Join Our Team — Where Legal Expertise Drives Business Success
At First Carolina Bank and BM Technologies, our legal team serves as a strategic business partner, helping the organization navigate complex legal, regulatory, operational, and transactional matters. As Associate Counsel, you will work directly with executive leadership and business-line partners to identify risks, develop practical solutions, and support the continued growth of a dynamic banking and fintech organization. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across virtually every area of the business.
Why You'll Love This Role
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Serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders across the organization
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Gain exposure to a broad range of legal disciplines, including commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, employment law, corporate governance, technology, and strategic transactions
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Partner directly with executive leadership on key business initiatives
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Influence decision-making while helping the organization manage risk responsibly
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Work in a collaborative environment where legal counsel is valued as a business partner
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Handle sophisticated legal matters without the limitations of a highly specialized practice
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Contribute to strategic projects, acquisitions, partnerships, and emerging business opportunities
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Continue building your expertise in the highly dynamic banking and fintech industries
This role is ideal for an attorney who enjoys solving complex business problems, balancing legal risk with practical business objectives, and serving as a collaborative advisor across multiple functional areas.
Where You'll Spend Time
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Advising business leaders on legal, regulatory, operational, and strategic matters
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Negotiating and drafting a wide variety of commercial, technology, and vendor agreements
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Supporting corporate governance activities, board matters, and regulatory filings
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Providing legal guidance related to banking, fintech, consumer protection, employment, privacy, and corporate matters
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Identifying risks and developing practical solutions that support business objectives
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Collaborating with Human Resources, Compliance, Risk Management, Information Security, Finance, Operations, and executive leadership
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Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments impacting financial institutions and technology companies
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Managing legal projects and coordinating with outside counsel when appropriate
Work is varied, intellectually challenging, and highly collaborative, offering opportunities to influence outcomes across the enterprise.
What Makes You a Great Fit
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You are an experienced attorney who combines legal expertise with sound business judgment
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You enjoy partnering with leaders to solve complex problems
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You can assess legal risk while providing practical, actionable recommendations
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You are a strong communicator who can translate complex legal concepts into business-focused guidance
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You thrive in collaborative environments and build credibility with stakeholders at all levels
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You are intellectually curious, adaptable, and eager to learn new areas of law and business
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You exercise sound judgment, professionalism, and integrity in all matters
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You take ownership of your work and enjoy working independently while remaining highly collaborative
What You'll Do (Highlights)
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Draft, review, revise, and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts and legal agreements
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Conduct legal research and provide guidance on banking, regulatory, corporate governance, employment, and operational matters
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Evaluate legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies
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Support corporate governance functions, board materials, resolutions, and corporate records
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Review policies, procedures, disclosures, customer communications, and marketing materials
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Assist with litigation management, subpoenas, regulatory inquiries, and other legal process matters
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Support strategic initiatives, acquisitions, partnerships, and corporate transactions
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Collaborate with Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit, Information Security, and business partners on enterprise initiatives
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Monitor legal and regulatory developments and advise management on potential impacts
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Help foster a culture of ethical conduct, accountability, and sound risk management across the organization
Qualifications
Required
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Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
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Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or eligible for admission within a reasonable timeframe
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5-10 years of legal experience in a law firm, financial institution, technology company, regulatory agency, or corporate legal department
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Demonstrated experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex legal matters
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Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills
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Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously and work independently
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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
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Strong business acumen and sound professional judgment
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Proven ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
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Commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards
Preferred
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Experience supporting banks, financial institutions, fintech companies, or other highly regulated industries
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Experience with commercial contracts, technology agreements, and vendor management
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Familiarity with banking regulations, consumer financial protection laws, privacy regulations, and corporate governance matters
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Experience supporting employment law, compliance, risk management, or litigation matters
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Exposure to mergers, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, or other corporate transactions
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Interest in emerging technologies, digital banking, artificial intelligence, and innovation
Why Experienced Attorneys Choose In-House
This role offers the opportunity to move beyond providing legal advice and become an integral part of the business. You'll gain visibility into strategic decision-making, build deep relationships with leadership, and help shape outcomes that directly impact customers, employees, shareholders, and business partners. If you're looking for a role that combines sophisticated legal work, strategic influence, and meaningful partnership, we'd love to hear from you.
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Position Purpose:
The Associate Counsel position provides legal advice, guidance, and support to the bank and its subsidiaries and affiliates on a broad range of legal, contractual, operational, regulatory, governance, and transactional matters. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, this position partners closely with business-line leaders and support functions to identify legal risks, develop practical solutions, and help ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Associate Counsel serves as a trusted advisor to various business units while supporting the organization’s strategic objectives in a manner consistent with its risk appetite and corporate values.
The role serves as a collaborative legal partner to business-line leaders, risk management, compliance, human resources, operations, information technology, lending, finance, and other departments to ensure business objectives are achieved in a legally compliant, ethical, and risk-conscious manner. The Associate Counsel is expected to develop a deep understanding of the company's operations and regulatory environment while supporting a culture of accountability, innovation, and partnership across the organization.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Draft, review, revise, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts and legal documents, including third-party vendor, software and technology agreements, customer and master services agreements, partnership and referral arrangements, customer-facing documents and disclosures, and non-disclosure agreements.
- Conduct legal research and analysis on federal and state banking laws, consumer protection laws, corporate governance matters, privacy regulations, and other legal issues impacting the organization.
- Identify legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks in proposed business activities and provide practical recommendations to mitigate risk while supporting business objectives.
- Provide legal support and guidance regarding corporate, operational, regulatory, employment, commercial, technology, and transactional matters.
- Support corporate governance activities, including, as needed, preparation of board materials, committee materials (both board and management level), resolutions, corporate records, and regulatory filings.
- Provide legal review of policies, procedures, and risk-management initiatives.
- Assist with legal due diligence activities associated with strategic projects, acquisitions, partnerships, and other corporate initiatives.
- Partner with Human Resources on employment-related matters, policy reviews, workplace investigations, restrictive covenant agreements, and compliance with applicable employment laws.
- Support the review of marketing materials, customer communications, disclosures, and product documentation to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Assist with the management of litigation matters, subpoenas, garnishments, levies, search warrants, regulatory requests, and other legal process matters.
- Coordinate with outside counsel on specialized legal matters and assist with monitoring legal spend and matter management.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory developments impacting financial institutions and technology companies and communicate implications to management and the Chief Legal Officer.
- Collaborate with Risk Management, Compliance, Information Security, Audit, and business leaders to support enterprise risk management initiatives and regulatory examinations.
- Develop strong partnerships with leaders across the organization to understand business priorities and provide proactive legal guidance.
- Participate in special projects and strategic initiatives that support organizational growth, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance.
- Promote ethical business practices and reinforce adherence to the Company's Code of Conduct and corporate governance framework.
- Other duties as assigned.
Authority, Impact, Risk:
- Provides legal support and recommendations that influence business decisions and risk management practices.
- Assists in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- Supports responses to regulatory agencies, auditors, examiners, and legal requests.
- Helps mitigate legal, operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks.
- Supports timely and accurate management of legal documentation, contracts, litigation matters, and regulatory obligations.
Key Relationships:
Internal
- Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel
- Executive Leadership Team
- Lending and Treasury Management Teams
- Business Line and Department Leaders
External
- Vendors and Service Providers
- Regulatory Agencies and Examiners
Managerial Accountability:
- Individual contributor role.
- May provide guidance, training, and legal support to business partners and less experienced team members.
- Responsible for maintaining legal work product quality, documentation standards, and adherence to departmental procedures
Working Conditions:
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex legal, regulatory, and contractual documents.
- Ability to independently evaluate legal issues and recommend practical solutions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work effectively under deadlines and changing priorities.
- Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
- Comfortable working collaboratively across departments and functions.
Time Allocation:
- Contract Review, Negotiation & Document Drafting ..................... 40%
- Legal Research, Regulatory Compliance & Governance ............... 20%
- Litigation, Subpoenas & Legal Process Support .......................... 20%
- Business Partner Support & Strategic Projects ............................ 15%
- Training, Departmental Initiatives & Professional Development ... 5%
Job Specifications:
Position adheres to confidentiality policy, code of ethics and knowledge of Bank Secrecy Act and best practices and other pertinent Regulatory laws and regulations.
Required:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or eligible to obtain admission within a reasonable timeframe.
- 2–7 years of legal experience in a law firm, financial institution, technology company, regulatory agency, or corporate legal department.
- Strong legal research, drafting, and analytical skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities effectively.
- Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively across departments.
- Strong business acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and work ethic.
- Commitment to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and legal research platforms.
- Desire to learn and grow within the legal and financial services industry.
Preferred:
- Experience supporting banks, financial institutions, financial technology companies or highly regulated industries.
- Exposure to banking regulations, consumer financial protection laws, and corporate governance matters.
- Experience reviewing and negotiating commercial, technology, software, licensing, and/or vendor agreements.
- Familiarity with data privacy, cybersecurity, and information security regulations.
- Exposure to employment law, regulatory compliance, or litigation management.
- Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or strategic corporate initiatives.
- Knowledge of GLBA, state privacy laws, FERPA, and/or consumer financial services regulations.
- Interest and knowledge of software-as-a-service, banking-as-a-service, and artificial intelligence uses and applications.
- Knowledge of SEC and securities laws a plus, but not required.
Risk Management Requirements:
Understands and adheres to Workplace Policies, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, privacy, and information security guidelines. Understands and adheres to Anti-Money Laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and Compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act policies and procedures applicable to position, completing any supporting requirements within defined timeframes. Acts within authorized limits and delegated authorities and role applicable policies and procedures. Follows processes and controls to protect shareholder interests. Mitigates risk to the bank and customers by following all applicable security procedures.
Equal Opportunity Employer including Veterans/Disabilities
