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SECURITIES COMPLIANCE EXAMINER

Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Examinations - Investment Adviser/Investment Company Examination Program
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Investment Adviser/Investment Company Examination Program within the Division of Examinations is filling a few positions for a Securities Compliance Examiner, SK-1831-09 or 11 in the following locations:Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Ft. Worth, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/28/2023 to 05/15/2023
Salary
$66,038 to - $158,621 per year

Starting salary is based on experience. The range is listed for informational purposes. Initial pay will be set below the maximum. Please see below.

Pay scale & grade
SK 9 - 11
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO
Washington
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel averages 5 days a month.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23-DE-11920114-CSS
Control number
722739900

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Duties

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The mission of the Division of Examination is to protect investors, ensure market integrity and support responsible capital formation through risk-focused strategies that: (1) improve compliance; (2) prevent fraud; (3) monitor risk; and (4) inform policy. The results of the Division's examinations are used by the SEC to inform rule-making initiatives, identify and monitor risks, improve industry practices and pursue misconduct.

If selected, you will join a well-respected team in the Division of Examinations that is responsible for the nationwide examination and inspection program for investment companies and investment advisers.

Typical Duties Include:

  • Working as a member of a team of examiners with various levels of experience and professional backgrounds to conduct examinations of securities-related financial institutions registered with the SEC such as investment companies, investment advisers, broker-dealers, transfer agents, and municipal advisors;
  • Evaluating possible risks to investors and the financial markets of registered securities-related financial institutions' business models and practices based on review and analysis, through modern quantitative techniques when possible, of information reported by the institutions to the SEC and other internal and external data sources;
  • Executing risk-based examination plans, which frequently involves: (i) analyzing a financial institution's operations and procedures, sales practices, supervisory systems, books and records, and financial statements, (ii) reviewing investigatory complaints, (iii) investigating new financial products, (iv) examining specialized securities, (v) interviewing principals of registrants, and/or (vi) analyzing performance calculations to assess the level of compliance with federal securities laws and/or self-regulatory requirements; and
  • Developing recommendations and reports, presenting and defending findings, and collaborating as required with legal staff.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen.
  • Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
  • Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
  • This position has promotion potential to the SK-14
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a one-year probationary period.
  • SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
  • DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
  • PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
  • DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • This position is in the collective bargaining unit.
  • This position is eligible to request telework in accordance with the SEC 's telework policy.
  • Typical Examiner Travel: Examination staff routinely travel to the offices of registered entities to conduct on-site inspections of facilities, to meet with and interview entity personnel, and to examine certain business records.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:
SK-09: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-07 level or meet one of the education levels described below. Specialized experience includes performing at least one of the following areas:

  1. 1) Assisting with the audits, examinations, investigations, or compliance reviews of federally regulated financial institutions; 2) Assisting with the analysis of financial, operations or securities data; or 3) Assisting with the review of policies and procedures, internal controls, or internal risk management programs; OR 4) Engaging in back office support functions such as settlements, clearances, record maintenance, accounting, and IT services for securities-related financial institutions;
  2. A Master's or equivalent graduate degree in business administration, finance or accounting; 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in business administration, finance or accounting; or LL.B. or J.D. if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement; OR
  3. A combination of education and experience which includes education exceeding one year of graduate study in business administration, finance or accounting and at least six (6) months of specialized experience equivalent to GS/SK-07 level as described in A above.
SK-11: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-09 level or meet one of the education levels described below. Specialized experience performing at least two of the following areas:
  1. 1) Assisting with the audits, examinations, investigations, or internal compliance reviews of securities-related financial institutions such as investment advisers, investment companies, broker-dealers, municipal advisors, national securities exchanges, transfer agents, or clearing agencies; 2) Analyzing financial, operations or securities data; 3) Assisting with projects focused on topics related to the control functions of a financial services firm; e.g. the review of procedures, practices, and records related to the issuance, distribution, and trading of securities, risk management, accounting treatment, capital treatment, financing structures, or assessment of risk controls; AND/OR 4) Engaging in back office support functions such as settlements, clearances, record maintenance, accounting, and IT services for securities-related financial institutions;
  2. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; LL.M., or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; if related to business administration, finance, or accounting; OR
  3. A combination of education and experience which includes education exceeding two years of graduate study in business administration, finance or accounting and at least six (6) months of specialized experience equivalent to GS/SK-09 level (1) conducting the activities described in answer choice A above.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY?
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Salary Ranges:

  • Atlanta, GA:
    • SK-09: $66,038 - $104,012
    • SK-11: $79,904- $135,370
  • Boston, MA
    • SK-09: $70,349 - $110,801
    • SK-11: $77,473 - $144,206
  • Chicago, IL
    • SK-09: $69,673 - $109,736
    • SK-11: $84,301 - $142,820
  • Denver, CO
    • SK-09: $69,275 - $109,110
    • SK-11: $83,821 - $142,005
  • Ft. Worth, TX:
    • SK-09: $67,837 - $106,845
    • SK-11: $82,080 - $139,056
  • Los Angeles, CA:
    • SK-09: $72,410 - $114,048
    • SK-11: $87,614 - $148,432
  • Miami, FL:
    • SK-09: $66,640 - $104,959
    • SK-11: $80,631 - $136,602
  • New York, NY:
    • SK-09: $73,092 - $115,122
    • SK-11: $88,439 - $149,829
  • Philadelphia, PA:
    • SK-09: $68,626 - $108,087
    • SK-11: $83,035 - $140,674
  • San Francisco, CA:
    • SK-09: $77,381 - $121,877
    • SK-11: $93,628 - $158,621
  • Washington, DC
    • SK-09: $71,122 - $112,019
    • SK-11: $86,055 - $145,791
SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for additional information.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) are available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be well-qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified when receiving an adjudicated score of 80 or higher.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here. Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.

TTY/ASCII: Video Relay Service users are welcome to contact the appropriate SEC office or employee via the contact information listed above. If you do not otherwise have access to a Video Phone or Video Relay service, you may send us an email or use the Federal Video Relay Service via the internet. For more information about using the Federal Relay Service and to create a new account, please see: https://www.federalrelay.us/

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Highly Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

Those candidates who are referred may also be asked to participate in an interview, as well as an "In-Box Exercise" that is designed to measure your analytical writing capabilities.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Compliance Examinations, Examination and Financial Expertise, and Technical Communication
The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11920114.

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