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Assistant General Counsel, Executive Director: Auto Lending

Wells Fargo · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a complex commercial agreement you negotiated where the business wanted to move faster than the risk allowed.

What they are checking: Whether they can protect the company while still getting deals done, rather than becoming either a blocker or a rubber stamp.

Tell me about a time you had to give a business leader advice they didn't want to hear.

What they are checking: Whether they have the confidence and judgment to hold a line and explain it in business terms.

How would you build trust with a business team that sees Legal as a bottleneck?

What they are checking: Whether they can earn credibility through responsiveness and practical advice, which drives the impact the posting describes.

Tell me about a matter that spanned more than one business line or practice group. How did you keep it coherent?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage highly complex legal issues that cut across the company, which the role explicitly requires.

What would you do

How would you advise an executive officer on a partnership that is profitable but carries reputational risk?

What they are checking: Whether they can give senior leaders a clear recommendation that weighs legal, regulatory and reputational exposure together.

A strategic initiative touches privacy, compliance and procurement. How do you coordinate across those groups?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead a cross-functional legal effort and resolve disagreements without letting the project stall.

How do you decide when to handle a matter yourself and when to bring in outside counsel?

What they are checking: Whether they manage legal spend and expertise sensibly as a senior individual contributor.

A large retailer partner wants to change the economics of a program midstream. How would you approach the renegotiation?

What they are checking: Whether they read the existing contract carefully, understand the business leverage, and protect the bank's position.

About the work

You'd support relationships with auto manufacturers and captive finance companies. What legal issues come up most in those partnerships?

What they are checking: Whether they know the real terrain of OEM and captive deals, like exclusivity, subvention, data sharing and termination rights.

Which consumer lending regulations do you see as most important in indirect auto finance today?

What they are checking: Whether they understand fair lending, UDAAP and dealer markup issues that regulators watch closely in auto lending.

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The full job description

As published by Wells Fargo.

About this role: Wells Fargo is seeking an Assistant General Counsel, Executive Director in Legal to join the Auto Lending section within the Consumer Banking & Lending Division. As a senior individual contributor, this attorney will support the group within Auto responsible for Wells Fargo’s relationships with auto manufacturers, captive finance companies, and large-scale retailers, as well as other strategic initiatives. For additional information on this line of business, refer to the external Careers Site at Wellsfargo.com/career. In this role, you will: • Engage and have a significant impact on the Company's operations, strategies, or profitability. • Participate in and manage initiatives relevant to the Company’s businesses or Legal Department strategic priorities, and supervise complex, strategic or operational projects. • Develop relationships with and provides guidance to senior leadership, including executive officers, on issues that may present legal, regulatory, compliance, or reputational risk to the Company. • Recognized as an expert in highly complex areas of the law, having demonstrated the ability to address significant legal matters, which may span multiple business lines and practice groups. • Collaborate within the department and across business and staff functions to address legal and risk issues in a manner consistent with the best interests of Wells Fargo. • Take an active role in coordinating legal work within the team and developing more junior staff. Required Qualifications: • 7+ years of Law experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education • Active State Bar membership or the equivalent in a country outside the United States Desired Qualifications: • Legal experience in the auto finance industry • Experience supporting lender-OEM relationships, including program negotiation and provision of integrated business advice. • Demonstrated expertise in providing legal support to strategic growth initiatives and structured finance transactions in a highly matrixed environment. • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. • Ability to effectively organize and prioritize work while handling multiple matters. • Ability to work effectively in a complex environment with a high degree of collaboration. Job Expectations: • Ability to travel up to 5% • Position will require onsite presence from any of the required locations listed • Ability to work a hybrid schedule, in office at least 3 days a week • This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship • Relocation assistance is not available for this position. Pay Range Salary is just one component of Wells Fargo's total rewards package. Depending on the role, a Wells Fargo's employee may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, such as sales incentives, discretionary bonuses, and/or equity in the company in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.
$215,000.00 - $355,000.00 Benefits Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees. • Health benefits • 401(k) Plan • Paid time off • Disability benefits • Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance • Parental leave • Critical caregiving leave • Discounts and savings • Commuter benefits • Tuition reimbursement • Scholarships for dependent children • Adoption reimbursement Posting End Date: 8 Oct 2026 * Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants. We Value Equal Opportunity Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic. Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements. Applicants with Disabilities To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo . Drug and Alcohol Policy Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more. Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements: a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo. b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.

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