Legal Counsel (Financial Law Group) | National Bank of Belgium

For the National Bank of Belgium, I am looking for a Legal Counsel with at least 5 years' experience in financial law. Fluent in Dutch or French, with good knowledge of English.

The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) is Belgium's central bank since 1850. It contributes to a stable and sustainable economic and financial environment by ensuring the stability of the prices and the financial system, by guaranteeing the security of banknotes and the efficiency of payment systems, and by providing data and analysis.

The NBB also plays an active role in defining and implementing the monetary policy of the Eurosystem, in cooperation with the European Central Bank (ECB) and the central banks of the other euro zone countries, in order to maintain price stability in the euro zone.

The NBB's legal department plays a key role in the preparation of the regulatory and contractual framework for the Eurosystem's monetary policy instruments. It helps to ensure the legal security of all NBB tasks and financial operations and to define its positions within the Eurosystem. It also plays an essential role in supporting the operational departments responsible for the prudential supervision of banks and other financial companies, as well as in drafting the regulatory framework. In addition, the legal department actively participates in the legal work of the ECB and other international bodies.

The legal department covers all areas of law, in particular financial law, prudential law, corporate law and administrative law, including legal support for the imposition of administrative sanctions. The legal instruments are public or private law, often specific to the NBB, and require legal experts who are willing to practice law with excellence and at a high level in a national and international context. The legal department comprises 25 legal counsels, who are subdivided by legal area into five groups, including the Financial Law Group. It is supported by an administrative team of eight.

The Financial Law Group specialises in financial law in the broadest sense, and deals in particular with matters relating to the core tasks of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), namely defining and implementing the European Union's monetary policy and promoting the smooth operation of payment systems (TARGET). The Group is also closely involved in the functioning of the securities settlement system operated by the NBB as well as in the oversight of the securities settlement systems established in Belgium (Euroclear) and of some payment services operators considered to be systemic (Mastercard). Finally, the Financial Law Group is responsible for providing legal support to the NBB's missions as national banking resolution authority.

As a Legal Counsel in the Financial Law Group, which currently consists of three other legal experts under the supervision of a group leader, you will be expected, on the one hand, to provide legal advice to NBB bodies and entities and to participate in the drafting of legal opinions within the ESCB and the ECB and, on the other hand, depending on your expertise, to participate in the discussion and drafting of legislative and regulatory texts, both at international and European level and at national level. These activities are carried out in close collaboration with the ECB, other national central banks, supervisory authorities and Belgian and European legislators.

• You hold a Master’s degree in law
• You have at least 5 years' experience and a wide range of interests, particularly in financial law
• You are willing to become familiar with the legal areas specific to central banks
• You are able to work both independently and as part of a team
• You can analyse complex issues and present them clearly
• You have good synthesis skills and are persuasive
• You are fluent in Dutch or French and have a good knowledge of English, making you efficient in an international context

• A high-level position, serving the public interest
• A pleasant and collegial working atmosphere in an institution that invests in its employees and values their well-being
• Many training and career development opportunities
• A well-designed workplace with relaxation areas and optimal ergonomics
• Offices easily accessible by public transport, with private parking and secure bicycle storage
• A good work-life balance with up to 50% remote working possibilities
• An attractive salary package with many fringe benefits