Job Description
The Opportunity
FIS is seeking a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate Legal, M&A and Assistant Corporate Secretary to lead corporate legal, M&A and corporate governance for the enterprise during a period of continued focus on board effectiveness, public-company governance, securities compliance, and strategic transaction execution. This is a highly visible, board-facing leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, with primary responsibility for the Corporate Secretary function as well as M&A and governance matters. The successful candidate will oversee corporate governance, support the Board of Directors and its committees, manage M&A and divestiture activity, support treasury and financing activity, ensure compliance with securities laws and NYSE requirements, and lead the corporate filings and governance processes required of a Fortune 500, NYSE-listed financial technology company.
This role is based at FIS's headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida and leads a team of seven direct reports (attorneys and legal professionals). Occasional travel may be required for board meetings, strategic transactions, and other business needs.
What You Will Do
- Serve as Assistant Corporate Secretary, partnering directly with the Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary to support the Board of Directors and its committees, including board and committee materials, meeting logistics, minutes, and governance calendars.
- Oversee all aspects of corporate governance for FIS, including governance policies, director onboarding, subsidiary governance, entity management, and governance best practices for a publicly traded, S&P 500 company.
- Lead legal management of mergers, acquisitions, and divestiture transactions, including due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation, execution, and post-closing integration support.
- Lead legal management of treasury and financing transactions, including due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation, execution, and related filings.
- Ensure enterprise compliance with U.S. securities laws and NYSE listing requirements, including disclosure controls and insider trading policy administration.
- Oversee required corporate filings, including SEC filings such as 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and proxy statements, in partnership with Finance, Investor Relations, and outside counsel, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
- Manage, develop, and retain a team of seven direct reports (attorneys and legal professionals) across corporate governance, securities, and M&A legal support functions.
- Serve as a trusted, board-facing advisor to the Chief Legal Officer, CEO, CFO, and executive leadership on strategic transactions, capital markets activity, disclosure obligations, and governance risk.
- Maintain and enhance Corporate Secretary processes and serve as a key point of contact for directors between board meetings.
What We're Looking For
- J.D. and active bar membership in good standing, with substantial relevant legal experience (typically 15+ years), including significant M&A, corporate finance, treasury and public company securities/governance experience at the senior or executive level.
- Prior experience serving as, or directly supporting, a Corporate Secretary or Assistant Corporate Secretary at a publicly traded company strongly preferred.
- Deep working knowledge of U.S. securities laws, SEC reporting requirements, disclosure obligations, proxy processes, and NYSE or comparable exchange listing standards.
- Demonstrated experience leading M&A transactions from due diligence through closing and integration, including acquisitions and divestitures.
- Direct, hands-on experience supporting a public company Board of Directors and its committees, including familiarity with director fiduciary duties and board governance practices.
- Proven senior people-leadership experience managing a legal team of similar size and scope.
- Exceptional judgment, discretion, executive presence, and the ability to operate effectively with the CEO, CFO, Board of Directors, and other senior executives.
- Willingness to be based in or relocate to Jacksonville, Florida.
What Sets a Strong Candidate Apart
FIS is particularly interested in candidates who bring public-company corporate secretary experience together with hands-on M&A, securities, governance, and board advisory depth. Strong candidates will have operated close to the Board and executive leadership, managed complex governance and disclosure processes, and led strategic transactions in a large, publicly traded company environment.
Candidates who have supported a Corporate Secretary function through major transactions, board-facing governance matters, SEC reporting cycles, or enterprise-level governance transformation are especially encouraged to apply.
Sourcing Model
Recruitment at FIS works primarily on a direct sourcing model; a relatively small portion of our hiring is through recruitment agencies. FIS does not accept resumes from recruitment agencies which are not on the preferred supplier list and is not responsible for any related fees for resumes submitted to job postings, our employees, or any other part of our company.
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