Duties
The Office of Security Based Swaps performs examinations of certain market intermediaries such as Security-Based Swap Dealers and Security-Based Swap Execution Facilities to ensure compliance with applicable requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and provides subject matter expertise on the security-based swap market and related transactions.
In this role as a Securities Compliance Examiner, you will be responsible for:
- 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 security-based swap dealers and security-based swap execution facilities, security-based swap data repositories, investment companies, investment advisers, broker-dealers, self-regulatory organizations, transfer agents, and municipal advisors;
- Evaluating possible risks to financial markets and counterparties of registered security-based swap dealers' 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 security-based swap dealer's operations and procedures, trading practices, supervisory systems, risk management systems, books and records, and financial statements, (ii) investigating new financial products, (iii) analyzing derivatives, (iv) interviewing principals of registrants, and/or (v) analyzing performance calculations to assess the level of compliance with federal securities laws; and
- Developing recommendations and reports, presenting and defending findings, and collaborating as required with key stakeholders of the examination process, including internal divisions and offices (e.g. Division of Trading and Markets and Office of International Affairs), and other US and foreign regulators.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- CITZENSHIP: You must be a US Citizen.
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/)
- 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.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a one-year probationary period.
- The selectee is required to report to the duty station(s) listed.
- 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
Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the How You Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review.
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. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:
SK-13: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the
GS/SK-12 level. Specialized experience includes:
- Interpreting and applying the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any related rules and regulations and/or other federal securities rules; AND
- Performing examinations, investigations, audits or internal compliance reviews of securities-related financial institutions such as broker-dealers, municipal advisors, national securities exchanges, transfer agents, investment advisers, investment companies, or clearing agencies; AND
- Analyzing financial, operational, or securities industry data using a relational database management system (e.g. SQL, Oracle) or through advanced skills with spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel.
SK-14: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the
GS/SK-13 level. Specialized experience includes:
- Interpreting and applying the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any related rules and regulations and/or other federal securities rules; AND
- Engaging in or regulating derivatives markets or their operations; AND
- Performing examinations, investigations, audits or internal reviews that included assessment of valuation, trading, risk, documentation, or clearance of derivatives.
ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD COMPETENCIES: Your Accomplishment Record narratives should address the following competencies. See the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more information:
Competency 1: Examwork: Effectively conducts examwork activities (whether onsite, correspondence, etc.) in a professional manner to procure information from an entity under examination.
Competency 2: Analysis and Risk Assessment: Analyzes information to assess an entity's level of risk for deficiencies in various focus areas.
Competency 3: Critical Thinking: Considers a variety of factors, general and subject matter-specific, when making decisions and determining next steps in a case.
Competency 4: Teamwork and Collaboration: Interacts with internal and external others in a manner that advances examinations and agency goals and objectives.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement and may be filled from any division or office within the agency.
SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: Total salary (base pay + locality) is dependent upon duty location. The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes; a selectee's initial pay will be established below the maximum rate of the range. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy. Please visit the agency's Compensation Overview page for more information.
Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, click here.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not I/CTAP eligible. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; the questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility (2) be rated well-qualified; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. View information about I/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact reasonableaccommodation@sec.gov. For religious-based accommodations, please contact religiousaccommodation@sec.gov . 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: For more information, please click here.
The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this announcement.
Your resume and application package will first be reviewed to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements outlined in the announcement. Please do not submit an Accomplishment Record at this time.
If you are found minimally qualified, the Office of Human Resources will contact you to request an Accomplishment Record. You will have 3 business days from the date of the request to submit it. Failure to submit the Accomplishment Record on time will remove you from further consideration. A response is required even if an Accomplishment Record was submitted at time of application. Because of the short turnaround time, you are strongly encouraged to begin preparing your Accomplishment Record in advance.
Once your Accomplishment Record is received, a rating panel will review both your resume and your narrative responses. Your Accomplishment Record must clearly demonstrate your proficiency in the competencies listed in the Qualifications section.
Click here for guidance on writing your Accomplishment Record.
Your resume must provide evidence that supports the claims in your Accomplishment Record. Each narrative must describe one specific, relevant example from your experience or training. Responses are limited to 300 words per competency; any text beyond this limit will not be reviewed.
Accomplishment Record Format:
Competency Title
- Position title and dates from your resume that this experience was obtained
- Describe the situation (i.e., the challenged faced, the problem solved)
- Describe the specific actions you took
- State the outcome, results, or long-term impact of your accomplishment
- Name and email address of someone who can verify this information
Reference checks may be conducted as part of the final selection process, and you will be notified before any contacts are made.
Basis for Rating: The rating panel will evaluate applicants' accomplishment records and resume, then place them into one of the following categories:
- Highly Qualified - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and has extensive skills and experience in most of the job related competencies.
- Well Qualified - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and has a moderate amount of skills and experience in most of the job related competencies.
- Qualified - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but may have a limited amount of experience in several of the job related competencies.
Top ranked applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further review and consideration. The hiring office may directly contact recommended candidates for interview(s).
To preview the Questionnaire, click
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13040125