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Bulge Bracket Investment BanksPosted a day ago
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**Director Compensation and Benefits Attorney** offers 7-10yr experienced legal counsel for U.S. health/welfare plans, tax-qualified retirement plans, and executive compensation programs. Key responsibilities include advising HR, business leaders, and control partners on ERISA, employment laws, and regulatory compliance. The role requires a J.D. or equivalent and bar admission in good standing. Citi offers full-time salary range: $170,000 - $300,000, benefits package, and equal employment opportunities.
- Compensation
- $170,000 – $300,000 USD
- City
- New York City
- Country
- United States
Currency: $ (USD)
Full Job Description
Director Compensation and Benefits Attorney
Discover your future at Citi
Working at Citi is far more than just a job. A career with us means joining a team of more than 230,000 dedicated people from around the globe. At Citi, youll have the opportunity to grow your career, give back to your community and make a real impact.
Job Overview
The Director HR Legal (Compensation and Benefits) is a senior legal advisor within Citis Employment Legal team responsible for providing strategic guidance on U.S. health and welfare plans, tax-qualified retirement plans, executive compensation programs, ERISA fiduciary rules, and broader compensation and benefits matters across Citi. The role supports HR, business leaders, and control partners by delivering expert legal advice in a complex, highly regulated environment.
The position is part of a collaborative team of highly experienced lawyers providing enterprise-wide legal support on ERISA, executive compensation and benefits issues. The candidate should have specific experience in health and welfare issues, and a broad interest in compensation in a global environment, including equity compensation, benefits and employment issues, and the fiduciary responsibility rules of ERISA. The candidate should be comfortable with regular direct interaction with human resources teams, compliance, risk and finance executives and tax practitioners.
This role has authority to negotiate and make independent decisions on issues / activities that have critical impact or influence on the company. This role is not a manager.
Key Responsibilities:
- Advise on all legal aspects of Citis U.S. health and welfare plans, taxqualified retirement plans, incentive and executive compensation programs, and other employee benefit arrangements.
- Interpret and apply ERISA (including fiduciary rules), the tax code, and related regulations to Citis compensation, benefits, and pensionassetrelated business activities.
- Support and advise HR teams on plan design, administration, plan governance, disclosures and compliance with employmentadjacent laws.
- Partner with business unitsincluding institutional broker/dealer, wealth management, and corporate bankingon transactions and activities involving pension assets.
- Advise on legal developments, regulatory examinations, and the impact of emerging rules on compensation and benefits programs.
- Collaborate closely with Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, and Employment Law teams to ensure coordinated management of legal, regulatory, and reputational risk.
- Manage complex issues by providing strategic recommendations, negotiating with stakeholders, and engaging with external counsel where appropriate.
- Participate in M&A-related benefits and compensation workstreams, including due diligence and integration matters.
- Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards
Qualifications:
- 7-10+ years of relevant experience in compensation, benefits, and ERISA matters, with inhouse financial services experience preferred.
- Deep knowledge of laws and regulations governing health and welfare benefits, executive compensation, retirement plans, and ERISA fiduciary requirements.
- Strong leadership, analytical, advisory, communication, and relationshipmanagement skills, with proven ability to handle complex assignments in a fastpaced environment.
- Experience working with regulators and managing regulatory interactions is a plus.
Education:
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree and bar admission in good standing.
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Job Family Group:
Legal------------------------------------------------------
Job Family:
Legal - Enterprise------------------------------------------------------
Time Type:
Full time------------------------------------------------------
Primary Location:
New York New York United States------------------------------------------------------
Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:
$170,000.00 - $300,000.00
In addition to salary, Citis offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
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Most Relevant Skills
Please see the requirements listed above.------------------------------------------------------
Other Relevant Skills
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.------------------------------------------------------
Anticipated Posting Close Date:
Apr 27, 2026------------------------------------------------------
Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi (opens in new window).
View Citis EEO Policy Statement (opens in new window) and the Know Your Rights (opens in new window) poster.
