Associate General Counsel - Tax (Employee Benefits & Compensation)
Summary of Relevant Experience
Summary of Experience – Associate General Counsel - Tax (Employee Benefits & Compensation) @ Freddie Mac
- JD/MBA-credentialed ERISA and employee benefits attorney with approximately four years of in-house legal experience advising on retirement plan governance, health and welfare plan compliance, and HIPAA across multiemployer pension and health funds and a Fortune 500 insurer.
- Employee benefits counsel who has led complex ERISA litigation, plan governance matters, and regulatory compliance programs, reporting directly to C-suite executives and coordinating with outside counsel and third-party administrators.
- In-house benefits attorney with hands-on experience in M&A due diligence affecting employee benefit plans, supporting HR and finance stakeholders on plan design, administration, and compliance risk management.
- Compliance-focused legal professional with demonstrated ability to translate complex federal regulatory requirements into practical guidance for business partners across HR, operations, and executive leadership.
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Why this is a fit
The function (in-house employee benefits/ERISA legal counsel) and location (McLean, VA, within your DC Metro target) align well, but the role requires a minimum of 10 years of legal experience with deep federal tax law expertise (IRC 409A, 162(m), payroll tax) and commands a $231K–$347K salary band, placing it well above your approximately four years of experience and senior-associate seniority band—the tax specialization depth required also exceeds your ERISA/benefits compliance profile.
About the role
At Freddie Mac, our mission of Making Home Possible is what motivates us, and it’s at the core of everything we do. Since our charter in 1970, we have made home possible for more than 90 million families across the country. Join an organization where your work contributes to a greater purpose. Position Overview: Are you an attorney with substantial tax expertise in complex employee benefits, compensation, and payroll tax matters? Would you enjoy working in a dynamic and mission-oriented Fortune 50 company? The Governance, Disclosure and Benefits department in the Freddie Mac Legal Division is seeking a proactive attorney with superior tax, analytical and communication skills to join its legal staff as an Associate General Counsel. Our Impact: The Governance, Disclosure and Benefits team provides critical legal advice and support to key clients within the company on a variety of issues, including tax matters affecting the Company’s employee benefits, compensation, executive and other workforce‑related programs or initiatives. We collaborate with internal stakeholders and external advisors to monitor and respond to evolving tax law developments and provide practical and proactive legal advice aligned with the Company’s business objectives and regulatory obligations Your Impact: Provide quality, timely and value-added legal advice on federal tax laws applicable to employee health and welfare plans, retirement plans (tax-qualified and non-qualified), fringe benefits, and compensation and deferred compensation programs (including compliance with IRC sections 409A and 162(m)) Support payroll tax compliance by advising on federal and state income tax withholding and reporting and applicable employment taxes Educate and inform clients, including through clear and concise memos, charts, spreadsheets and similar documents, and help them develop compliance approaches Partner with Human Resources and other clients on the design, implementation, and administration of employee benefit plans and executive compensation programs Advise on tax considerations related to corporate restructurings, legal settlements, workforce changes, and other business initiatives affecting employees and executives Interact directly with outside counsel, auditors, regulators, and third‑party service providers on tax, benefits, and compensation matters Monitor and analyze legal, regulatory, and policy developments in tax law affecting employee benefits, compensation programs and employment taxes, and provide timely guidance to stakeholders Qualifications: Juris Doctor (JD) degree, membership in good standing in a state Bar, and a minimum of 10 years of legal experience Significant experience providing proactive, accessible legal advice to business partners on federal tax laws applicable to employee retirement and health & welfare plans, fringe benefits, and executive and deferred compensation Expertise with federal and state income and employment tax withholding and reporting Experience partnering with clients in the design and administration of employee benefit and compensation programs, including tax compliance and risk management Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal concepts in a clear, practical, and business‑focused manner Ability to work independently or as part of a team, manage multiple complex matters in an ever-changing environment, and to adapt to changing circumstances Substantial experience providing legal advice to, and working directly with, business teams in areas such as HR, payroll and finance Familiarity with ERISA preferred, including fiduciary issues and plan drafting In-house experience a plus Keys to Success in this Role: Intellectual skill, experience, and judgment to serve as a trusted legal advisor to clients throughout the organization including members of senior management and the board of directors Demonstrated general knowledge of AI tools and technologies, with a strong com