Legal Counsel, Personal & Business Banking – BMO Financial Group

Legal Counsel, Personal & Business Banking – BMO Financial Group

Contextual Overview

BMO Financial Group (Bank of Montreal) is recruiting a Legal Counsel for its Personal & Business Banking division, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The role sits within BMO's in-house legal function and involves providing legal and regulatory advice on banking products, initiatives, strategies, and policies. The position operates across a geographic scope that may extend globally and requires the counsel to manage legal risk while supporting business objectives within the financial services sector.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• Degree in law (LLB or JD) and a valid licence to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Less than 7 years of legal practice, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in private practice, in-house legal, or at a regulatory body relating to the regulation of business/group activities is preferred.
• Knowledge of the business and regulatory environment in which BMO Financial Group operates.
• Proficient knowledge of subject matter legal requirements and operations of a single client group.
• Bilingual (French and English) – required to support business operations outside the province of Quebec.
• In-depth skills in negotiation, verbal and written communication, collaboration, analytical problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work

• Provide and manage delivery of legal and regulatory advice on products, initiatives, strategies, policies, and developments for BMO Financial Group.
• Deliver legal advice, instruct external counsel, and ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures.
• Act as subject matter expert on relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
• Identify emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making; exercise judgment on moderate to complex decisions within standard policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identify risks and implement appropriate mitigation actions.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Resolve daily issues and escalate with appropriate analysis and recommendations where required.
• Implement improvements to ensure consistency with marketplace developments.
• Geographic scope: up to global; primary focus on business/group within BMO with potential enterprise-wide accountability.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: CAD $80,000 – $175,000 per annum (salaried).
• Salaries vary based on location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications.
• Total compensation may include performance-based incentives and discretionary bonuses.
• Additional benefits include: health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans.
• Full benefits details available at: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

Application Procedure

• Visit the official BMO careers portal: https://jobs.bmo.com/ca/en
• Search for the role: Legal Counsel, Personal & Business Banking in Toronto, Ontario.
• Submit your application directly through the BMO portal.
• Candidates requiring accommodation during the selection process should contact their BMO recruiter directly.
• Note: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Recruiting agencies must have a valid, executed agency agreement prior to submitting resumes.

Official Notification & Contact Information

• Official Careers Portal: https://jobs.bmo.com/ca/en
• Contact: Reach out to your assigned BMO recruiter for accommodation requests. No general contact email is publicly specified for this role.