Senior Manager: Government Approvals

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Finance department in our Washington, D.C. office, as a Senior Manager: Government Approvals.

This position will manage nationwide licensing approvals with state and federal governments for clients to engage in mortgage banking, brokering, servicing, debt collection, consumer finance, reverse mortgage and money transmitter business activities. This position will have a specific focus on addressing the federal agency approval work associated with M&A transactions, as well as the Financial Services licensing and approval practice. This role will also assist clients in navigating changing financial stability requirements set forth in federal agency requirements and state laws and regulations. Oversees the work of direct reports and their performance.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Assists clients with obtaining approvals with state and federal government agencies to conduct mortgage banking and consumer finance activities
• Reviews and analyzes business activities to determine appropriate federal approvals and licenses requirements by states
• Manages transactions involving regulatory approvals needed to facilitate mergers, stock acquisitions and asset acquisitions
• Creates and updates status charts, task lists and outlines for tracking regulatory approvals for transactions to ensure approvals are obtained by closing date
• Research statutes and regulations under mortgage banking and consumer finance laws and summarizes findings in written summaries
• Prepare letters and advance change notice narrative summaries detailing transactions to accompany requests for required federal approvals and license applications for submission to state agencies via the Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (“NMLS“) and outside the system
• Assist clients with GSE and government agency reporting and remitting requirements
• Assist clients in navigating changing financial stability requirements set forth in federal agency requirements and state laws and regulations
• Contacts federal and state regulators to obtain approvals, monitors status of filings and seeks clarification on position or policy of state agency
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with federal state regulators, as well as GSE contacts and CSBS staff
• Assist with federal agency re-certifications and related enforcement matters
• Independently manages projects, takes lead on status calls and reports to Assistant Director, Government Affairs Advisor and Partners in charge of federal approvals and licensing who oversee the project
• Requires direct contact with clients with limited supervision on a variety of matters provided that attorney is present or participating in discussions involving legal advice
• Manages the work of other Senior Government Approvals Analysts, tracks project assignments, assigns project work, and performs annual reviews of direct reports
• Manages administrative duties including attendance record keeping of direct reports, and maintains compliance with internal processes related to overtime approval, leave balances, time off requests, flex time use, and Kastle reports
• Participates in meetings with CSBS for Nationwide Multi-State Licensing System (“NMLS”) Industry Development Working Group (“IDWG”), including system testing
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives
  
  

Qualifications

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered in lieu of the degree when the experience has been directly related to the functions of the job
  
  

Professional Experience

• 10 years of experience required
• NMLS experience required
• Knowledge of the relevant nationwide statutes and regulations applicable to federal agency approvals and state licensing for residential mortgage lending is necessary
• Experience in government sponsored enterprise and federal agency investor reporting and remitting requirements
• Experience with accounting, finance, and securitization requirements applicable to mortgage companies and other consumer lenders
  
  

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products
  
  

Performance Traits

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal Skills –strong customer service and team player skills to ensure that customers are assisted in a friendly and professional manner, and collaboration, flexibility, efficiency are applied
• Consistently exercise discretion and sound reasoning abilities
• Knowledge of the relevant nationwide statutes and regulations applicable to licensing is necessary
• Quality Control – monitor own work to ensure high quality standards are met
• Demonstrated administrative skills necessary for effective oversight of projects, including coordination of work/processes, and the ability to listen and counsel while demonstrating confidentiality and resourcefulness
  
  

Physical Requirements

• May require occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs.
• May require travel to other offices as needed
  
  

The typical pay scale for this position is between $175,000 and $230,000, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified.

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.