Assistant General Counsel

Citizens is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented attorney to serve as Counsel supporting the Wealth Management Division of the Citizens Consumer Bank. The Counsel will report to the Senior Associate General Counsel, Head of Wealth Legal and will support our wealth management and fiduciary businesses.  This role will provide legal advice on a broad range of matters impacting trust, fiduciary, brokerage, and investment management services, including regulatory compliance with OCC fiduciary regulations (12 CFR Part 9), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and applicable broker-dealer regulations.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical legal skills with practical business judgment and the ability to collaborate effectively with wealth advisors, fiduciary officers, and risk and compliance partners.

Citizens Bank has grown to be a top fifteen consumer bank and deposit franchise and has embarked on a significant Wealth transformation initiative to scale its Private Wealth and Private Bank units. The Citizens Wealth Management Division includes the Citizens Wealth Management and Private Wealth Management organizations together with the Bank’s Trust and Fiduciary Services division and the newer Citizens Trust Company of Delaware.   

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal support to wealth management, trust, fiduciary, investment advisory, and brokerage businesses, including:
  • Interpretation and application of fiduciary principles and duties
  • Advice on advisory and brokerage service models and related regulatory requirements
  • Review and drafting of policies, procedures, and client documentation
• Advise on regulatory requirements applicable to fiduciary and investment activities, including:
  • 12 CFR Part 9 (OCC fiduciary activities)
  • Investment Advisers Act of 1940
  • Broker-dealer regulatory framework (e.g., SEC and FINRA rules)
• Support compliance and risk management initiatives related to fiduciary operations, advisory programs, and brokerage offerings
• Assist in responding to regulatory examinations, audits, and inquiries, including those involving OCC, SEC, and FINRA
• Review and negotiate agreements related to:
  • Investment advisory services
  • Brokerage and custody arrangements
  • Fiduciary services and third-party providers
• Partner with internal stakeholders (compliance, risk, operations, and business teams) to identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks
• Monitor and analyze legal and regulatory developments impacting wealth management, fiduciary services, and retail and institutional investment products
• Contribute to training and guidance for business personnel on legal and regulatory obligations, including fiduciary, advisory, and brokerage standards; and
• As needed, provide support related to Legal due diligence of potential Wealth Management acquisition targets. 

Required Skills/Experience:

• 3-5 years of legal experience with demonstrated experience in the RIA, Broker-Dealer, and/or Trust and Fiduciary space, preferably at a law firm or larger financial institution. 
• Familiarity with the federal securities laws, including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, relevant portions of ERISA and its parallel provisions under the Internal Revenue Code, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and applicable FINRA rules and 12 CFR Part 9.   
• Ability to support and prioritize work related to multiple high-profile projects, strong attention to detail, willingness to dig in and ability to thrive in a fast paced, dynamic work environment.

Ideal Candidates would possess:

A collaborative approach in devising pragmatic and creative solutions across a variety of issues in a growth environment, including

• The ability to think strategically and tactically, with excellent judgment and decision-making skills to help the firm make the best risk-based decisions.
• The ability to see past the immediate question and understand the broader implication and wider strategy.
• Strong technical legal skills with practical business judgment, exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for business partners.
• A highly collaborative team player with a positive attitude, growth mindset, good sense of humor and ability to stay calm when the pressure is on.

Education/Certifications:

• JD or equivalent, strong academic credentials
• Admission to at least one U.S. bar required.

Why Join Us:

• Opportunity to work at the intersection of fiduciary law, securities regulation, and financial services
• Exposure to a broad and evolving regulatory framework across trust, advisory, and brokerage platforms
• Collaborative and supportive legal team environment
• Meaningful impact supporting client-focused wealth management services

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: M-F

Pay Transparency
The salary range for this position is $176,000 - $230,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the budget, work location, and relevant skills and experience.
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

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Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.