VP of Legal

About Pockit and Monese

Pockit and Monese are FCA-regulated financial technology institutions providing e-money accounts and financial management tools. Together, we serve more than three million customers across the UK and Europe.

We're a diverse, international and energetic team, with colleagues based across London, Newcastle, Tallinn and remote teams across Central Europe. We value curiosity, ambition, accountability and resilience , and we want everyone to feel at home, have a voice and know that their contribution matters. We give people the trust and space to take ownership, share ideas, influence decisions, and make a real impact on our customers and our business.

The role

Following Pockit’s acquisition of Monese in October 2024, the VP of Legal will play a critical role in the integration of the two regulated entities, overseeing group-wide legal strategy, corporate governance, and multi-jurisdictional regulatory compliance.

The VP of Legal is a senior leadership position and a member of the Executive Team, responsible for building and leading the group’s legal function and providing strategic counsel to the CEO and Board of Directors. The incumbent will oversee the legal aspects of the post-merger integration, manage complex commercial negotiations, and ensure the group’s operations remain compliant with UK and EU financial services regulations.

This is a role where you can build. The in-house legal function is being established rather than inherited. The successful candidate will shape the function’s operating model, decide what is handled internally versus externally, and grow the team as the group scales.

What you will do

1. Corporate Governance & Strategic M&A

• Group Structure: Advise on complex group structures and intra-group arrangements following the acquisition.

• Board Support: Draft and review shareholder resolutions, maintain governance frameworks, and oversee corporate filings and company secretarial functions.

• Strategic Growth: Lead legal due diligence for M&A activities, equity fundraising, and post-transaction integration.

2. Commercial & Technology Law

• Contract Negotiation: Lead negotiations for high-value SaaS, technology procurement, and strategic partnership agreements.

• Intellectual Property: Oversee the protection and enforcement of IP rights within digital payment processing and fintech innovation.

• Efficiency: Develop and maintain the group’s legal playbooks and standard form agreements to streamline operational risk control.

3. Regulatory, Compliance & Risk

• Regulatory Liaison: Act as a primary point of contact for legal interactions with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other international regulatory bodies.

• Financial Services Law: Ensure compliance with E-Money Regulations, Payment Services Regulations (PSRs), and outsourcing requirements.

• Data Privacy: Oversee legal frameworks for data protection (UK/EU GDPR) across multi-jurisdictional customer bases.

4. Dispute Resolution & Litigation

• Contingency Management: Direct the strategy for legal disputes, including pre-action correspondence and settlement negotiations.

• Counsel Management: Instruct and manage external legal firms, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality representation on contentious matters.

5. Required Qualifications and Experience

• Professional Qualification: Must be a Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales or a European jurisdiction.

• Professional Experience: Typically 6–8 years of Post-Qualification Experience (PQE).

• Training: Prior training or experience within a top-tier private practice law firm is highly desired.

• Industry Expertise: Substantial experience in the Financial Services sector, with specific exposure to Fintech, E-money, or digital banking.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of UK corporate law, FCA handbooks, and European financial regulations.

• Leadership: Proven ability to act as a "Business Partner" to C-suite executives and manage cross-functional legal projects.

6. Technical Skills & Competencies

• Drafting: Mastery of complex legal drafting for bespoke commercial and corporate instruments.

• Negotiation: Ability to lead negotiations for multi-million pound technology and payment infrastructure contracts.

• Analytical Thinking: High-level ability to interpret emerging regulatory developments and future-proof the business against legal risk.

• Language/Jurisdiction: Knowledge of European Law is advantageous given the group’s cross-border footprint.

What you will bring

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Professional Qualification: Must be a Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales or a European jurisdiction.

• Professional Experience: Typically 6–8 years of Post-Qualification Experience (PQE).

• Training: Prior training or experience within a top-tier private practice law firm is highly desired.

• Industry Expertise: Substantial experience in the Financial Services sector, with specific exposure to Fintech, E-money, or digital banking.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of UK corporate law, FCA handbooks, and European financial regulations.

• Leadership: Proven ability to act as a "Business Partner" to C-suite executives and manage cross-functional legal projects.

Technical Skills & Competencies

• Drafting: Mastery of complex legal drafting for bespoke commercial and corporate instruments.

• Negotiation: Ability to lead negotiations for multi-million pound technology and payment infrastructure contracts.

• Analytical Thinking: High-level ability to interpret emerging regulatory developments and future-proof the business against legal risk.

• Language/Jurisdiction: Knowledge of European Law is advantageous given the group’s cross-border footprint.

Working Conditions

Work Pattern: Full-time | Permanent

Office Requirement: The role is based at the London headquarters, requiring a minimum of three days per week on-site for leadership collaboration and governance meetings.

Why Join Us?

• Make a real difference: Work at the intersection of technology and financial inclusion, helping people take greater control of their money.

• Have a voice: Your ideas and perspective matter. You'll have the opportunity to influence decisions, take ownership and shape how we work.

• Make an impact: Work on initiatives that reach millions of customers across the UK and Europe.

• Work with great people: Join a diverse, international and ambitious team where collaboration and curiosity are encouraged.

• Grow with us: Be part of a fast-moving fintech where you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn, develop and make your mark.

What benefits we offer

We want you to feel supported, valued and able to do your best work - both in and outside the office.

• 25 days annual leave + public holidays, with an extra day for every year worked

• 10 paid sick days per year

• Hybrid working + up to 30 days working abroad each year

• L&D budget + 10 paid learning days per year

• Healthcare: Bupa personal private healthcare

• Generous pension plan

• Annual eyecare allowance

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave

• VIP Pockit & Monese accounts

• Extra paid days off for your birthday and wedding

• Regular social events and team activities

• Monthly recognition awards and Team of the Quarter

• Share options , depending on role and level

• Employee referral bonus