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General Counsel

Employer
Alerus Financial
Location
Minnesota
Salary
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Industry
General
Role
Law Enforcement / Security
Job Type
Long-Term
Hours
Full Time

Job Details

Position Summary:
The General Counsel is responsible for management of Alerus' corporate and in-house legal functions, supporting the needs of the board of directors, executive leadership and internal clients; oversight of the compliance area; and providing legal support on a wide range of projects and initiatives.

Essential Responsibilities:
Job Function 1: Management of the Company's Corporate and In House Legal Function - 70%
  • Responsible for leadership, management, and coordination of legal advisory services, including both in-house and outside legal counsel.
  • Provide legal guidance and counsel in executive and policy decision-making.
  • Provide counsel and advice concerning compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations affecting financial services and legal advice in monitoring and resolving disputes, both before and after litigation has commenced.
  • Retain and manage outside counsel on behalf of the company.
  • Oversight and coordination for legal work in multiple areas and lines of business within the company, including customer and vendor contracts, employment law, loan workout, and trust and asset management contracts.
  • Draft, negotiate and revise various commercial agreements, particularly commercial loan documents, vendor contracts, treasury management agreements and confidentiality agreements.
  • Direct supervision and development of all staff attorneys and paralegal.
  • Provide oversight to all corporate governance related functions and activities within the company, including corporate articles and by-laws, all company related insurance, corporate securities and shareholder issues.
  • Serve as corporate secretary.
  • Act as management liaison for corporate governance committee.
  • Collaborate with risk management professionals (including audit and enterprise risk management) to identify potential areas of weakness and make recommendations for improvement.
  • Monitor legal requests from outside parties, including garnishments, levies and subpoenas.

Job Function 2: Management of the Compliance Area - 15%
  • Direct supervision of the Chief Compliance Officer.
  • Provide management guidance and support for the compliance and bank fraud departments.
  • Oversee the company's compliance testing and monitoring plans, and refine those plans as required in light of evolving regulatory or business requirements.
  • Act as a liaison with regulatory agencies, internal and external advisors, and other internal control groups on compliance and exam-related issues.
  • Work with management to establish an appropriate compliance culture throughout the company, including the development of specialized training programs as needed.
  • Collect and analyze regulatory compliance trends and data to assist in developing and implementing improvement initiatives as appropriate.
  • Participate in the management and development of internal compliance talent.

Job Function 3: Maintenance of Legal and Industry Expertise - 15%
  • Provide knowledge and support in a wide variety of projects and initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain expertise in at least 7 of the following areas:
    • Federal bank regulation
    • Corporate law, including corporate governance
    • Securities regulation
    • UCC Articles 3, 4, 4A
    • UCC Article 9
    • Consumer mortgage banking
    • Commercial loan documentation and workouts
    • Consumer loan documentation
    • Corporate payment systems
    • Debit, credit and other payment card transactions
    • Litigation and litigation management

Position Requirements:
Qualifications:
  • Juris Doctor Degree.
  • License to Practice Law in the State of Minnesota or North Dakota.
  • Minimum 15 years practice experience in a law firm corporate, securities or financial institutions practice group or in the in-house legal department of a financial institution.
  • Experience managing others on an ongoing or project basis.
  • Significant experience in 7 or more of the following areas:
    • Federal bank regulation
    • Corporate law, including corporate governance
    • Securities regulation
    • UCC Articles 3, 4, 4A
    • UCC Article 9
    • Consumer mortgage banking
    • Commercial loan documentation and workouts
    • Consumer loan documentation
    • Corporate payment systems
    • Debit, credit and other payment card transactions
    • Litigation and litigation management

Personal Characteristics:
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong client counseling skills.
  • Ability to analyze complex legal, business and risk issues, identify alternative solutions, clearly project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of company goals.
  • Excellent judgment and decision making skills.
  • Effective management of competing deadlines and priorities.

Physical Demands - Must be met with or without a reasonable accommodation:
  • Extended periods of time sitting at a desk and using office equipment.
  • Ability to operate a personal computer/laptop for approximately 8 hours per day.
  • Extended time is spent reviewing physical and electronic documents.
  • The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
  • Periodically, may also do light lifting of supplies and materials which weighs in at approximately 20 lbs.
  • Will spend most of time in an indoor environment.

Alerus Financial is an Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Company

Alerus is a company that will challenge you to be at your best and where your efforts have real, tangible effects. Our culture is one of collaboration, innovation, forward-thinking, and giving back. And, as a growing company with a presence in markets from New Hampshire to Arizona, we offer a broad range of opportunities for you to travel the career path that matches your abilities, interests, and goals.

What is the current company culture like?

While our footprint spans North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Michigan, we still operate like a small company. In other words, every single person on our team matters. Our employees create our culture.

What skills, education, and experiences does your ideal candidate(s) have? Each position has their own specific requirements and qualifications. In addition to those, Alerus seeks people who live out our fundamental beliefs every day: do the right thing, cherish people, empower with knowledge, respect everyone, serve with passion, and embrace change.

How would you describe the company leadership/team management? Alerus has a diverse executive and leadership team. Each leader comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge within their field to help their teams succeed. Alerus leaders, including our C*Suite executives, maintain regular communication with employees on company updates and goals.

Where do you see the company/organization in the upcoming years? Alerus has bank and office locations in North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, New Hampshire and Arizona. While we continue to serve our clients in these states we also look to grow our national footprint to best serve clients wherever they may live.

What do you feel candidates need to know about the company before applying? Alerus is more than just a bank and offers many products for our clients including personal & business banking, mortgages, wealth management and retirement savings. We continue to grow and expand but still maintain and operate with a small business feel. We would not have continued success without our employees and all the hard work they do to serve our clients with passion.

See the current Alerus job openings below!

Company info
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