Head of Legal

About Pockit + Monese

Pockit and Monese are the all‑in‑one money apps that make it easy for people to access and manage the financial tools that put them in control of their money. We provide vital financial services, from e‑money accounts through to income advance products to over three million customers across the UK and Europe. In October 2024, Pockit acquired Monese, creating the leading fintech for anyone who is budgeting, saving, or just trying to stay on top of their finances. Both firms are regulated by the FCA.

Following the acquisition of Monese, the business is on a trajectory of growth as the two organisations harmonise and integrate in both the UK and across Europe.

The Role

We are looking for a commercially minded and pragmatic Head of Legal to join the growing legal team supporting both Pockit and Monese. This is a broad and dynamic role that spans corporate governance, commercial contracting, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. You will act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders across the business, providing clear and practical legal guidance on a wide range of matters. From negotiating technology and partnership agreements to supporting corporate structuring and engaging with regulators, you will play a key role in enabling strategic initiatives while managing legal risk. The ideal candidate will bring strong drafting and negotiation skills, sound judgement, and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.

Key Responsibilities Corporate & governance

• Advice on group structure, intra‑group arrangements, and corporate governance matters.
• Draft and review shareholder resolutions, governance documentation, and corporate filings.
• Support company secretarial processes and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Commercial contract management & negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including SaaS, technology, procurement, and partnership contracts.
• Advise stakeholders on contract terms, risk allocation, and negotiation strategy.
• Support procurement and vendor management by identifying cost‑saving or risk‑mitigation opportunities in third‑party contracts.
• Maintain and update internal legal templates and playbooks.

Dispute management

• Assist in the management of legal disputes, including pre‑action correspondence, claims, and settlement negotiations.
• Liaise with external counsel on contentious matters and litigation strategy.
• Conduct legal research and prepare internal reports on potential liability or dispute resolution options.

Regulatory & compliance

• Act as a Data Protection Officer (DPO), advising on compliance with applicable data protection laws, as well as relevant financial services regulations and outsourcing requirements.
• Support the review of third‑party contracts for regulatory risk and alignment with internal policies.
• Assist with interactions with regulatory bodies and financial institutions, including legal aspects of KYC and ownership verification.

General legal advisory & Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted legal partner to business teams across a wide range of legal and strategic matters.
• Support cross‑functional projects with legal insight and risk assessment.
• Work closely with Finance, Compliance, Risk, and Operations to ensure legally sound business execution.
• Advise on the development and launch of new products and services, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulatory frameworks.
• Partner with technology, product, and operations teams to provide legal guidance on innovation, intellectual property (IP), and technology implementation agreements.
• Enhance the company’s risk management framework by providing transactional support and guidance on legal and product‑related issues.
• Enhance the legal process and standard form agreements across all areas of the company for operational efficiency and risk control.
• Lead on IP‑related matters, including protection and enforcement of rights within the digital payment processing and broader fintech space.

Other

• Support M&A activities, including due diligence, negotiations, and post‑transaction integration.
• Advise on corporate transactions, equity fundraising, and other strategic initiatives to support the company’s growth.
• Conduct legal research on emerging regulatory and industry developments to future‑prove the business.
• Ensuring up to date legal research and due diligence in regulatory issues impacting the business.
• Assisting with the instruction and management of external legal counsel.
• Provide support on non‑contentious matters, such as corporate structuring and compliance with employment laws.

About you

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 6‑8 years PQE, including training in a top‑tier private practice and preferably experience in an in‑house role.
• Proven experience within the financial services industry, with a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, including the FCA and equivalent international bodies.
• Exposure to the fintech sector, preferably within a startup or scale‑up environment.
• Expertise in technology contracts, IP law, and legal matters specific to payment processing and digital finance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex negotiations and disputes, using sound judgement to balance commercial priorities with legal risk.
• Conversant with European Law is a nice to have but not must have.

What We’re Looking For

• Core skills: Strong drafting and negotiation skills, excellent judgement and commercial awareness, ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload independently.
• Regulatory knowledge: Familiarity with UK corporate law, GDPR, and outsourcing or financial regulatory frameworks is beneficial.
• Communication: Able to communicate complex legal issues clearly to both legal and non‑legal audiences.
• Tools & processes: Comfortable working with contract lifecycle management tools, trackers, and legal documentation systems.

Why Join Us

• Join a mission‑driven company working at the intersection of technology and financial inclusion.
• Work with a diverse, entrepreneurial, and ambitious team.
• Make a real impact in a scale‑up with global reach and strong growth potential.
• A stack of modern technologies.
• Generous stock options and competitive salary.
• Learning and development support scheme.
• Hybrid working (3 days per week in the office).
• Working abroad.
• Enhanced sick days, volunteering day, days off for a wedding, day off on your birthday and more.
• Bupa PMI.

Work Location

The primary place of work is Pockit’s headquarters in London, UK, where the role will be expected to be in the office 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). The role may involve some hybrid working, but the candidate is expected to be present for key leadership and collaboration functions as needed.

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