Assistant General Counsel, Office of Disciplinary Affairs

FINRA • Full-time • Washington, DC (1700K) • 3d ago

The Assistant General Counsel within the Office of Disciplinary Affairs (ODA), which with its team of senior-level attorneys, promotes effective self-regulation by ensuring that FINRA disciplinary matters are handled consistently, rigorously, and according to the federal securities laws and SEC, FINRA, and other client self-regulatory organization (SRO) rules and policies on a program-wide basis. The incumbent provides an advanced independent and objective review of proposed formal actions to maintain fairness in the disciplinary process and consistent, even-handed application of FINRA's policies. The incumbent, along with all of ODA’s team members, also serves as a catalyst for developing disciplinary policy within the organization in conjunction with the Departments of Enforcement, Market Regulation, and Member Regulation, and the Office of General Counsel. This senior-level professional position requires the incumbent to work collaboratively and in close coordination with colleagues, with minimal direct supervision. The position requires the exercise of a high level of independent judgment, discretion and a level of diplomatic skill.

Essential Job Functions:

Authorize formal disciplinary complaints to be filed by the Department of Enforcement pursuant to the Codes of Procedure of FINRA and SRO clients under the terms of Regulatory Services Agreements.
Accept pre- and post-complaint settlements of formal disciplinary actions and Minor Rule Violation letters by delegated authority from FINRA’s National Adjudicatory Council and designated SRO clients.
Perform independent, objective, and rigorous review of cases submitted to ODA to ensure legal sufficiency of charges and fairness and consistency in FINRA actions and those of SRO clients.
Demonstrate proficiency and independence at performing the functions of ODA, including the critical review of advanced levels of proposed disciplinary actions.
Exhibit and maintain an expertise in one or more particular legal and regulatory subject matters.
Offer and provide training and guidance regarding legal, policy and procedural issues to staff in other departments and to colleagues in ODA, both formally and on an ongoing basis in routine and frequent interactions with individual staff members.
Coordinate and collaborate with ODA attorney colleagues on a continuous basis to ensure an efficient and consistent approach to reviewing cases.
Enter information into FINRA database to document review and approval of disciplinary actions and to provide data for internal legal and statistical research and to be used for external reporting.
Initiate and participate in special projects as assigned, both internal to ODA and in collaboration with other departments. Remain flexible in responding to a variable workflow and responsive to requests for expedited review, often on short notice.
Demonstration of FINRA’s values.
Collaboration, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.

Education/Experience Requirements:

A law degree and appropriately licensed to practice law in all applicable jurisdictions based on the relevant licensing requirements
At least eight years of relevant legal experience
Proficient knowledge and understanding of federal securities laws and relevant SRO rules
Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication and critical reading and editing skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Experience in securities enforcement or disciplinary program at a regulatory agency

Work Conditions:

Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements
Occasional travel and extended hours may be required

For work that is performed in CO, FL, TX, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, Washington, DC, NY and NJ, 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.

CO/FL/TX: Minimum Salary $131,100, Maximum Salary $254,000

IL/PA: Minimum Salary $144,000, Maximum Salary $279,500

MA/MD/VA/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $150,600, Maximum Salary $292,300

NY/NJ: Minimum Salary $150,600, Maximum Salary $305,000

#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 of 15 days of paid time off, 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.

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.

FINRA strives to make our career site accessible to all users. If you need a disability-related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA’s Employee Relations team at 240-386-4865 or by email at EmployeeRelations@FINRA.org. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding accommodations in the application process.

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.