Senior Associate – Banking and Finance

Buddle Findlay; Christchurch; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading New Zealand law firm is seeking a Senior Associate to join their Christchurch team. You will advise on financial regulatory compliance and transactional banking matters while mentoring junior lawyers. The role requires at least 6 years of PQE in banking and finance, with strong drafting and advisory skills necessary. The firm offers a supportive culture and benefits including professional development opportunities and health insurance.

Benefits

Health insurance benefits

Flexible working practices

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant banking and finance experience - ideally 6+ years’ PQE with a mix of transactional and regulatory compliance experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge of NZ regulatory regimes (RBNZ prudential framework, FMCA, CCCFA, AML/CFT, PPSA, FSPR).
• Ability to run matters independently and mentor junior lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Advising on various financial regulatory acts.
• Drafting and reviewing product disclosures and compliance programmes.
• Acting on secured lending transactions.

Skills

Strong drafting

Advisory skills

Client management

Commercial judgement

Team collaboration

Job description

Our team provides specialist advice across regulatory compliance and prudential supervision, financial markets and conduct, financial advisers and service provider regulation, consumer credit, personal property securities and anti‑money laundering.

The team is led in Christchurch by banking and finance partner Jan Etwell, who has deep experience in financial regulatory compliance and transactional banking. The team specialises in consumer credit, financial adviser and financial service provider regulation and financial markets regulation including product disclosure and compliance.

Why Buddle Findlay?

• Work on high‑profile, technically complex banking and finance matters across New Zealand and offshore clients, supported by market‑leading partners and opportunities to build specialist expertise
• Strong focus on professional development and career progression, including mentoring, training, secondments and support for continuing legal education and NZ professional obligations
• A team that backs you – you will work closely with colleagues across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, in a culture where your ideas are valued and your growth is a priority.

We are seeking a commercially minded Senior Associate to join Jan and her team in Christchurch. You will work on a mix of financial regulatory compliance and transactional banking matters.

Responsibilities

• Advising on the Financial Markets Conduct Act (FMCA), Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), Anti‑Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT), Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA), Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act (FSPA), Non-bank Deposit Takers Act (NBDT) and other relevant regimes
• Advising banks, non‑bank lenders, insurers and other financial institutions on regulatory compliance, governance and prudential requirements under the Reserve Bank framework
• Drafting and reviewing product disclosure, compliance programmes, financial adviser and service provider documentation, and regulatory submissions
• Acting on secured lending transactions, PPSR filings and intercreditor arrangements.
• Supporting clients with conduct and disclosure obligations, consumer credit issues and corporate compliance and governance matters.

Requirements

• Significant banking and finance experience - ideally 6+ years’ PQE with a mix of transactional and regulatory compliance experience
• Demonstrable knowledge of NZ regulatory regimes (RBNZ prudential framework, FMCA, CCCFA, AML/CFT, PPSA, FSPR)
• Strong drafting, advisory and client management skills, commercial judgement and the ability to run matters independently and mentor junior lawyers
• Comfortable working collaboratively across teams and with partners to deliver technically excellent and commercially practical advice.

A career with us gives you the opportunity to work with a wide range of people that are motivated to help shape the future of business in New Zealand. We offer a range of benefits that enable you to be the best you can be, such as opportunities for ongoing professional and personal development, flexible working practices, health insurance benefits, social events, charity initiatives and wellbeing-focused programmes.

To apply, please send your CV and a short cover letter to our talent attraction specialist.