Director, Regulatory Review & Disclosure at FINRA in Rockville, Maryland

Job Description:

Direct and oversee the activities of all Regulatory Review & Disclosure units that review and analyze all disclosure-related form filings and related correspondence/documents for both individuals and firms that include new or updated disclosure information (U-4, U-5, U-6), all Form BD/BDW filings submitted by firms, expungement requests pursuant to court orders and Criminal History Record Information submitted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (Department of Justice). Staff reviews result in the identification and handling of statutorily disqualified individuals and/or firms, and whether or not individuals or firms can be registered to conduct a securities business. All disclosure related filings are reviewed and analyzed by a staff composed of lawyers and paralegals, pursuant to SEC and FINRA rules, regulations and statutes; CRD/regulatory and compliance policies, or joint policies established by FINRA, NASAA, SEC and/or other regulators.

Also responsible for day-to-day oversight of FINRA’s public disclosure program (PDP) flag settings and disclosure related quality control reviews. This includes serving as business liaison with technical and operations staff as well as legal counsel on any Program and application changes. Also, that quality control is being performed pursuant to established standards and guidelines and that quality and production targets are being met.

Serve as management escalation point to address disclosure and public disclosure program related policy, operational and data issues raised by constituents to include staff, broker-dealers, regulators, jurisdictions, and investors. Interaction with constituents requires strong communication skills and a deep understanding of political sensitivities related to current regulatory issues and registration and disclosure policies. Serve as the primary backup contact when the Senior Director of Regulatory Review and Disclosure is unavailable.

Serve as a policy liaison between the Regulatory Review & Disclosure units and the department’s in-house legal counsel. Present policy issues to senior management, document policy decisions, and ensure that policy decisions are accurately reflected in current work processes and procedures.

Also serve as primary liaison/project manager between business, legal, technical and production support staff in defining requirements, developing an integrated business and technology plan, assisting in User Acceptance Testing, and ensuring project deliverables are of a high quality and completed on schedule for various assigned projects.

This position also serves as primary liaison to other FINRA departments, SEC, SROs and NASAA relating to all facets of disclosure reporting and disclosure policy matters, provides input to proposed rule filings and interpretive guidance, and represents FINRA in uniform form revisions.

Essential Job Functions:

• Direct the disclosure review functions to ensure completeness of all disclosure-related filings and adherence to established policies.


• Direct the public disclosure program to ensure timely and accurate reporting of disclosable information to investors and others, consistent with FINRA policies and rules.


• Jointly with department counsel as well as other regulators and SROs develop regulatory and compliance policies and guidelines to be followed for both reporting and disclosure to the public.


• Serve as primary source of front-line expertise on all disclosure-related policies and guidelines and participate in the development of interpretive guidance to be followed when conducting analysis of disclosure information. Effectively implement policy/procedural changes.


• As primary disclosure liaison to other FINRA departments, work to identify and implement additional safeguards to ensure registration reporting requirements are being met and to reduce gaps in compliance. Use all available tools/resources to recommend and implement enhancements that improve overall compliance and effectiveness of regulatory initiatives in support of FINRA’s investor protection mission.


• Serve as primary registration/disclosure liaison with regulators (SEC, SROs and NASAA), participate in regulator meetings and committees, represent FINRA in uniform form revisions and regulatory/compliance interpretive matters, provide input on rule filings, and prepare materials for presentation to FINRA Board, FINRA committees and other regulators.


• As member of department Strategy Team, responsible for establishing strategic direction and managing to reach the associated goals. Assist in setting strategic direction for all Regulatory Review & Disclosure units.


• Monitor work processes within the functional units on an on-going basis to ensure that they are working effectively, using both statistical analysis and other methods of assessment. Recommend changes that would improve efficiency while maintaining quality of output. Ensure work processes are updated as needed and in conjunction with CRD and/or PDP release schedules. Also monitor disclosure-related Core Process Manual chapters for accuracy and completeness, and ensure the chapters are updated as needed and in conjunction with CRD and/or PDP release schedules.


• Ensure that the flow of work within the functions is structured so that resources are appropriately trained and utilized in the most effective manner, the highest level of quality and service is provided to both internal and external customers, and that established performance and quality standards are met.


• Create, review and assess reports on the operational efficiency of the various functional units within Regulatory Review & Disclosure, and report to the Senior Director on the performance.


• Ensure Software Change Requests (SCRs) for system enhancements and any problem reports are opened, tracked and ultimately deployed as part of a release. Participate in software release planning as it impacts disclosure units; prioritize SCRs, and develop/maintain effective user acceptance test strategies.


• Serve as escalation point on all disclosure-related policy and procedural questions/issues. Address escalation issues raised by staff, Registration and Disclosure department, other FINRA departments, member firms, regulators, and states/jurisdictions, and provide guidance and/or written response as appropriate.


• Present policy issues and recommended solutions to the department’s senior management for discussion and resolution. Document decisions and ensure that disclosure-related policies are correctly implemented.


• Perform all regular personnel responsibilities for the Regulatory Review & Disclosure management team, including mentoring, coaching, staff, and performance management.


• Serve as proxy for Senior Director for all disclosure related matters and in handling and coordinating escalation items across all Regulatory Review & Disclosure units, including oversight of projects, assignments, issues, etc. Communicate with senior management as needed to ensure all appropriate parties are kept current.


• Develop annual plans, goals and budgets for the units. Coordinate and initiate unit activities to meet budget, deadlines, goals and monitor performance.


• Effectively represent Credentialing Registration, Education and Disclosure and the FINRA to the SEC, other SROs, NASAA, states/jurisdictions, FINRA member firms, investors and others on disclosure-related operations or policy issues.


• Maintain in-depth knowledge of FINRA and SEC rules related to regulatory compliance. Must keep current on policy and procedural changes that impact Registration and Disclosure department.

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Other Responsibilities:

• Lead divisional and department projects aimed at defining and implementing policies and programs.


• Serve as a resource to provide input and advise on individual areas of expertise


• Maintain essential skills by attending training programs and participating in meetings.


• Perform any other duties required to maintain the effective operation of the Regulatory Review & Disclosure units, Registration and Disclosure Department, and the FINRA.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with a legal and/or business concentration, or in a related field, and minimum of 9 years relevant work experience required.


• Course work in legal studies, including criminal justice and/or the securities field, desirable.


• At least seven (7) years progressive experience, preferably in working with regulatory and/or compliance issues gained within FINRA or an equivalent external environment.


• Strong management/supervisory skills, gained through 5 or more years of direct management experience is required.


• Proven mentoring, coaching and interpersonal skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills are critical, particularly in effectively dealing with personnel and politically sensitive issues.


• Strong research and analytical skills, demonstrated organizational skills, and the ability to multitask


• Working knowledge of Lexis-Nexis and demonstrated proficiency with MS Office tools, including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.


• Demonstrated program/project management skills, including cost estimation, cost benefit analysis, and risk management, with a track record of successfully directing projects to completion.


• In-depth understanding of registration regulatory rules, regulations and/or statutes strongly preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Work in an open office environment with frequent use of telephone, PC and other business technology (including Registration and Disclosure specific applications such as CRD and PDPI).


• Evening and weekend work occasionally required.


• Travel associated with industry related conferences 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

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