Principal Investigator, VAST - All FINRA Locations at FINRA in Boca Raton, Florida

Job Description:

The Vulnerable Adults and Seniors Team (VAST) is a specialized unit within FINRA's National Cause and Financial Crimes Program (NCFC). VAST is charged with investigating financial exploitation and abuse of seniors and vulnerable adults, including individuals with diminished capacity or cognitive impairment. The Principal Investigator executes functions in support of the VAST's mission, including, but not limited to, conducting complex risk-based investigations of FINRA member firms and registered representatives involving potential Elder Financial Exploitation (EFE), providing consultation services to FINRA staff, participating in special projects, and collaborating with other units across the organization regarding relevant risks.

Essential Job Functions:

• Independently leads and/or participates in investigations of medium to high and high complexity matters under limited supervision.


• Conducts examination tasks that may include, but is not limited to: (1) reviews conducted in collaboration with Member Supervision examination staff (2) reviews conducted on matters originated by specialist team (3) reviews conducted in relation to internal/external tips (4) reviews conducted related to referrals.


• Participates in On-The-Record interviews of relevant parties with limited supervision, including collaboration with the Department of Enforcement. 


• Serves as a VAST risk resource with advanced level knowledge and provides guidance to FINRA staff.


• Prepares examination reports, supporting documents, and recommend appropriate disciplinary action resulting from examination activities to the team's Investigations Manager.


• Develops cases and determines whether exceptions merit referral to enforcement with limited supervision. 


• Under limited supervision, conducts interviews, either formally or informally, of member firm personnel, member firm customers, other FINRA staff, and staff of other regulatory agencies to gather data pertinent to examinations, investigations and reviews.


• Regularly presents investigative output (orally and in writing) which detail relevant findings, potential violations and recommendations for next steps to the team's Investigations Manager.


• Regularly participate in providing guidance and advice with regard to high risk examinations and any other special national projects, sweeps and task forces where expertise is needed.


• Actively participates in and lead meetings with firms and other FINRA departments with limited supervision.


• Trains and mentors less experienced investigators. 


• Regularly leads or co-leads initiatives, special or regulatory projects related to area(s) of expertise.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience required; advanced degree or law degree, preferred.


• Advanced knowledge of relevant FINRA rules and the federal securities laws and demonstrated investigative experience.


• Advanced knowledge of the securities markets and member firm operations and its books and records.


• Advanced written and verbal communications skills.


• Advanced ability to initiate and complete high quality reviews and investigations, including an ability to work quickly on multiple time-sensitive matters.


• Advanced organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.


• Advanced proficiency using computer programs with the full suite of Office software applications.


• Effective at building and managing relationships.

For work that is performed in CA, CO, HI, MN, VT, IL, Jersey City, NJ, NY, NY, MD, Washington DC, and WA the chart below outlines the proposed salary range for the corresponding location. 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 internal peer compensation comparisons.

CA: Minimum Salary $106,400, Maximum Salary $200,200

CO/HI/MN/VT*: Minimum Salary $92,500, Maximum Salary $166,800

IL*: Minimum Salary $101,800, Maximum Salary $183,900

Jersey City, NJ/NY, NY: Minimum Salary $111,000, Maximum Salary $200,200

MD/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $106,400 Maximum Salary $191,800

WA: Minimum Salary $92,500, Maximum Salary $191,800

*Including positions performed outside the state but reporting to an office or manager in that state.

Candidates can expect salary offers that range from the minimum to the mid-point of the salary range. FINRA provides full pay ranges so that the candidate can consider their growth potential while at FINRA.

#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.

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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 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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