Regulatory Counsel, High-Risk

About Finix

Finix is building the global operating system for fintech, starting with payments. From startups to publicly traded companies, Finix processes tens of billions of dollars annually both in-store and online. Finix was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco.

To date Finix has raised over $200M, including a $75M Series C led by Acrew Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners and backed by American Express Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Homebrew, Inspired Capital, Visa, and others

About the Role:

Finix is hiring a Regulatory Counsel to serve as the legal and regulatory partner to our Product and Sales teams as we build and launch payment products in new and emerging markets. This role will report to our Head of Legal and will work side by side with Product, Sales, Partnerships, and Compliance to get new products, features, and customer segments to market quickly and with a growth mindset, while always staying within applicable law, card network rules, and sponsor bank requirements.

A key early focus will be gaming and gambling, including iGaming, sports wagering, sweepstakes, and prediction markets, where the regulatory landscape is moving fast and our customers need a partner who can keep pace. Deep gaming experience is valuable but not required; we are equally interested in strong regulatory lawyers from payments, fintech, banking, or other highly regulated industries who are eager to learn a new sector. You will analyze the laws that apply to what we build and who we serve, shape product requirements and go-to-market plans from the start, and give business teams clear, timely answers on what we can do, under what conditions, and what we can't. This role supports both the U.S. and Canada footprint 

You Will:

• Serve as the primary regulatory advisor to Product and Sales, giving fast, practical, well-documented guidance on product designs, new features, deal structures, and prospective customers
• Lead the legal and regulatory analysis for new sectors, business models, and structures (e.g., ISV, marketplace, and merchant-of-record models), performing market and regulatory research and setting minimum requirements before launch
• Own regulatory strategy for the gaming and gambling vertical, including state-by-state and provincial analysis of iGaming, sports wagering, sweepstakes, and prediction markets; vendor licensing and registration requirements; and the conditions under which we can support merchants in each jurisdiction
• Partner with Product from concept through launch to embed regulatory requirements into product design, user flows, disclosures, and terms, so products ship compliant rather than being retrofitted
• Support Sales and Partnerships on complex deals, including regulatory diligence on prospects, structuring guidance, and review of customer, partner, and vendor agreements with regulatory implications
• Translate laws, card network rules, and sponsor bank requirements into clear, usable guidance, position papers, and FAQs for Product, Sales, Technology, and Operations teams
• Monitor and interpret regulatory, legislative, and network rule developments in the U.S. and Canada (federal, state, and provincial) that affect our products and target sectors, and proactively advise the business on their impact
• Support sponsor bank and card network relationships on product, program, and sector-related matters, including program approvals, due diligence requests, and regulatory questions
• Work with Compliance on policy and procedure development, licensing applications and renewals, regulatory filings, and audit and regulatory exam readiness
• Engage and manage outside counsel on specialized matters, including state gaming regulators and licensing, and bring that work in-house over time
• Prepare clear, decision-ready legal and regulatory analysis for senior management, the board, sponsor banks, and partners

You Have:

• Juris Doctor (or equivalent) and active bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. state
• 5+ years of legal experience with a substantial regulatory focus, gained at a law firm, in-house, or in government, in payments, fintech, banking, gaming, or a similarly regulated industry
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex, multi-jurisdictional regulatory frameworks and apply them to real products, customers, and business models
• Experience advising product, sales, or business development teams directly, ideally on new product launches or new market entry
• Working knowledge of U.S. payments and financial services regulation, such as money transmission licensing, FinCEN and
• BSA/AML requirements, consumer protection, and privacy
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to turn ambiguity into clear plans, trade-offs, and decisions
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional work with multiple dependencies and senior stakeholders

You Are:

• Business-minded and solutions-oriented: you find the compliant path to yes and are clear and firm when the answer must be no
• Comfortable with ambiguity: you operate effectively in emerging sectors where the rules are unsettled or actively being written
• Curious and fast-learning: you are eager to go deep on a new regulatory area and become the expert quickly
• Proactive: you don't wait to be asked; you identify what needs to happen and make it happen
• Detail-oriented: you catch the small things others miss because you know they matter
• Collaborative: you build relationships easily and know great regulatory work requires cross-functional partnership

Nice to Have:

• Experience with gaming and gambling regulation, including state and tribal gaming authorities, vendor licensing, sweepstakes and promotional law, and prediction market or emerging-framework matters
• Familiarity with Canadian frameworks (FINTRAC, RPAA, PIPEDA, Quebec Law 25) and provincial gaming regulation
• Experience with card network rules (Visa, Mastercard, Interac, Discover) and sponsor bank program requirements
• Knowledge of the fintech-bank partnership model and bank third-party risk expectations
• Experience at a card network, processor, acquirer, sponsor bank, or financial services regulator
• Experience with high-risk merchant verticals such as nutraceuticals, CBD, wellness, or digital products and services

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Finix is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected class.

Role: Regulatory Counsel, High Risk

Level: IC3 - IC4

Location: San Francisco or Remote

Base Salary Range: $140,000 - $220,000/yr + Equity + Benefits

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire (remote) salaries. Individual pay is determined by work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.