Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel - Manchester (Hybrid 3 Days Office Based) About Finova Finova is the UK's leading lending and savings 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. For Lenders Finova offers a flexible, modular technology suite designed to help lenders move faster, scale efficiently and deliver standout digital experiences. Financial Institutions use Finova to launch products faster, process applications up to 50% more efficiently and reduce operational costs — all while staying fully compliant in a fast-moving market. About the Role: This Senior Legal Counsel role will primarily focus on commercial contracts with a strong SaaS, software, hosting and technology focus. The position will report to Finova’s General Counsel and join a small Legal team with one Senior Paralegal. Key responsibilities will include drafting and negotiating complex and high value master service agreements and commercial transaction documents, along with ancillary data protection and security appendices. Finova’s customer base consists of a wide range of Financial Services organisations, so contract negotiations are all within a Financial Services regulatory context. About you: · UK qualified solicitor with at least 5 years PQE · Significant SaaS, software and cloud contracting experience · Strong Data Protection background · Familiarity with UK Financial Services regulation as it applies to technology providers, such as security, resilience and business continuity requirements · Understanding of AI contracting considerations · Solid commercial acumen that translates to business focussed advice · Excellent communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively when negotiating with customers, liaising with colleagues across various departments, and briefing senior leaders · Ability to manage competing demands under time pressure, ensuring that deals progress at pace. What will you be doing? · Drafting and negotiating customer facing SaaS, software and hosting agreements · Reviewing and updating contract templates and playbook positions · Advising on data protection matters, as related to Finova’s product offerings · Acting as a trusted adviser and a primary point of contact for the Sales and Customer Success teams, enabling commercial deals while managing risk · Reviewing NDAs, Partner Agreements, Vendor Agreements and similar contracts as necessary to support business needs · Utilising a contract management system, managing legal workflows, using Legal AI tools and assisting with managing shared legal inboxes to ensure efficient distribution of workload across the Legal team · Supporting strategic initiatives and ad hoc projects within the Legal team, as required. What We Offer: Hybrid working 🕰️ We operate on a hybrid model that is primarily office-based, requiring three days in the office each week, with the flexibility to work remotely for the remainder. Private medical insurance 👩⚕️ Comprehensive health cover, with the option to add your family to your plan, because your well-being matters to us. Life assurance & income protection 💰 We provide life assurance and income protection to give you peace of mind for the future Family friendly policies 👶 Our enhanced family-friendly policy goes beyond maternity and paternity leave, offering paid time off for when plans change or alternative paths to parenthood are needed. Work from anywhere 🌴 Some thrive in the office, others at home — and many do best with choice. 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. And, you can rebook any public holidays for a day that aligns with your personal beliefs or celebration calendar. We also offer holiday trading allowing you to purchase or sell your holiday allowance. Company pension scheme 🏦 With salary exchange, you save on tax and can build a secure future. Employee assistance programme 💞 We understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. Access to a 24/7 confidential counselling helpline ensures you have support when you need it. Electric car scheme 🚗 Get a brand-new electric vehicle with salary sacrifice as a benefit, paid for through your gross monthly pay, saving on Income Tax and National Insurance. Health cash plan 🏥 Our Health Cash Plan empowers you to prioritise your wellbeing by providing effortless reimbursement for everyday healthcare costs, from dental and optical visits to physiotherapy. Gym discounts 🏋️ Achieve your fitness goals for less with GymFlex, which offers significant savings on annual memberships at over 3,000 gyms and leisure centers nationwide. Perks that matter 🎁 We fuel your day with a fully stocked pantry of fresh fruit and snacks and keep the team spirit high with weekly socials and events. Equal Opportunity Statement We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re passionate about this role but don’t meet all the criteria, please reach out, we’d love to discuss how your skills and experiences align with our needs.