Director, OATS at FINRA in Rockville, Maryland

Job Description:

A senior managerial position within the Quality of Markets Section of Market Regulation that is responsible for supervision of several team and their overall processes. The Director will actively support the Senior Director and the Vice President. Oversee that reviews and investigations for assigned areas are planned assigned and completed in a timely manner. Independently manage routine and complex investigations conducted by the teams. Plan and coordinate staff activities to ensure consistency of work process and work product, promote best practices, and the efficient flow of work and information among staff and other Market Regulation Department personnel.

Essential Job Functions:

The Director is primarily responsible for the leadership, direction and the management of assigned teams. The Director specifically performs the following functions:

• Review and provide second level supervisory sign-off on all case disposition memoranda, included recommendations for enforcement actions, prepared by analytical staff. Ensure all recommendations are well-supported by investigative record and that the memoranda address all relevant rules reviewed during investigation. Provide support to direct reports in the more complex investigative matters to ensure the on-the-record depositions successfully develop the investigative record. Participate in the depositions as needed.


• Plan and coordinate staff activities to ensure that qualitative and quantitative objectives of the teams are met.


• Regularly meet with Managers and analysts to review progress of reviews and investigations, provide direction concerning future initiatives, and share information and provide feedback. Work collaboratively with other Directors to ensure consistent application of procedures.


• Regularly meet with the Senior Director and Vice President to provide periodic progress reports concerning the development and completion of reviews and investigations and recommendations for disciplinary actions and sanctions.


• Regularly meet with FINRA Technology regarding the development and deployment of automated surveillance. Responsible for recommending revisions to business requirements documents for existing surveillance patterns and reviewing requirements documents for new surveillance patterns. Complete User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for surveillance patterns and report findings to Senior Director. Identify regulatory and industry issues impacting surveillance patterns and develop plans or recommendations to address such issues.


• Maintain a high level of competency and expertise in the rules of the SEC, FINRA, and MSRB regarding assigned area of expertise.


• Participate in the FINRA regulatory specialist program and serve as a resource for other Departments within FINRA in matters involving fixed income products.


• Research and identify cost savings and operational efficiencies in assigned program. Report recommendations and implement changes under guidance of Senior Director.


• Work with other Directors to develop and update written procedures for their Teams. Responsible for the ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of the procedures.


• Establish and maintain effective informal and formal communication processes for Team personnel.


• Regularly represent the Section both internally and externally.

Other Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and direction to ensure that objectives are met.


• Regularly meet with immediate subordinates to discuss performance related and employee satisfaction issues. Assess goal accomplishment and evaluate staff performance.


• Ensure adequate training and development of personnel.


• Handle administrative and personnel functions for staff.


• Perform special projects at the direction of the Senior Director.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Four (4) year college degree in Business/Finance or equivalent with course work in investments, finance and accounting.


• Eight to ten years of experience in the securities industry or related field, with extensive working knowledge of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in general, and the rules applicable in the fixed income market, in particular with exposure to trading issues, securities processing, clearance and trading practices and knowledge of related relevant rules and regulations enforced by FINRA.


• Familiarity with software applications and automated systems.


• At least 4-6 years supervisory experience as well as exposure to personnel related issues.


• Skilled in the preparation of clear and concise reports and memoranda. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as excellent research skills.


• Demonstrated strong oral and written ability. Advance time-management and prioritization and interpersonal skills required.


• Demonstrated ability to oversee comprehensive reviews and investigations for potential securities laws violations.

Work Conditions:

• Normal office environment located in Rockville, Maryland.


• Work outside of business hours and some travel may be required.

To be considered for this position, please submit an application.

The information provided above has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work of the position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required.

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In addition to a competitive salary, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, and incentive compensation, FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match. You will also be eligible for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, our tuition reimbursement program and many other benefits. If you would like to contribute to our important mission and work collegially in a professional organization that values intelligence, integrity and initiative, consider a career with FINRA.

Important Information

FINRA’s Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code’s investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions—including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA’s Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President—by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e-feed within three months of beginning employment.

You can read more about these restrictions here.

As standard practice, employees must also execute FINRA’s Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company’s policy on nepotism.

Search Firm Representatives

Please be advised that FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place before any resumes are submitted to FINRA. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FINRA without a valid written agreement and task order in place will be deemed the sole property of FINRA and no fee will be paid in the event that person is hired by FINRA.

FINRA is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other classification protected by federal state or local laws as appropriate, or upon the protected status of the person’s relatives, friends or associates.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability, and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans, and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

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