ExperienceJuris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active license to practice law12+ years of legal experience, with significant experience in banking or financial servicesDeep expertise in banking regulation and supervision; Fintech and/or payments (preferred) and commercial contracts and complex negotiationsProven ability to advise senior executives on complex, high-impact issuesExperience in a CDFI or mission-driven financial institution preferredFamiliarity with BaaS, embedded finance, and fintech partnership models preferredExperience working in both regulated banking and entrepreneurial/growth environments preferredSound judgement with pragmatic, business-oriented approachAbility to simplify complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidanceHigh level of integrity and discretionCollaborative leadership style with strong relationship-building skillsComfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving regulatory landscape as both a leader and an individual contributorSuperior skill set in the following software applications: Microsoft Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.Compensation and BenefitsAnnual salary range DOQ: $173,351 - $321,938Eligible Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Life, AD&D, STD, LTD, Pet Insurance, PPL, PTO, PVT0, 401k and more.