Interim Head of Legal (12-month FTC) in Manchester

About Finova

Finova is the UK’s largest financial services technology provider, supporting one in every five mortgages nationwide. Our agile, cloud-native solutions enable over 60 banks, building societies, specialist lenders, equity release providers and a network of 2,400+ brokers to stay ahead in a competitive market. Built on open architecture and backed by deep industry expertise, our platform is designed to scale. Each year, we process over £50 billion in loans, manage nearly £50 billion in savings, and support the digital servicing of more than 650,000 UK borrower accounts. Be part of a team that’s driving innovation, enabling growth and shaping the future of UK lending.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and highly commercial Interim Head of Legal to lead our Legal team on a 9‑12 month fixed‑term contract. In this critical leadership role, you will focus primarily on high-value commercial contracts with a strong emphasis on SaaS, software, hosting, and technology. You will be stepping into a fast-paced environment where our customer base spans a wide range of Financial Services organisations, meaning all contract negotiations sit within a complex regulatory framework. Reporting initially to Finova’s General Counsel, and subsequently transitioning to report to the CFO from October, you will directly manage a dedicated team comprising one Senior Paralegal and one Senior Legal Counsel.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will need to operate effectively under time pressure, ensuring deals progress at pace to support quarter‑end deadlines. We are looking for someone with the following profile:

• Qualifications: UK qualified solicitor with at least 9 years PQE, ideally including several years of experience operating as a contractor.
• Leadership Experience: Proven people management skills, with a track record of providing effective supervision and mentorship to both junior and senior team members.
• Tech Sector Expertise: Significant experience in SaaS, software, and cloud contracting, along with a good understanding of AI contracting considerations.
• Financial Services Knowledge: Familiarity with UK Financial Services regulation as it applies to technology providers (e.g., security, resilience, and business continuity requirements).
• Data Protection: A strong background in Data Protection, with the ability to make and stand by sound, risk-based judgements.
• Operational Skills: Experience in managing legal operations, workflows, and legal technology.
• Commercial Acumen: Solid business sense that translates complex legal frameworks into business-focused, practical advice.
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of interacting effectively when negotiating with customers and advising executive leadership.

What will you be doing?

As the Interim Head of Legal, you will be a strategic partner to the business. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Leadership: Lead and manage the legal function, providing actionable, strategic legal advice to the executive leadership team.
• Contract Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate complex, high-value commercial contracts, including SaaS, software licensing, hosting agreements, and supplier/partner agreements.
• Team Management: Manage the Legal team, ensuring a balanced and effective allocation of work across your reports (Senior Paralegal and Senior Legal Counsel).
• Product & Templates: Draft new product-specific terms in line with Finova’s latest offerings, and review/update contract templates and playbook positions as products develop.
• Legal Operations: Oversee and manage legal processes, workflows, and operations, driving the effective use of Finova’s CLM tool and AI tools.
• Regulatory & Data Protection: Advise on data protection matters related to our products (including security appendices) and monitor evolving legal and regulatory trends affecting the FinTech sector.
• Project Delivery: Support strategic initiatives and ad hoc projects within the Legal team as required.

What We Offer

• Hybrid working: Work in a hybrid way that suits you. Our model is primarily office-based, with flexibility to work remotely as needed.
• Private medical insurance: Comprehensive health cover, with the option to add your family to your plan.
• Life assurance & income protection: We provide life assurance and income protection.
• Family friendly policies: Our enhanced family-friendly policy goes beyond maternity and paternity leave.
• Work from anywhere: With approval, Finova employees can work abroad for up to 4 weeks each year.
• Flexible holiday package: Enjoy 25 days paid holiday allowance, plus all public holidays.
• Company pension scheme: With salary exchange, you save on tax and can build a secure future.
• Employee assistance programme: Access to a 24/7 confidential counselling helpline.
• Electric car scheme: Get a brand‑new electric vehicle with salary sacrifice as a benefit.
• Health cash plan: Our Health Cash Plan empowers you to prioritise your well‑being.
• Gym discounts: Achieve your fitness goals for less with GymFlex.
• Perks that matter: We fuel your day with a fully stocked pantry of fresh fruit and snacks.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.