Senior Legal Counsel - Fintech Regulatory Strategy

About us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world. Role Desciption: Booking.com is currently looking for a Sr Legal Counsel - Fintech Regulatory Strategy to join our Fintech Legal Team and support the assessment of fintech products and of core travel products involving payments, as well as help us shape the regulatory strategy to launch and scale Booking.com payment products and embedded finance solutions across the globe. In this role, you will be responsible for the initial contact with the stakeholders to understand and interpret the company initiatives submitted for review and for the initiatives’ assessment, identifying fintech regulatory and other legal implications for the business. You will also be working closely with the Public Affairs and collaborating with various business teams as we chart our path in this growing area for all of Booking.com brands. Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: Providing strategic legal guidance to the Fintech business and issue spot on a full range of legal issues with a focus on the development of the regulatory strategy to enable authorised payment services In the context of the Fintech Regulatory Strategy roadmap, coordinate legal guidance and input on commercial contracts, disputes, competition/consumer law, IP law, and applicable regulations (utilising subject matter experts in the Legal and Public Affairs department) to ensure the Fintech team’s activities, policies, business practices and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulationspartner payment products, whilst ensuring the Fintech Business Unit’s activities, policies, business practices, products and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulations Developing a close working relationship with our sister brand, Booking Holdings Financial Services, which seeks and maintains regulatory permissions for the provision of authorised payment services Procuring and interpreting legal advice to the FinTech business inclduing on payment regulatory strategy and partnership models, from external counsel and internal subject matter experts Participating in projects and tasks to enhance the effectiveness of the Fintech legal team, and the wider Legal & Public Affairs team. Qualifications & Skills: Experience working in-house in the regulated financial services industry, including for a financial regulator (or for these clients whilst in Private Practice) and an understanding of payments or other financial services regulatory regimes (e.g. insurance, money remittance, electronic money) A solid understanding of the key legal and regulatory frameworks including international money transfer, foreign exchange, outsourcing, open banking, e-money, payment services, e-commerce and online platforms for the EU (e.g. PSD2, AMLD, CBPR2, MTRs, DORA, SCA), US or UK is an advantage Foundational legal and regulatory frameworks that cover international money transfer, e-commerce, and online platforms Contract relationships and risk and technology (from a regulatory perspective) Familiarity with the financial services products and the FinTech space: Digital Wallets such as WeChat, ApplePay, AmazonPay etc. and Credit schemes (Amex, VISA, MC) and payment processesing Delivering all of the above directly and as a part of a matrixed, cross-functional team Ability to empathise with the expectations of regulators, review output and communicate with fluidity and precision in preparation for or in dealings with regulators Strong Project Management skills or experience working on material business transformation projects with complex internal stakeholders and dependency management and multi-year goals Native or fluent English speaking and writign skills, additional laguages a plus Excellent communication skills (written and oral), attention to detail & organisational and project management skills and ability to meet deadlines, prioritising appropriately Able to demonstrate commerical awarness and understanding of the business requirements enabling provision of pragmatic and solution oriented advice Professional and collaborative approach and ability to influence stakeholders A high standard of knowledge and use of productivity tools in teh work environment, including Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Google Suite (Google Sheets, Google Docs), Zoom, Glean, Jira, etc. (or a willingness to learn!) Further traits look for: Alignment with Booking.com’s values (Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing). Curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving. Confidence with collaboration. Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results. Strong judgment with attention to both the big picture and key details. Courage to take a stance and make tough decisions. Team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener. Agility in prioritizing and meeting deadlines. Forward-thinking, with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues. Why join the Legal & Public Affairs Team now? This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com’s Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond. This offers travellers what we like to call the ‘connected trip’ – enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals—while driving ethical, sustainable growth. Who are we? We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc. of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe. We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing." As a team, we believe in: Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com’s future. Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity. Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize. Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice. Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices. Learning from mistakes and embracing growth. Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together! Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive. Pre-Employment Screening If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.