CAO Asset Finance

Description

The Asset Finance Legal Team Attorney, Senior Vice President is part of the Citizens Financial Group Legal function and more specifically the legal team with full dedication to supporting the Citizens Asset Finance (“CAF”) business line and reporting to the Head of Asset Finance Legal.

CAF provides loans and leases to commercial customers for various types of equipment, including manufacturing equipment, trucks, trailers, corporate aircraft, railcars and vessels.Transaction sizes range from $1MM to over $50MM and CAF has a very robust syndication group that sells all or a portion of certain transactions to investors.This role would support the direct equipment finance business as well as CAF’s syndication business and its renewable energy projects.

Primary Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate and interpret equipment finance documentation.
• Negotiate lease and loan documents with CAF customers and their counsel in a prompt and efficient manner to achieve closing deadlines.
• Advise other CAF Departments such as Documentation, Credit and Asset Management on deal structure and risks associated with deal structure and/or requested documentation changes.
• Develop and update contract templates, policies and procedures.
• Work closely with CAF Documentation Coordinators in responding to requested revisions and drafting custom language.
• Work closely with CAF Customer Support on amendment and modification documents.
• Laise with CAF outside counsel on certain transactions that are delegated to outside law firms.
• Work with the other members of the CAF Legal Team on providing ongoing legal training to all CAF colleagues.
• Stay up-to-date on statutory, regulatory, and/or case law that could impact the equipment finance industry generally and CAF in particular.
• Oversee and advise on litigation matters involving CAF.
• Partner across functions to identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, efficiency, and the customer experience, particularly as it involves Documentation and Legal.
• Provide legal guidance on new products, programs and strategic initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active admission to the bar and in good standing in the State in which the attorney will be located. 
• Significant experience (ten (10) plus years preferred) within equipment finance, leasing, asset finance, commercial lending, or a related financial services environment.
• Experience with large-ticket and middle market equipment financing preferred.
• Experience in a law firm, financial institution, equipment leasing company, or captive finance organization preferred.
• Experience advising on and supporting complex commercial lending, leasing, financing, or related transactions.
• Demonstrated experience providing legal guidance to business leaders on complex transactional and business matters.
• Experience working with internal stakeholders and outside counsel.
• Strong understanding of commercial transaction structures, documentation, credit, risk, and regulatory considerations.
• Strong understanding and familiarity with the Uniform Commercial Code, specifically Article 2A (Leasing) and Article 9 (Secured Transactions).
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to provide oversight across multiple business and support functions.
• Strong analytical, communication, relationship management, negotiation, problem-solving, and judgment skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and provide senior-level guidance on complex or escalated matters.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and provide sound and practical legal advice as issues arise on transactions.

Key Competencies

• Contract drafting and negotiation

• Risk assessment and mitigation

• Regulatory compliance

• Client service orientation

• Relationship management

• Attention to detail

• Use of Artificial Intelligence to streamline legal processes

• Project management

• Strategic thinking

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40

• Work Schedule: M-F

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.