Compliance Resolution Investigator at Edward D. Jones in St. Louis, Missouri

Job Description:

Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued.  Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 8 million clients and 19,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we’re proud to be privately-owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns.

Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging. 

People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career. 

View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.

1Fortune 500, published June 2023, data as of December 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

One of the most challenging moments in an associate's career is when an allegation of wrongdoing is raised. This position brings advanced knowledge and expertise of industry regulations, firm policies and procedures, and internal supervisory and operating systems together with a creative, empathetic, and curious mindset to investigate allegations of compliance policy violations against financial advisors, branch office support members, home office associates and/or general partners. If you're interested in completing these tasks and making informed decision, the Compliance Resolution Investigator may be the role for you! 

What You'll Do:

This position ensures the firm remains in compliance with  industry rules, regulations and firm policies by:

• Investigating allegations of compliance policy violations against financial advisors, branch office support members, home office associates and/or general partners  and documenting and resolving matters efficiently, thoroughly, fairly and professionally.


• Levying corrective and/or disciplinary action for violations , up to and including issuing letters of warning, escalating fines and/or employment decisions to the Director of Investigations, implementing the action taken by the firm and communicating with business areas impacted by the decision.


• Plans, prepares and provides key insights and facts during compliance meetings & hearings which consist of peer financial advisors and other senior leaders as needed to inform a fair resolution on matters when appropriate.


• Develops and maintains deep partnerships based on trust, influence, and collaboration with cross-functional business partners including branch team leadership (field and home office based), Field Supervision, Legal, and Associate Relations to proactively gather perspectives, insights, and relevant history to support investigations, address risks, and make disciplinary decisions.


• Conduct days of education for financial advisors as part of disciplinary action when required.


• Ensuring the firm complies with regulatory requirements by coordinating with the Legal  department to provide timely and complete responses to regulatory inquiries, arbitrations and general litigation.


• May represent the firm by testifying at industry arbitrations and unemployment hearings.

Problem Solving:

Position must utilize problem solving skills on a daily basis in order to make judgments and assess risks associated with alleged violations of firm policy or industry rules by:

• analyzing multifaceted issues of a non-routine nature


• gathering facts about the alleged wrongdoing or violation


• identifying and utilizing available firm resources


• identifying gaps in policies and procedures

Examples of problems solved are investigations involving

• Trade practices (i.e. discretionary orders, excessive trading, selling away)


• Misappropriation


• Outside business activities


• Violations of branch procedures (i.e. questionable signatures, correspondence/advertising)


• Gaps in firm policies and procedures

Decision making:

Decisions are complex, sensitive and not of a routine nature. The decisions often culminate in recommendations for sanctions and/or restitution, which are based on:

• the scope of the case


• the associate's alleged misconduct, prior compliance history, tenure and cooperation


• client contacts


• whether a violation occurred, and


• when and how to conclude an investigation

Position conducts investigations independently and issues formal disciplinary action, including letters of warning, letters of caution, letters of education and assigning education modules. If the violation is more serious, position recommends to the Director of Investigations further corrective and/or disciplinary actions, such as, compliance meetings and hearings, branch visits, fines and heightened supervision.

Span of Influence:

This position handles high-risk situations that can affect the financial well-being of clients and employment of associates, as well as have significant legal and regulatory impact on the firm. The quality of the investigation could impact how a regulator would review and levy any potential disciplinary actions, against the firm or associates.

Compliance investigation results have far-reaching implications. The duration of impact could be long-term as the quality of an investigation can affect clients, associates, and firm and the integrity of the firm's supervisory model.

Position advises associates in other departments including Associate Relations, Field Supervision, Branch Audit, Financial Advisor Development, Regional Leaders, et al., when they have questions regarding potential firm and regulatory violations.

  What You'll Need: 

Education/Certification or functional knowledge required:

• FINRA Series 7, 8 (or 9 & 10), 24 and 63 required. FINRA Series 66 (or 63 & 65) and insurance license preferred. Required licenses not already obtained must be obtained within 12 months of hire. 


• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Minimum Years of Experience Required:

• A minimum of three years securities industry experience is required (compliance experience preferred).


• Strong conflict management, attention for detail, problem solving and independent decision-making skills


• Willingness to travel when necessary


• Position requires the ability to speak and write in a clear, concise, and impartial manner when:
  
  
  
  • interviewing associates and clients to gather facts
  
  
  • conducting complex presentations at compliance hearings and meetings
  
  
  • communicating corrective/disciplinary action to associates
  
  
  • testifying at industry arbitrations and unemployment hearings
  
  
  • presenting at Regional, Branch Audit, Field Supervision and other firm meetings
  
  
  
  

Candidates that live within in a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office three days per week, with preference for Tuesday through Thursday.

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