Economist - Regulatory Economics

The primary duties of this position are to engage in statistical, econometric, and financial analysis projects to evaluate the risks, costs, and impacts of market practices and regulatory alternatives in support of FINRA's mission.

Essential Job Functions:

• Contribute to and support research and analytical (R&A) work across one or more subject matter areas within FINRA's oversight purview for purposes of REMA's work product, including regular review of academic and industry reports and papers.
• Apply theory, modeling, empirical skills, sound judgment, and quantitative methodologies to analyze securities markets, market participants, market microstructure, member firm and market behavior, and the risks, costs, and impacts of market practices and regulatory alternatives under the guidance and review of senior staff.
• Identify, assess, and synthesize research, analysis, and data pertinent to securities markets, market participants, and market microstructure in support of FINRA's mission.
• Conduct R&A and contribute to written reports, presentations, and other outputs on economic and financial topics for internal, industry, and public consumption, including materials and oral presentations for managers and senior staff related to REMA work within the economist's area of focus.
• Develop innovative R&A ideas in the economist's area of focus based on new or emerging risks and topics of particular interest to FINRA in its oversight and regulatory role.
• Support the development and implementation of research designs and analyses for large-scale data projects, and assess, model, and analyze data to provide solutions and answers in a variety of engagements.
• Produce high-quality research work products to be reviewed and vetted by academics, industry experts, and regulatory staff, ensuring work is timely, complete, accurate, professional in quality and appearance.
• Support REMA's economic and R&A work in internal and cross-functional settings, including contributing to economic analysis and interpretation during the rule-making process and other policy discussions.
• Work with managers and colleagues across the organization to understand economic analysis needs and contribute to the design, conceptualization, and execution of projects to meet them.
• Support the maintenance of relationships with academic, industry, and regulatory/government entities under the guidance of senior economists, and present R&A findings to internal stakeholders and, as appropriate, external experts including securities industry professionals and other regulators.
• Provide written and oral status reports on assigned projects.
• Develop substantive knowledge and growing expertise in assigned area(s) of focus within REMA, and participate in internal and external conferences, seminars, presentations, and other speaking engagements as appropriate.
• Execute responsibilities with moderate direction and oversight, exercising increasing independence as experience develops.
• Establish and maintain specialized REMA recordkeeping systems and databases to support departmental operations and analytical requirements.
• Demonstration of FINRA's values.
• Collaboration, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity.

Other Responsibilities 

• Responsible for working on and completing other projects as needed.
• May provide informal guidance or assistance to analysts on project tasks.
• Working on and completing other projects as needed. 

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics, or a related field, and a minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience will also be considered. PhD in Economics, Finance, Statistics, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience producing economic analyses, including project design and development, econometric modeling, statistical analysis, data collection and manipulation, programming, and preparation of written reports.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis tools such as R, Python, and/or Stata.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with individuals across a range of skill and knowledge levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Motivated self-starter capable of working with increasing independence.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines

Work Conditions:

• Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements.
• Extended hours as needed

For work that is performed in CO, CT, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, WA, DC, NY, NJ, WA please refer to the chart below for the salary range for the corresponding location. FINRA complies with all state and local pay transparency laws and regulations requiring the disclosure of salary ranges for the position. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations. 

Boston, MA: $131,200 - $238,300

Chicago, IL: $125,900 - $228,000

Denver, CO: $114,200 - $207,200

Jericho, NY: $131,200 - $238,300

Jersey City, NJ: $137,000- $248,700

Philadelphia, PA: $125,900 - $228,000

New York, NY: $137,000 - $248,700

Rockville, MD: $131,200 - $238,300

Tysons, VA: $131,200 - $238,300

Washington, DC: $131,200 - $238,300

Woodbridge, NJ: $131,200 - $238,300

Connecticut State: $114,200 - $248,700

Washington State: $114,200 - $248,700

#LI-Hybrid

To be considered for this position, please submit an application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

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.

Please note: If the “Apply Now” button on a job board posting does not take you directly to the FINRA Careers site, enter www.finra.org/careers into your browser to reach our site directly.

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law. As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal. FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.

Time Off and Paid Leave*

FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time-off program starting at 15 days of paid time off (increasing with years of service, up to 25 days), 5 personal days, and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro-rated in the first year). Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule). Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment). Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.

*Based on full-time schedule

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.

Washington state applicants: click here for required notice(s).

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 Employer

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected category, including race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex, or any other status or classification protected by state or local law.

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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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