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Xero seeks a Senior Payments Counsel to join its global legal team as a trusted advisor on payments and financial services regulation. You will provide practical, commercial legal guidance to product, risk, and strategy teams navigating complex regulatory questions across multiple markets (Australia, US, UK). This role offers significant scope: you'll support Xero's financial services ambitions, build relationships with regulators, and mentor junior legal team members as the company's payments and embedded financial services footprint expands.
You'll be embedded within Xero's Financial Services Legal, Risk and Compliance team, working alongside legal, compliance, risk, and product colleagues, as well as external advisers and regulators. The team values both commercial judgment and legal rigor.
Initial focus areas include: global payments regulation and financial services law; financial crime compliance (AML/CTF and sanctions); regulatory guardrails for new payment participation models; AFSL obligations and compliance for Xero's Australian payments business; and expansion of payments and embedded financial services capability into the US and UK.
The role is based in either Melbourne or Sydney with hybrid flexibility. You'll attend key in-person moments (regular boost days) while managing the rest of your week flexibly.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Relevant law degree and current practising certificate
- 8+ years post-qualification experience (PQE) in financial services regulatory and payments law
- Experience providing regulatory advice to a global, growth-focused technology business
- Track record running large-scale regulatory projects and liaising directly with financial regulators
- Strong commercial acumen and ability to work autonomously in a fast-moving environment
- Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory detail into clear, actionable language for diverse audiences
- Collaborative mindset with ability to build trust across legal, product, and risk teams
