Assistant General Counsel, Corporate & Compliance

About Us

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and a registered investment advisor (SF Advisors, LLC). We work with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized over $400 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing.

We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.

Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach. 

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, highly independent attorney to join our Legal & Compliance team as Assistant General Counsel – Corporate & Compliance. This is a mission-critical role for our organization reporting directly to the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. You will oversee our compliance program, corporate governance, and general contracts, while serving as a trusted partner to business teams and leadership.  While the role is grounded in compliance and governance, our work often operates in new and evolving areas of law. The successful candidate will bring not only rigor and attention to detail but also the creativity and flexibility to navigate ambiguity and help design practical solutions. 

This position is ideal for a detail-oriented, highly organized professional who thrives on process and autonomy. We are looking for a leader who partners across teams to build systems and relationships that ensure our nonprofit and impact investment projects uphold compliance laws, regulations, and best practices.  Depending on experience, this role may oversee one or more attorneys or paralegals.  

Key Responsibilities 

• Oversee corporate governance and entity management for nonprofit parent and 20+ subsidiaries and affiliates, including board and committee support, preparation of board materials, maintenance of corporate records, insurance coverage, annual reports, tax and regulatory filings, and preservation of tax-exempt status.
• Independently manage the organization’s RIA compliance program and build a culture of compliance, including policies and procedures, annual testing, Form ADV updates, marketing review, training, vendor oversight, and regulatory filings.
• Review and negotiate a variety of contracts, including grants, advisory agreements, and vendor agreements, ensuring risk is managed in a mission-aligned way and ensuring alignment with tax-exempt requirements.
• Comfort operating in gray areas and contributing creative, practical solutions in a fast-moving environment.  
• Support the organization’s Public Sector team in structuring and reviewing contracts with government entities for outcomes-based financing projects, ensuring compliance with applicable procurement, nonprofit, and RIA rules.
• Support the Legal team in investment fund operations, including reviewing subscription documents and coordinating compliance for new investments.
• Oversee data security and organizational policies, including drafting, updating, and ensuring adherence to internal policies and controls across the organization.
• Contribute to a positive compliance culture by maintaining relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, understanding stakeholder needs, and remaining accessible and responsive to those needs; maintain and improve compliance and governance processes, designing systems that are efficient, reliable, and audit-ready.
• Collaborate with other members of the Legal team on fund and investment work, with opportunities for selective exposure and growth. 

Other Organizational Matters

In addition to corporate and compliance management, the Assistant General Counsel will work with the Legal team to help oversee any other legal matters which may arise, with a special emphasis on risk management and compliance more generally for governing Social Finance, its affiliates and subsidiaries.  The Assistant General Counsel will also be an active participant in the growth and development of a quickly evolving organization and will have opportunities to participate in and lead broad, non-legal organizational priorities and community activities.

Qualifications 

We are looking for an entrepreneurial lawyer who has the flexibility and aptitude to take on additional duties as management deems appropriate. Candidate must have: 

• J.D.; license to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction
• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience with more strongly preferred; ideally with some mix of (i) investment adviser or regulatory compliance, (ii) nonprofit corporate/tax-exempt governance, and/or (iii) contracts and general corporate law. Title and salary will be commensurate with experience.
• Experience in managing nonprofit governance or managing regulatory compliance program is a strong plus.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to translate new, complex, or unclear concepts to unfamiliar and diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to identify, build and maintain relationships across sectors that are integral to the firm and its mission.
• Commitment to excellence and accuracy, with an ability to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously, constructively express contrary points of view and seek consensus among strong, independent thinkers.
• Demonstrated interest and knowledge of key issues in effective nonprofit management, social interventions, and/or impact investing (e.g., academic coursework, consulting projects, volunteer work, etc.)
• Capacity to work in an independent and solutions-oriented way while contributing to team projects as appropriate.
• Sense of humor, integrity and flexibility to regularly incorporate the feedback of others into work processes.
• Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging and equity. 

Benefits 

At Social Finance, we strive to deliver a benefits program that will enhance our overall value proposition to employees. Our current benefit offerings include:  

• Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; Employee Healthy Actions programs and more 
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution  
• Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies  
• Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements  
• Hybrid work model (in-office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad hoc basis as needed)  
• Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition  
• Annual budget for external professional development opportunities  
• Mentorship and onboarding programs  
• Collaborative and energizing workspace in downtown Boston, MA; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C. and Austin, TX. 
• Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)  
• Paid parental leave  
• A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals 

Salary

Social Finance uses a lockstep compensation model for purposes of equity and transparency - we strive for everyone coming in at a given level to be paid equitably. For this position, the starting base salary is $140,000, however, during the interview process, we will take into account a candidate's full work experience and may adjust the job title, and commensurate starting salary, as appropriate. At this level, employees typically receive a $5,000 salary increase annually and are eligible to participate in our firmwide annual bonus program. Bonuses are typically between 5-10%, though bonuses are not guaranteed and are dependent on both organizational and individual performance.   

Review of applications will begin immediately. No phone calls, please. 

Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. 

Please note that, at this time, to be in-person at a Social Finance office, client location or Social Finance-sponsored event, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot.

Social Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, military status, status as a protected veteran, genetic information or any other legally protected status.

Social Finance is committed to providing an accessible and supportive work environment to ensure individuals are able to contribute at their best. We will discuss and provide reasonable accommodations to those in the recruiting process who need them.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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