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Senior Counsel, Bank Board Governance and Assistant Corporate Secretary

Desjardins12 days ago
Verified
Toronto, ON
CA$111,800 - CA$208,000/year
Senior Level
Full-time

Top Benefits

Health insurance
Tuition reimbursement
Accident and life insurance

About the role

Description

Application Deadline: 08/14/2025

Address: 100 King Street West

Job Family Group: Legal

BMO’s Enterprise Board Governance team is responsible for the planning and execution of enterprise Board governance processes and related legal advice. The Senior Counsel, Enterprise Board Governance will play key role in ensuring that BMO’s high standards for corporate governance are met. The successful candidate will draw on their knowledge of the corporate governance requirements and best practices for public companies, be passionate about continuous improvement and be an expert and sensitive communicator. The role reports to the Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Enterprise Board Governance and Assistant Corporate Secretary.

Primary accountabilities include:

  • A leadership role in the planning and execution of the Annual General Meeting including preparation and delivery of the Bank’s Management Proxy Circular and handling shareholder proposals;

  • Assist with corporate secretarial duties, including attending meetings, advising on agendas and materials and overseeing minutes;

  • Advising on corporate and securities laws generally and best practices as they relate to corporate governance matters;

  • Leading processes related to Board policies, Director independence and integrity and reporting;

  • Oversight of various corporate and securities filings;

  • Shareholder and Share Transfer Services, including responsibility for engaging with the Bank’s Transfer Agent;

  • Coordinating engagement between the Board and the Bank’s regulators and responding to regulator requirements and inquiries;

  • Interacting collaboratively with other members of the Enterprise Board Governance group to achieve the Bank’s corporate governance goals; and

  • Acting in a leadership capacity with respect to junior colleagues, taking responsibility for their support and development

Knowledge and Experience:

  • Minimum requirements are a degree in law (LLB or JD), with a minimum of 7 or more years of legal practice;

  • Strong knowledge and understanding of corporate law, securities laws (as they relate to corporate governance) and related best practices;

  • Experience in the corporate secretary function of a public company, and/or in a related advisory capacity in a major law firm; and

  • Knowledge of the business and regulatory environment in which BMO Financial Group operates would be an asset.

Skills:

  • Excellent relationship management and communication skills;

  • The ability to work both independently and in a team environment;

  • Demonstrated confidence in dealings with BMO’s directors and Senior Executives;

  • Proactively providing ideas, advice and solutions in connection with legal issues and corporate governance practices;

  • Strong legal research and analytical skills to identify and understand corporate and regulatory requirements and then apply them the Bank’s corporate governance objectives;

  • Sound judgment with the ability to manage ambiguity and make decisions; and

  • Strong time management and organizational skills including being comfortable working well under pressure to meet a variety of deadlines, set priorities and have a strong attention to detail.

About Desjardins

Banking
10,000+

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets of $435.8 billion as at March 31, 2024. It was named one of Canada's Best Employers by Forbes magazine and by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world's strongest banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has some of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry and the first according to Bloomberg News.