SVP, General Counsel

ABOUT HAPPY MONEY 
Happy Money is a financial technology company on a mission to develop and deliver affordable, accessible financial tools and services that empower people to use money as a tool for their happiness. Members benefit from loans funded by a national network of customer-focused lending partners and designed to help them accomplish their goals. 
Backed by leading investors, Happy Money has helped nearly 205,000 members since inception – working with lending partners to fund over $3.7 billion in loans*. Founded in 2009, Happy Money has a passionate and purpose-driven employee base of approximately 400 people across the United States. For more information, please visit happymoney.com. 
*As of 12/31/2021

Reporting to Joe Heck, COO, the General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer will be responsible for managing and running the Legal and Compliance functions at Happy Money. This person will be responsible for ensuring the company stays innovative and nimble while operating within the law. As an effective guardian of the company, the General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer will simultaneously facilitate business strategies and development. 

The General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer will:

• Counsel on issues of strategic importance to Happy Money and contribute to the company's strategic planning process, including advising corporate governance, among other topics
• Serve as a confidante and counselor to the CEO, Executive Team, and the Board of Directors on matters relating to legal and business strategy, corporate governance, and other relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and rules which apply, or may apply, in the future
• Advise Happy Money on legal strategy and risk issues associated with the company’s business operations, regulatory compliance, commercial transactions, and products, helping Happy Money ascertain the right amount of risk while supporting our business and rapid growth
• Develop strong relationships with other leaders and their teams across Happy Money and provide them with the highest level of service through counseling, contract/document review and negotiation, advocacy, problem-solving, and education. Advise on how to ensure Happy Money’s client base aligns with the company's values
• Be a resident expert and thought leader on, and ensure Happy Money’s compliance with, all applicable global privacy and data protection laws, including the California Consumer Protection Act
• Handle a variety of issues including website and consumer compliance, user terms, privacy, data security, intellectual property, and substantial third party agreements
• Participate in and build relationships with relevant industry players, legal, and policy organizations to advance Happy Money’s knowledge and industry engagement
• Advise on corporate social responsibility
• Advise on employment law issues
• Counsel on both the legal ramifications of significant strategy imperatives, including acquisitions, joint ventures, expansion, other possible investments, and negotiating and structuring major contracts and agreements
• Advise the Company on the litigation risks of possible business decisions and counsel on the appropriate strategy to defend or resolve litigation, including class actions and securities, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, labor/employee, union, and other liability issues or claims
• Lead and coordinate the legal services provided to Happy Money including assessing, recruiting, managing, mentoring, and developing Happy Money’s in-house legal staff as the function scales with our growth. Lead with an openness to reinvention, automation, and new ways to work. Promote a values-driven, highly engaged, and business-oriented legal function. Foster collaborative relationships among the various stakeholders and serve as a strong advocate for the team
• Select, as needed, manage outside counsel, and evaluate the quality and costs of services of outside counsel, particularly as Happy Money grows
• Serve as the company's corporate secretary
• Provide strategic direction, oversight, coordination, and cooperation in respect of the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering, Compliance Risk, and Information Security Programs.

Ideal experience include:

• 15+ Years experience: Gained through a combination of major law firm and in-house roles
• SaaS experience: Experience advising senior leadership at a company with a software as a service business model
• Corporate governance and corporate secretary experience: Experience advising the board of directors on corporate governance issues and working closely with the board and board committees as a corporate secretary
• Subject matter expertise in consumer protection regulations as applied to FinTechsCommercial contracts: Experience negotiating and drafting sales and vendor contracts
• Complex corporate transactions: Experience working with corporate development teams on complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and alliances desired but not required
• Equity compensation and program management experience: Preferred
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Ideally the candidate will have managed or had exposure to a corporate social responsibility function
• Leadership: Has hired and managed attorneys and other professionals