Job Description

The role / impact

As Senior Payments Counsel, you'll join Xero's global legal team and become a trusted voice on payments and financial services regulation, giving practical, commercial advice that lets the business move with confidence. You'll partner directly with product, risk and strategy teams to work through complex regulatory questions across markets, helping Xero make informed decisions about where its payments capability goes next.

This is a role with real reach. You'll support Xero's financial services ambitions in Australia, the US and UK, and build trusted relationships with regulators. You'll also mentor junior members of the legal team, bringing others along as Xero's payments and financial services footprint grows.

The team & how they connect

Xero's global legal team sits at the centre of how the business operates responsibly across every market it serves. Within the Financial Services Legal, Risk and Compliance team, you'll work alongside legal, compliance, risk and product colleagues, external advisers and regulators, tackling regulatory questions as a connected team rather than in isolation. The team pairs commercial judgement with legal rigour; you’ll be expected to bring both.

Initially, you will focus on

• Global payments regulation, financial services law and financial crime, including AML/CTF and sanctions requirements
• Regulatory guardrails for new payment participation models as Xero's product suite grows
• AFSL obligations, compliance and risk management support across Xero's Australian payments business
• Expansion of Xero's payments and embedded financial services capability into the US and UK

Where and how you can work

This role can be based in either our Melbourne or Sydney office, with Xero's hybrid approach giving you flexibility to split your time between home and office. You'll come together with the team in person for key moments, including regular boost days, and we’ll trust you to manage the rest of your week in the way that works best for you.

Here are some of the things we are looking for

• You bring a relevant law degree and a current practising certificate, along with solid financial services regulatory and payments experience (8+ years PQE)
• Experience providing regulatory advice to a global, growth focused technology business will set you up well here
• You'll have run large scale regulatory projects and liaised directly with financial regulators
• Strong commercial acumen and the confidence to work autonomously in a fast moving environment come naturally to you
• You know how to translate complex legal and regulatory detail into plain English that any audience can act on
• A collaborative mindset, paired with the ability to build trust across legal, product and risk teams

Apply even if your experience isn't a perfect match! At Xero, we hire based on your skills, passion, and the unique perspective you can bring to enhance our culture and team.