Would you like to contribute as a legal counsel to building trust in the financial sector and to protecting consumers?
Then come and join our FSMA team and become a legal counsel with the legal service!
Where will you be working?
There is a vacancy within the legal service for a lawyer with litigation experience who can reinforce the secretariat of the Sanctions Committee.
The Sanctions Committee is completely independent of the FSMA’s Management Committee and is made up of outside experts appointed by the King, half of whom are judges and State councillors. Proceedings before the Sanctions Committee usually consist of both an exchange of written arguments and an oral hearing.
What does your job entail?
As secretary of the Sanctions Committee, you will support the latter not only with the organization of hearings, but also with the substantive aspects of the cases. Your role is described in the Sanctions Committee’s internal regulations. As secretary, you can also be admitted to the hearings and deliberations of the Sanctions Committee. The Sanctions Committee may also call upon your assistance to prepare a draft sanction decision, in line with the results of its deliberations. This is a position of trust that is carried out entirely independently, based exclusively on the instructions of the Sanctions Committee (and not of the existing hierarchy within the legal service and of the FSMA more generally). An independent and impartial attitude is therefore essential.
The position has a very marked legal dimension as regards the contents of the work, and is closer to that of a court “referendary” or law clerk. For the purely administrative aspects of the assistance to be provided to the Sanctions Committee, you will be able to draw upon the services of an administrative staff member.
The Sanctions Committee can impose administrative sanctions in practically every area of competence of the FSMA (including for insider dealing).
Moreover, the Belgian Parliament has designated the FSMA’s Sanctions Committee as the body competent to impose fines or a wide range of other measures on a statutory auditor within the framework of administrative sanction proceedings launched by the Belgian Audit Oversight Board
What knowledge, experience and skills do you bring?
- A Master’s degree in law.
- At least 5 years’ relevant experience at a highly reputed law firm.
- You are fluent in Dutch and a good oral and written mastery of French.
- Experience in the written and oral aspects of judicial or administrative proceedings; Experience with administrative sanction proceedings and ethics cases would be a particular asset.
- You are open to handling other legal issues on a wide range of matters, often in a European context.
- You have an analytical mind-set and are able to combine this with an excellent capacity for synthesis. Accuracy and professionalism are among your strongest qualities.
- Excellent ability for logical structuring of both oral and written communication.
- You are both a team player and able to work independently.
What do we offer you?
- A full-time job with a permanent contract.
- The chance to do your bit for consumer protection.
- A competitive salary package with many fringe benefits (including group and hospitalization insurance, full reimbursement of public transport costs, budget-friendly company dining room, contribution to mobile phone and internet subscriptions, additional non-statutory holidays; bank holidays, etc.).
- A wide range of opportunities for learning and development.
- Flexible working hours.
- Good work/life balance (possibility of teleworking).
- Opportunities for internal mobility.
- Offices within easy reach of Brussels city centre.
Each member of the FSMA staff is subject to a strict code of ethics and is bound by the obligation of professional secrecy.
By the way, did you know that the FSMA has been designated ‘Baanbrekende Werkgever/Employeur Pionnier’ (Pioneering Employer)? You can find more info here: FSMA: Baanbrekende Werkgever '23 / FSMA: Employeur Pionnier ‘23
