Senior Employment Counsel, Americas (Fintech)

Location: Based in San Francisco, New York, or Seattle, United States

Salary: $160,000–$270,000 per year, plus equity and bonus

Company

Airwallex provides an integrated payments and financial platform for global businesses, including business accounts, payments, spend management, treasury, and embedded finance.

What you will do

• Advise People & Talent and business leaders on hiring, contracts, performance management, accommodations, leave, wage and hour compliance, and terminations.
• Lead workplace investigations and sensitive employee matters from beginning to end.
• Draft, update, and own employment policies, templates, and operational playbooks.
• Manage employment disputes, agency charges, litigation, external counsel, and related legal spend.
• Coordinate employment advice across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA, including contractor and employer-of-record arrangements and cross-border remote work.
• Advise on compensation, benefits, equity, and employment matters affecting regulated entities.

Requirements

• J.D. degree or foreign equivalent and active membership in at least one US state bar; California, Washington, or New York preferred.
• 7+ years of employment law experience in a leading law firm and/or in-house legal department.
• Experience providing employment counseling beyond litigation and coordinating advice across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience leading workplace investigations and managing employment disputes, agency charges, or tribunal matters.
• Ability to translate complex legal and risk issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal audiences.
• Ability to work independently and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Nice to have

• Experience in fintech, payments, or another highly regulated business.
• Experience with contractor classification, employer-of-record populations, cross-border remote work, or permanent establishment risk.
• Comfort working across time zones with colleagues in APAC and EMEA.
• Interest in expanding legal expertise beyond current practice areas.

Culture & Benefits

• Work with a global Legal & Licensing function supporting product development, sales, and market expansion.
• Collaborate with People & Talent, Legal, and business teams on high-visibility employment matters.
• Operate in a fast-moving environment that values ownership, sound judgment, curiosity, and practical execution.
• Equity and bonus are offered in addition to the stated salary.