Head of Legal - Consumer Finance

• Permanent assignment
• Sydney based role
• Flexible working arrangements

How will I help

The Head of Legal Consumer Finance sits within the broader Legal team reporting to the General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer Consumer Technology and COO Legal and supports the Consumer Finance Line of Business.

Your primary role will be being the point of contact for the Managing Director Consumer Finance in the Consumer division. The Managing Director Consumer Finance is responsible as the steward of unsecured lending for the Bank operating within strategic guardrails and Enterprise policies. They take endtoend accountabilities for all unsecured lending products integrating across the businesses to deliver on customer financial risk and operational performance objectives. You will also be responsible for the efficient deployment of expertise across the diverse and complex consumer finance business.

You will lead a team of 6 direct reports as well as a number of additional secondees and contractors engaged to provide specific support for projects impacting the portfolios you support.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the Consumer Finance team including Lawyers and Senior Lawyers.
• Oversee and act as the final decisionmaker for Consumer Finance legal matters.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders ensuring governance oversight and accountability.
• Plan identify and manage risks and processes for legal support in Consumer Finance.
• Communicate clearly and escalate issues to relevant stakeholders including the Group Executive Team in consultation with the General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer.
• Identify and communicate emerging legal issues impacting the business through Legal channels and the Legal team.
• Develop and refine the team structure to align with Group and Legal needs ensuring efficient resource use.
• Promote the value of the Legal team through participation in Group initiatives and by building strong relationships with senior business leaders.
• Manage interactions with Panel firms including firm selection engagement timing and structure transaction management and process efficiency.

Whats in it for me

Youll play a significant part of the future of a business that has been around for 200 years. Our purpose is to create better futures together. So well back you in the development of your career internal career prospects and flexible working. Youll also keep learning to grow your career backed by a fantastic team of people with a cando supportive structure.

Whatever shape your family takes we offer generous paid and unpaid parental leave for your nominated primary and support carers. This includes leave to organise adoptions surrogacy and foster care arrangements. And we continue to pay your super contributions while you take all the time you need to get your new family settled.

What do I need

• Proven experience as a Practice Leader or Practice Group Head within Financial Services managing a team of lawyers
• Substantial legal experience covering the areas of focus for the consumer finance line of business e.g. National Consumer Credit Act and Code Corporations Act Privacy Act (including credit reporting) and the general regulatory framework regarding secured lending in Australia; and
• The ability to build manage and influence relationships with senior executives and a range of stakeholders and business partners.
• Excellent professional and commercial judgement decision making and problem solving skills
• Expertise in managing large scale projects and/or reform in banking practice; and
• Ability to design and operationalise change programs

Whats it like to work there

We are a collaborative team of passionate people with a shared ambition to make a difference for our customers our communities and each other. At Westpac making a difference means creating impact unlocking our own and each others passions and transformative success stories to create better futures together.

As well as competitive remuneration and a great culture joining the Westpac family gives you access to a wide range ofemployee benefits to help you manage your priorities whether that means family life work/life balance ambition to grow or all the little perks in between.

Well empower you to shape your career path. Through personalised upskilling mentoring and training opportunities youre in control of where you start and how youll grow.

As an equal opportunity employer we are proud to have created a culture and work environment that values diversity and flexibility and champions inclusion.

Hear from some ofour people and their experiences working with us.

How do I apply

Start here. Just click on the APPLY orAPPLY NOWbutton.

At Westpac were all about creating a supportive culture and ensuring our workplaces branches products and services are accessible and inclusive for everyoneour customers employees and the wider community. If youre interested in discussing workplace flexibility please feel free to mention it in your application.

We invite candidates of all ages genders sexual orientation cultural backgroundspeople with disability neurodiverse individuals veterans and reservists and Indigenous Australians to apply. If you have questions about the recruitment processplease email.

Do you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process

Were committed to making our recruitment process accessible to all candidates including those with disabilities or specific accessibility needs.For further information and additional contact details visit the People with Disability and/or needing Accessibility Requirementspage on our website Experience:

Director