Legal Counsel – Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Europe) N.V.

About CBA NV

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Europe) N.V. (CBA NV) is a public limited company (Naamloze Vennootschap) incorporated in the Netherlands and a subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA Australia) an Australian banking corporation listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

CBA NV is a fully licensed credit institution since December 2020 conducting banking and investment services. It forms part of CBA Australias wholesale banking division Institutional Banking and Markets (IB&M).

The office is located at Amsterdams Zuidas and CBA NV currently employs approx. 60 FTE.

About Institutional Banking & Markets (IB&M)

IB&M serves the financial needs of large institutions and governments across Australia New Zealand and select international markets in Europe Asia and the Americas. Its purpose reflects the pivotal role it plays for the CBA Group and the Australian economy:
IB&M combines global connectivity and capability to build a better Australia.

As the Groups centre of excellence for high-value low-frequency client-tailored solutions IB&M provides corporate clients with access to capital risk management solutions and facilitates cross-border trade and capital flows.

Within IB&M CBA NV focuses on wholesale clients within the EU and EEA. Maintaining a presence in Europe is critical to the CBA Group enabling global capability and connectivity that supports investment and bilateral trade between Europe Australia and New Zealand. CBA NV leverages IB&Ms deep understanding of the Australian corporate landscape to support this mission.

Legal and Governance Team CBA NV

As part of our continued growth we are recruiting a (Junior) Legal Counsel to join the CBA NV legal and governance team reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel.

Together with the Head of Legal and Senior Legal Counsel you will form the legal department of CBA NV. This newly created role reflects the expansion of our legal function to support the evolving needs of the business and corporate secretariat. The CBA NV legal department is part of the broader Legal and Group Secretariat (L&GS) team at CBA Australia comprising over 200 professionals.

Your Role

This position offers broad exposure to multiple areas of law and provides a unique opportunity to engage with the legal and governance frameworks involved in operating a European bank within an international environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on corporate governance and company secretarial matters ensuring compliance with applicable requirements.
• Supporting the Corporate Secretary and liaising with Management Board committees including preparation of board materials.
• Reviewing and drafting contracts including finance and global markets documentation and supplier agreements.
• Developing and applying knowledge of Dutch and European law and regulation to support CBA NVs operations and the wider CBA Group.
• Maintaining effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external contacts.
• Coordinating with external counsel and the L&GS team and overseeing outsourced legal work.
• Identifying assessing and reporting on legal risks related to CBA N.V. and its operations.

Given that this is a new role there is room to further shape and develop it in line with your experience skills and preferences.

Qualifications Skills and Experience

We are looking for a candidate that has/is:

• Masters degree in Dutch law (qualified lawyers in other jurisdictions will be considered based on relevant experience).
• 24 years of experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal department.
• Broad legal knowledge relevant to European financial institutions (e.g. corporate regulatory finance contract employment law).
• A hands-on mentality and proactive approach.
• Understanding of working within a regulated entity and with cross-functional stakeholders.
• The ability to identify and assess legal risks.
• Fluent in English; Dutch language skills preferred.
• Entrepreneurial flexible and enthusiastic about working in a growing international team.

Our Offer

The CBA NV team operates with a start-up mentalityproactive collaborative and entrepreneurial. Our diverse workforce includes professionals from various countries and backgrounds. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and expect our people to contribute to a culture that supports this commitment. Outside of work theres ample opportunity to connect and unwind through organized social activities such as summer and Christmas events team celebrations and informal get-togethers. We offer a competitive salary package and a steep learning curve.

If you have any questions or you want to discuss your suitability for this role please contact Geertje Jonker ().