What are the responsibilities and job description for the Payments Attorney position at The Clearing House?
Position Summary: We are seeking a motivated Payments Attorney to join our legal team. This role provides a unique opportunity to provide legal counsel on issues central to the operation, governance, and regulation of a major U.S. payment system operator.
The successful candidate will bring solid legal training, experience in commercial law, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit. The role involves working with business representatives and supporting more senior attorneys in advising on established payment systems and emerging payment technologies in a fast-paced environment where innovation, integrity, and collaboration are core values.
Essential Functions And Responsibilities
About The Clearing House: The Clearing House Payments Company L.L.C. is a bank-owned industry utility that shapes the payments landscape and provides infrastructure for safe, reliable, and efficient payments. We see an economy where everyone is connected and a future where modern payments make life easier. The Clearing House operates four payment systems: a high-value wire-transfer system (the CHIPS® network), the country’s first and largest instant payments system (the RTP® network), an automated clearinghouse network (the EPN® network), and a check image exchange network (the Image Exchange Network). The Clearing House also operates a bank account number tokenization service, runs a payments association known as The Clearing House Payments Authority, and maintains the rules for private-sector check image exchange through its ECCHO® business line.
The successful candidate will bring solid legal training, experience in commercial law, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit. The role involves working with business representatives and supporting more senior attorneys in advising on established payment systems and emerging payment technologies in a fast-paced environment where innovation, integrity, and collaboration are core values.
Essential Functions And Responsibilities
- Provide legal advice on the operation and development of payment systems for instant payments, wire transfers, automated clearing house (ACH) transactions, and checks
- Draft and provide guidance on payment system legal frameworks, including agreements, system rules, and rules interpretations
- Research, interpret, and advise on applicable federal and state laws, including Uniform Commercial Code articles 4 and 4A, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money-laundering requirements, and economic sanctions regulations
- Partner with product, technology, and other stakeholders to develop compliant, innovative payment solutions and related business and educational materials
- Monitor and summarize relevant legislative and regulatory developments
- Support the development of legal and policy positions that advance the company’s role as a critical payment system operator
- Collaborate closely with internal product, operations, technology, risk, and audit teams
- JD from an accredited law school
- Admission to the New York, Washington, D.C., or North Carolina bar
- Minimum of two years of law firm or in-house experience
- Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate legal concepts into practical business guidance
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in team-oriented environments
- Ability to manage multiple assignments with attention to detail under tight timeframes
- Knowledge of payments law and regulation
- Exposure to issues relating to instant payments, cross-border payments, or digital assets
About The Clearing House: The Clearing House Payments Company L.L.C. is a bank-owned industry utility that shapes the payments landscape and provides infrastructure for safe, reliable, and efficient payments. We see an economy where everyone is connected and a future where modern payments make life easier. The Clearing House operates four payment systems: a high-value wire-transfer system (the CHIPS® network), the country’s first and largest instant payments system (the RTP® network), an automated clearinghouse network (the EPN® network), and a check image exchange network (the Image Exchange Network). The Clearing House also operates a bank account number tokenization service, runs a payments association known as The Clearing House Payments Authority, and maintains the rules for private-sector check image exchange through its ECCHO® business line.